Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-01-30

results In strengthening The commercial power Of Virginia.
that the sane system has effected in establishing the hnan
cial supremacy OF New York
We concur in the opinon of Mr. Segar expressed In the
House OF Delegates that the report s of the most ors
nal striking, and nbe papers that has enanaed
from tho Executive department of Virginia. and we congra
uatc Governor Floyd upon the Halleng reception it has
met WITH in all quarters.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Board OF Public Works beg leave to call the attention
of the Legislature respectfully the enbraced in the
following Report:
The decule and mullifaous duties devolved upon this
Board by recent legislation ard the eminent importance of
The interests committed iis require Of al this ie
more eAended and detailed report than has heretofore
been customary. ii Is highly important 100 the creti.
OF Inc State III The markets OF the wo,d that an Duhenic
ano ocia exposition oi the Character oil those pho!t
works In which she is engaged and the SUCCESS and
poductycness of which her financial prosperity chiefly de-
pends, should be given 10 the public.
Probably State in the Union has in few years SO radi-
cay changed ts policy upon the subject of internal I'M
poyenrn in Virginia. The revolution in public opinion has
been almost complete Scarcely section OF our widely ex-
tended Common@tath 10 not awake 10 tne rnnscendant
Importance o the subject The natural and deep rooted
prudices which were fumey generally entertained by tho
people against taxation for but tho most necessary p"b-
lie purposes rapidly giving way. Not only are the rep
resena,ves Of the peoue in the Legislature of The State,
vOng large appropriations at every session TO public works
bat the people also themselves voting directly for losn
subscriptions the purposes BY countless cities and
towns ln every quarter OF the Commonwealth II viii oe
gratifying those who In the haolt oil believing our
State still sohul and blind her interests upon this
subject know that Virginia contains nearly seven
hundred miles of completed railway thar she hIs nearly
seven hundred additional miles In progress and under con-
tract, together with three hundred Of still additional
miles projected and subscribed for Besides these rail roads,
she has about 672 miles in eneh of the most capacous and
substantially constructed canals ia tho Unnn and turnpike
roads large portion of hem of the first order OF grade and
construction measuring about 5000 miles in cnglt oil OF
which last, # financially remuneratve 10 the State
Treasury, nestmaby valuable the agricutu al and
industrial interest, of the State. In addition TO the works
already mentioned large subscriptions have recently been
made towards plank roadsa species 0! Improvement Sc
cond In value and usefulness ohe-soHe OF which
partially completed and considerable distances o which
10 rapid progress. This entire system OF works, when
completed far subscribed for will have produced
public Indebtedness OF only about twenty millions OF
dollars large polun of which COST VIII have been pro-
ductye long before this aggregate Indebtedness VIII nave
been reached The expenditure Of this large sum OF ooro"
ed capital leaves the Commonwealth not PROSTATE IN epn
daon after the examples OF many States hat have been
her pioneers in like undertakings but with her oond' com
mandng high premiums in the markets at nome ana aor'ao
and with her credit ranking avoruby with that OF the wealth
ies States In the Union.
The annexed table presents condensed view o rail- road
in the State together with the interest OF mo STATE
In their capital stock,