Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-08-19
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST Ie' -

r,, e counties in several portions oil '"e 80
occunied lust now with the SUBJECT % and in
~ railroads nenetrutipg their regions u - o mark
many cases are divided upon the question: ,,; works
"a Nv so ropid an increase of this species y n-oaci,o
and by the astonishing effects "hch ' esm idle to
up'' ~ r: 49, discussion Of such n question: u "o.''N
-, >, ~ , osc,on upon the intelligence a"u p
'"' " - -. ,,,o subject should require puoic o's
cussion within it, $50 county through
which road NAV pass 10 require nhho'i'! :, ,ho
of its construction in an equal fa"u ~" ,ho reicu,
on,v dificul, mart of the subject ll'e ""'.' W
~ however is another question -. r. .
;,, b,s RIGHT 10 deprive the majority u '''
valuable publc work which can only oe e,,
i. no,,h,n, II is the same question: IN hg"e' 'o'''
NJ : n,esented in regard to common ROADS
".N1 '"N 80 ,,bjc convenience requires mat roau
az nar,ieular piece Of land, lis owner sna'i
'" ;,d;yidua interests TO the pubic advantage
49,. :; ,.eo,ed in regard 10 all objects OF puoic eA-
d;,rrs as for instance in regard 10 pauPe's' "e' ~
,;o :. whether the public should be taxed lot 'e up
o,,,nh half the community would not lee! 'heif
burden at all but for the lu"' ,,loo ,ho
II railroads are of public service and paipaoy aou
If the community at large, there can DC ~ 'u
~ r es,l objection public contributions lot he Gun
o;o, The only legitimate and valid line OF argument
auains $500
,,v Of the railroads proposed II these WORKS are ho' "
universal advantage repaying TO the community directly anu
d;ov fa more than their COST then they are not 10 DC
r.nred in the same category with bridges common nigh
ovs and the like and the community at large oush ho'
m eouired 10 contribute their construction II they ~
rake rank in general utility with the ordinary objects Oh pup
liz contribution then the right to require this conl1iou'o
rscselv The same as in regard 10 bridges or ordinary
| roads, ;
The question turns solely therefore, upon the poaue''
Of railroads. and Of this the evidences are so over
heminp and 50 universally known, that seems almost o'
late in the age 10 present them for The purpose OIL
The State of the Union which the largest expenditure
bese works has been made and in which their proouc
ness has been more completely tested than in any oe
Massachusetts In that State the larger portion OF 'e ran
roads are local works. intended especially LOT Tue
a,;o, of the immediate districts of country hrous" "
,hv RIM few of them do form portions Oh g'ea' NUS
e connecting New York with Boston, and olhers ieuos
into Roson from the terminus of the great worhs VI i'e
York State connecting with the West but the greater Po
o, of them are strictly local roads, constituting
which leaves no point in the country seven miles iro
road In Massachusetts therefore, the frus OF the
svsem can be Judged Enthusiastically and unequVoeay
than in any other country in the world
In that State the length Of railroads in ls4z was 4oa niles
now 1883 The value of property in the several coun
s of the State has increased the following astonishing