Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-02

IL is no, ~ he doubted that il there were natural
channel Of navigation flowing from tbs valley across
Virginia into the Chesapeake bay The great bulk eft
Western traue would be bone upon its bosom rather
than upon the Mississippi and 81. Lawrence Iiyers.-
But these two natural channels do not answer the
great demands of Western commerce. Artificial lines
OF transportation have become necessary TO its ac
commodation. Yet the artificial highways Of NIr-
gina viii possess the advantages over all other
ouch works OF art in Transporting this commerce that
natural channel across her territory, If there were
one, would possess over the great natural Northern
and Southern outlets TO the ocean. The fact IS oby-
Gus and requires no amphfeatoA or proof.
But it is needless 10 enquire into the capacity OF the
public works Of Virginia compete with others for
trade which if not already will speedily be go vast
as 10 sile competition II there be competition al an
in respect TO the ovei tiowiug commerce OF tho west
it will be between accommodating products for transit
and not be lines oil transport luon contsndng Tor
trade Already is this the case with the canals and
railways of New York. the only limit 10 trade issuing
from the West, that population is becoming
more generally dfdsed over lis territory, will be in
the facilities OF that trade Tor reaching market. Ca
pabe Of producing UNNECESSARILY beyond lis own cen
sumption every addition 10 its facilities tor ranspor.
tstiou will only multiply lis surplus production Pep.
uIaon was ils first great want That being partially
secured, lis future never ending want will be access TO
market.
Statistics OF Western trade have been so often. in SO
many forms and from SO many sources, laid before
the public that to exhibit them here would be useless
repetition. They but teach the great fact oil that
eountry's unlimited capacity, when fully populated
for the production OF human food and mineral treas
ure. This immense capacity Tor production has caused
an increase OF population such as the world Yer wit
nssesd before; and reel procay, this astonishing
crease of population has multiplied its maiers wealth
with rapidly and IN ratio ousiFlping all previ-
Gus computation. The country ls yet in extreme 10.
fancy. It's matdred energies are not yet begun to be
exered. Its complete resources scarcely bcgnnng
to be developed. The combined reciprocal action of
its population, upon wealth. and Is We lth upon popta
lstion, have scarcely yet commenced 10 exhibit their
stupendous results.
A very few facts will suffice TO show the increase of
Western population and wealth. In 1886 the COM
merce of the lakes computed TO be sl646l PA in
value In 1913 that value had become $50 535 100 -
IN lS4S Sls6,4s4 ,905; and il is now more than
$500 0G0 000
The area Of the Mississippi Valley is 1880 900
squaie miles. II populated densely as New Eng
land, il would hold 6o,000o0 OF people. If popula-
ted like England, 1t would contain 345 600 900 OF
sous-uearly equivalent to one half the present popu'
laon OF the globe. Less than seventy five years ago
it contained but 20 600 people besides aborgnes now
it contains than 100000 OF civ ized inhab-
tsnts. Il can support denser population than any
country of like extent in the world 1t is attracting
emigration by hundreds OF thousands every year.
With population generally IN the prime OF lille,
rounded by none oil the circumstances which usually
check the increase OF the Species continuously re-
penished by additions aside from lis natural increase
and enjoying political institutions tending to develepe
human energy TO It's ultimate capacity, 1t would be dill
icult calculate the numerical progress of this val
ley. 1t is certainly safe 10 say that the end OF this cen
ture will find it containing not far less than 100000
OF souls.
What will be the amount and value Of the trade
produced by people increasing thus rapidly from II
TO IS millions in number, and what the results OF
| their labor upon a soil teemng everywhere with We
geaien and Astounding everywhere in minerals, would
surpass the efforts OF the human mind accurately TO
compute. It would seem that the mere mention OF
the foregoing leading cts would suffice TO Danish all
apprehensions that might to felt of a deficiency of
Western trade to afford occupation for the numerous
public works projected for its transportation.
The annual loss by accidents on The Mississippi river
to the commerce transported upon it, computed in
1910 to be upwards oil 100000. The vaue OF thai
trade in that year was $22000O000. The loss upon
! trade pursuing this channel therefore one and
quarter per cent This is item oil the of
poraon. The statistics of Western trade exhibit the
fact that all the articles OF Western grown food except
the products of the hog, exported 10 larger quan
ties eastward towards the Atlantic than southwark
down the Mississippi river. The fact is owing the
injury sustained by cereal products in their passage
through the warmer climates of the lower Mississippi
and the Gulf These cereal products, especially In
dian are ~ cheap too bear high otransporta
ton, and invariably seek the cheapest transit 10 market
This important desderatum will be possessed by our
own Improvements. Scientific surveys shew that the
grades upon rail roads will be considerably less
than those OF the roads north OF them; and whether
Cincinnati, louisville, ST. Louis, Springfield Mem
phis, Independence, be taken centre of the
Mississippi valley, the transit thence Virginia to
Hampton Roads is by many miles the shortest of all
the approaches from the West to the Atlantic. The
capacity OF that valley for furnishing exports oil cereals
may be inferred from the productions of Ohio in 1885,
10 that year the wheat crop of that was esrnat
ed to t. $4,000 GOO of bushels Of which she consumed
in the same 64,OC 900, of which she fed |
to her stock 100000, exported 100000 in bulk |
and fed to fat animals, which driven to market,
10000 COO. SO, therefore, but for the of trans.
por'ation. Ohio alone would have exported in that
40, coo 0C0 bushels of wheat and Indian corn
The statistics OF the New York and Ohio canals ex.
hbit the fact that bat very nconsderable portion Of
Indian is sent to market from distance greater
than The eastern shores of Lake Erica fact which |
demonstrates that Virginia lines Of tanspor alton
and Chesapeake ports will monopolize the Indian
The subject OF osr great rail roads has been dwet
upon at come length. IN order to dlsabuse the public
mind in Virginia of prevailing prejudice, induced |
by the want of due reflection that the public works
OF the State are antagonists and rivals and in ORDER
IT possible, TO put an end to the mutual hosities |
which unfortunately prevail between their respective
friends. Nothing is wanting to The rapid prospery
OF the Commonwealth but harmony and concert Of |
action among these great interests. Conflicts between
hausag the means of the State upon works of sec
ondary consequence. 1t is yitaly important that the
resources OF the treasury should be concentrated up
on our leading enterprises and applied with system
ATTIC economy, but enlightened liberality, conpet-
ing the great system OF Improvements in which the
State IS engaged. The completion OF these, instead
OF hnang them competing with each other for trade
VIII only find them laying down additional tracks and |
engaged in augmenting efforts to accommodate the
accumnlatlng commerce pressing upon them for tran
sit.
II the good fortune of the Board to be able TO an.
nounce that Notwithstanding the embarrassment nre-
yalng IN the monetary affairs of the country, the
'i| S'oo oC Hoiiig iof IItgUeT premiums than
they have ever before commanded. While this is so
OF the present me the finances of the State have inst
emerged rom an important crisis. The difficulties
which presented themselves to the Board during the
year can scarcely be ind erstood by those not familiar
WIN me duties imposed upon them by the laws
Inc appropriations oil the last three years to works
OF internal Improvement, have far exceeded what was
ever before known in the history Of The Common
wealth. So considerable and Sudden was the increase
of the public debt that serious apprehensons tor he
pnnc credit began to be entertained by discreet and
rejecting men,. The engagements into which the
otale mad already solemnly entered, amounted to an
been realized before in year from the sale of Stare
eonds.he only mode provided by law for procuring
lanos 10 aeay inc costs oil public works. whether con-
atructed by Joint stock companies or wholv mon
State account. The Commonwealth, by various SEN en-.
acmens, directed the Board Of Putlic Works 10 snh,
scribe 70 great number Of ioinl stock cnnnnanios