The southern press., 1851-09-17

| llNOItuWcSlcTu iSo
Miles l,455 565
Chesapeake and Ohio canal 1875 l85
James river and Kanawha
canal 200
Dismal Swamp canal 70
Fred's Valley plank road 40
Staunton TO James river 40
Boydton to Petersburg rs ~.... ~.
Junction Valley 65
II thus appears that .ere are now completed
in Virginia SOS miles of railroad and 4I8 miles
Of canals, and that there are now in the course
of construction 800 miles Of railroal and 220
miles Of plank roads. We have, then, the graft
fying result, that there are nearly 1000 miles of
railroads and canals constructed, or in progress
Of construction, in our State. The appropria-
lions for these works are already made, and the
money has been almost entirely raised at home,
with out the necessity Of incnrring foreign deb.
The State of Penn ylvania, to make her improve
ments, has incurred debt of near S40,000,000,
t. pay the interest on which requires a semi an
nual export of over million Of dollars, to be
paid the foreign bond holders. On the other
hand, our State debt is comparatively small, and
owned chiefly at home by our citizens.
But this view becomes still more encouraging
when recnllect that these improvements will
be finished at the farthest within the next four
years. AS each mile is finished, an increase will
be given to the trade of our cities AID when
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, The Rich
mond and Danvillc railroad, and the Seaboard
and Roanoke railroad are flushed, they will be
at once connected with net work of railroads
through North Carolina. South Carolina, and
Georgia on the one hand, and Tennessee, Ohio,
Kentncky, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana
or, tha Of, Ia nartaiplu .,f A.,
to know that we have quietly effected so much
Speculation would be at fault in estimating the
trade that must follow the completion of these
works. The rapid increase of our cities will be
one certain effect, while the appreciation of real
estate and the profits of every industrial pursuit,
will be increased. AT the same time the heart
of the patriot will rejoice that this acquisition of
strength, wealth, population and power must re-
suit in restoring the South TO her former posi-
ton in the Union, and may render that Union,
as bequeathed Us by our forefathers, more stable
and firm-its obligations every where observed
and every where sustained and beloved for the
benefits conferred upon is citizens ..
Georgia has now 1000 miles of railroad
South Carolina is extending her iron arms in
every direction, and in two or three years every
part of the State will oe provided with railroad
facilities. North Carolina has giant schemes on
foot, which she is prosecuting with a giants
strength Tennessee will soon extend the Vir.
ginia railroad, ard the railroad extending from
Charleston and Savannah to Chattanooga, to
Memphis, on the Mississippi. Alabama, Missis-
sippi, end Louisiana are seeking connections
with these roads, and soon we shall see the
South more highly improved by railroad iacili.
ties than the North owing to the level nature OF
the country and the cheapness OF labor and ma
terials in the South. Charleston alone is NOV.
ing with far-seeing sagacty for this increased
trade. We feel pride and pleasure in her means,
and we heartily hope she may prosper in her
former enterprise TO establish direct trade by
means of ships and steamers owned by South
erners. We believe there is space enough, and
back country sufficiently ample, IL we are true
10 ourselves, to secure the prosperity Of all our
Southern towns and their prosperity, so far
from causing US to fall, will but add to our own
prosperity. But how can the people Of Virginia
hope to contend with Charleston in the gener.
Gus competition for this trade, unless equal IA
cilties are provided in our harbors for shipping
directly to Europe. II we pause in the contest,
the trade will have been fixed in the direction Of
Charleston, and we may strive in vain to regain
what is strictly our own.
To illustrate the advantages 10 be anticipated,
we may refer to the enlightened and onterprsing
commonwealth Of Massachusetts, The large
expenditures made for the construction OF rail.
roads, and the results Of that system, has there
vindicated the wisdom which ctated IT,
| In that State the length Of railroads in 1910
was 433 miles-it is now l033 The value oI
property in the several counties of the State has
increased from S299 1878 ,329 in 1910, to $500.
53I S8l in lS5O--an increase in the value OF
property during ten years Of S290,653,552, OF
about one hundred per cent.
| In Boston. which is The centre Of the whole
system Of Massachusetts railroads, the following
result is obtained:
Population. Wealth.
1910 1882 Sl20ll4,574
! 1850 269,S74 266,646.S44
Showing an increase Of 60 per cent. in popu
lation, and 40 in wealth.
Booking Mt the commercial returns from ont
own ports, the seaports Of Virginia do not ap
pear TO have increased with that rapdty which
the general prosperity Of the State would indi
cate indeed our direct imports appear to hav,
diminished. These unfavorable Indications ar'
however con- 'radicted by the positive gain in The
assessed value Of real estate and by the increased
value of subjects of taxation within the State
The stagnation 1f our commerce is to be nttribu
ted TO physical obstacles which separate the pro
ductive interior from our seabolrd, whilst tn,
enterprise Of other States and cities has actually
constructed improvements for the mere factor
age Of our produce. which we would not under
take for the positive increase Of the fee simpl,
value Of the property, and the exelu 5ive com
merce of it's enhanced products
IL il thus that towns in Western Virrini,
have sprung up, manufactures have been estab