Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-05-28
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
MONDAY MORNING. MAY Fl. 1850.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

IS expected by the friends of reform in this State
such system Of tasaon representation and government
will be adopted by the Convention about be elected 10 re-
wise the Constitution, will guarantee the faithful and pee
y execution Of the great lines Of internal improvement
progress LEAST. Virginia. once Of the frs, conmercial
States the Union has, by neglect her position aud
resources comparatively dwnde into such nsien!icance
that her is scarcely known abroad; and home il is
only known be avoided from the npnccabity of passing
her territory, except great loss OF time and much pen.
lie and purse Many her legislators travel through other
States 10 reach the capital; while her merchants mpor,
through Boston New York with facility than direct
y into her II opinion OF the most in
clgent in the time of the Revolution that from the
favorable position OF Virginia. and from her internal ura
resources she bound 10 be the emPir. State of the
Union SO firmly did fathers believe il thai they
gave away real empire be the more certain
that she would day become the lacedon of the
conedeacy But we have given away and neglected in
tcrest after another until likely become the very
essena Of the Onion; and people 90 counties
10 build up cities, and commerce. and wealth and power
Let therefore recover in absolute property prosper
~ the land which fathers have e uslct snatch it
from lis condition. improve and ENJOY i, rich IN.
herance Our great landed interest has been thrown
into the channels Of successful development Our State
therefore, like shrub wounded al the root be dressed
and the torns that thcken around her bo pruned
The husbandman dig abou, her. and plant the OF
prosperity, which will spring up and yield an hundred fold
No other State compare with Virginia in the great
elements upon which alone internal Improvements b.
successfully constructed except New York She situa
ted the great northern margin Of the United
Virginia TO the central region covered by the father
o waters. And what experiment thirty years ago in
reference the advantages of these States for improvement
is in fact well established in n. York by evidence
overwhelming and convincing that has quot against
Virginia Ii has been contended that other position upon
the habab globe produce results from improvements
compare with those OF New York. Yet, while all was
experiment. and depended upon faithful execution the pros
pee of in Virginia deemed hat,eng while
those of New York best only imagined probable
The New York canals last year. after paying all expenses
of superintendent and repairs paid 10 the ordinary expenses
Of government and sinking iund according provision
the State Constitution 81 S50000 and the enlargement
the Erie Canal and Cenesee Valley and Black River Ia
mails S90 02 H. be expended in the present year; and
many of our friends almost imagine that canals behind
the age.
We copy from New York paper most interesting table,
exhibiting the receipts the several canals of that State
during the last year with view that readers duly
appreciate the importance of these improvements and
the applicability Of such improvement from the Ohio river la
the head of tide-water.
TOLLS oN TIE NEW YORK STATE CANALS.
We have compiled rom mace 10 the Canal De
oartmcn from several offices in the State. the follow
table, which exhibits the aggregate amount received from
tolls, fines and penalties the several Canals during Tie
Il. .