Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-21
sTATNTON VA WEDNESDAY JANUARY 81, 1852.


4 portance of the subject and the great al
growing necessity for energetic and yet j
r dicious action on your part in relation to
Indeed the works of internal improveme
already commenced and in course OF col
f struction, ,and upon which large sums OF be'
public and private means have been exPen'
ed are so intimately connected with all u
, leading interests of the Commonwealth TIM
every years delay in the ir completion WI
!, necessarily postpone, at common loss
the whole people,. great and incalculaol
blessings, and for an equal period OF tim
defer to the State Treasury that repletlol
which the heavy appropriations heretoior
made for internal improvement purposes 81
earnestly demand, and which their INA
completion cannot fail to effect Many o.
our sister States, with less capacity tor sucf
enterprises, and possessing natural resour
ces and advantages far inferior to our own
have, under circumstances of great embar
rasment. executed works ofinternal improve
ment which would do honor to the enter
prise of independent nations. Nor have
they been disappointed in the individual OF
State benefit which their works were expect
ed to impart. The citizens of those States
feel the superiority of this improved con-
dition oftheir country and duly appreciate
the increased comforts derived from it.
If our generous and noble old Common
wealth has been tardy in the execution OF
those improvements most clearly indicated
by the geological structure of the country,
and in proper development OF her great
physical resources, it is gratifylngto to con-
slider, that profiting by the example of 9TH
ers, she may gain much of the loss IN tlme'
by wise, prompt and energetic measures
herafter. =.
Whilst the financial condition and credit
of the State, at home and abroad, must be
most carefully guarded, feel it duty IN
all frankness to suggest for your consldera-
tion, the speedy completion of such OF the
great leading Improvements as appear most
deeply involved with the general interests
of the Commonwealth. An enlightened
policy would dictate, and stern necessity
demands, that these Improvements should
be completed as speedily as possible, and
that no new projects requiring exten>ive ard
from the State should be commenced
until this great object shall have been accom-
plished. Virginia has entered the lists
with her sister States for the benefit of the
trade with the great West and the valley OF
the Mississippi. The prize for which we
contend is worthy Of an exertion of all our
energies. Let some well digested systembe
adopted and steadily pursued, and success
will crown our efforts. 1t is confidently
believed, however, that indiscliminate ap-
preparations at this time for works of only
local advantages would be fraught with most
mischievous and dangerous results.
AT the threshold of the subject we are
met with the difficulties which surround the
affairs of the long delayed Central improve
ment-an improvement contemplated prior
to the American revolution, and one so
strongly indicated by the geographical posi-
ton of the State, as we'll as the geological
structure Of the country, that it has never
ceased to be an object of deep 'solicitude to
the whole Commonwealth. 1t would be an
act OF supererogation to argue at this time
the merits or the Importance to the State of
the great line from tide-wateE on James riv-
'er to the Ohio. If, indeed, it were origin
ally without merit, the expenditure of ten
millions of dollars in the last thirty years
tor its improvement, would fix an interest
there, which we could not disregard. But
the extent and value of the works complet-
ed, the original merit of the scheme, and
the sums for which the State is already re-
sponsible on account of the improvement,
give it an importance in our deliberations
which we cannot disguise if we would
But how farit is proper to continue the wa.
ter line,is question upon which an honest
difference of opinion may well exist among
the most enlightened and patriotic states
men. While have no disposition to dis.
parage the benefits of canal, am not In
sensible to the many advantages which a
we'll constructed railroad possesses over a.
ny artificial water improvement; nor do
feel it necessary to discuss the relative adj
vantages or disadvantages Of the two spe-
cies adapted to thus line, other than in thell
practical relation to existing circumstances
From many imposing examples, it has here.
toiore been urged with zeal and ability, THAI
railroads have become necessary appenda.
ges to the canals upon most OF the great
lines of travel and transportation. If tbi:
view be correct, and if we have duly estl.
mated the magnitude of the service which
the business of the James river and Ka-
nawha line will at no very remote period oil
time require, we may well imagine that both
species of improvement may be demanded
and when that time shall have arrived, both
can be safely and advantageously construct
ed. But until one or the other shall have
been carried through the eniire line, and a
large amount of travel ATTACHED to it, strong
necessity for both cannot exist.
A canal across the mountains, would sat
isfy the present demand for the transporta-
tlon of produce, but the railroad would, in
addition, accommodate. "a large amount OF
travel, the Transportation of the mail and
live stock, and consequently ensure speed
and ample remuneration for the cost ot
construction. involved as We are, the
shortest time within which remunerating
revenue can be produced, is a proper SUBJ
ject for consideration and if no insupera-
BILE objection to such course exists, the
improvement by which This object can be
first attained, should be first executed. But
in the execution, the work should be so con.
structed as not to preclude the construction
of the other along or near the same line,
should it ever be deemed expedient to do
| so,
With these general views of the subject
feel much confidence in recommending 8
continuance of the water line to Clifton
Forge OR to the nearest point upon the pro
posed line, ,at which junction can be form
ed with the Central railroad, and that tn.