The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-17

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| II thus appears that there are now completed
in Virginia SOS miles of railroad and 4l8 miles
of canals, and that there are now in the course
Of construction $50 mile of railroad and $40
miles of plank roads. We have, then, the graft
fving result that there are nearly 1000 miles of
railroa ia and canals co instructed or in progress
of construction. in our State. The appropria-
| tons for these works are already made, and the
money has been almost entirely raised at home,
with out the necessity of mourning foreign deb
The State of Pennsylvsnia to make her improve
ments, has incurred debt of near $4,000 900,
t. pay the interest on which requires semi an
nual export of over million Of dollars, to be
paid the foreign bond holders On the other
hand, our State Gebt is comparatively small, and
owned chiefly at home by our citizens
But this view becomes still more encouraging
when Ae recollect that these improvements will
be finished at the fartlest within the next four
years. AS each mile is finished, an increase will
be given to the trade Of our cities and when
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, the Rich
mond and Danve railroad, and the Seaboaro
and Roanoke railroad are finished, they will be
at once connected with a net work of railroads
through North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia on the one hand, and Tennessee Ohio
Kentucky Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana
on the other 1t is certainly source of pride
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 d
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 foreiathers, more stable
and frm--its obligations every wbers 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 giants
strength. Tennessee will soon extend the Vir-
GINA railroad, ard the railroad extending from
Charleston and Sacannah to Chattanooga, to
Memphis, on the Mississippi. Alabama, Misss-
sippi, and Louisiana are seeking connections
with these roads, and soon we shall see the
South more highly improved by railroad faeili
ties than the North, owing to the level nature OF
the country and the cheapness Of labor and ma
terias in the South. Charleston alone is NOV.
ing with far-seeing sagacity for this increased
trade We feel pride and pleasure in her means,
and we heartily hope she may prosper in her
former enterprise Go establish direct trade by
means of ships and steamers owned by South
erners. We believe there is space enough, and
buck country sufficiently ample, II we are true
10 ourselves, to secure the prosperity OF all orr
Southern towns and their prosperity, 80 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 fs-
cilities are provided in our harbors for shipping
directly to Europe. If 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 to be anticipated,
we may refer to the enlightened and enterprising
commonwealth of Massachusetts. The large
expenditure made for the construction of rail
roads, and the results of that system. has there
vindicate3 the wisdom which ctated IT,
In that State the length of railroads in 1910
was 433 miles--t Ia now 1898 The value Of
property in the several counties of the State has
increased from S299,s7s 329 in 1910, to $780,
53l ssl in I850--an increase in the value Of
property during ten years of 1890 653,552, or
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
isfo 1882 Sl201I4.57A
1900 269,s74 266 646S44
Showing mn increase Of 60 per cent in popu
lation, and l40 in wealth.
Looking at the commercial retnrns from our
: own ports. the seaports of Virginia do not ap
pear to haze increased with that rspdty which
the general prosperity of the State would indi
cate indeed our direct imports appear to hav.
diminished. These unfavorabie indications mr.,
however con radicted by the positive gain in tn,
assessed vslue ofrea estate. and by the ncreasst
} value Of subjects Of taxation within the State
) The stagnation Of our commerce is TO be attribu
tod TO physical obstacles which separate the pro
, ductive interior from our seabosrd, whilst III.
enterprise Of other States and cities has actual,
constructed improvements for the mere factor
4 ~ L.