Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-09-09


cccd 226 miles. Then tax Of produce at l,676
cents per ton per mile, (thc average charge
Enstwardly on the Baltimore, will amount
To S3.7S. On the the Canal the freights can
not exceed 6 mills, and the tolls must be re.
duced to mills, equal TO cent per ton per
mile. tho cost of transportation. Then 237
mile the distance from Covington TO Rich
mond is equal TO $237. per ton; and the entire
cost OF transporting one ton OF produce by the
Railroad and Canal, will not exceed $6.15;-
now ask II there be any Improvement from
the OHIO To the Atlantic cities, that can trans
port as cheaply as this Let mo suggest an.
other reason why the great lines of improve
mont should be completed as soon rs possible:
1t IS that money is moro abundant than it was
ever known before. and if the mines of Cali
fornia and Australia, continue 10 produce as
much gold MS they have done for the last few
years, it must rapidly depreciate, and CORES.
ponding appreciation in everything else. This
will enable the State to sell her stocks ut hleh
prices, (witness the last sales in New York at
Sll2) and when the debt becomes due to pay
ii with ease. For if property appreciate, The
revenue will increase in the sume ratio, with
out any increase of Taxation.
am aware that some persons contend that
the principle should be adhered To in all Gus ses
that 2 5ths Of the said stock should be subscribed
by individuals or corporations, when appropri.
ations are made by The State. But this rule
were in all cases to be insisted on there would
be sections of Virginia entirely deprived o. all
advantages from in nal improvements, and
the people locked up in their mountain ast-
nesses forever. If this rule be adhered to in all
cases, no lmprov ement, however important.
could be made in Virginia; unless city were
nhla md l,pu IN nf
the State is able and willing to subscribe 2 5ths
of the stock to a Railroad of any importance.
Look at our improvementG--lhe James River
and Kanawha Company received subscrip.
lions from Richmond and the Bank of Virginia
for over IS 900 900. The Virginia and Ten
ncssee Railroad received a subscription from
Lynchburg of 100000, and but for this sub
scrption could never have succeeded in obtain
ing 2-5ths of tho stock. The Danville Road.ihe
South Side, and the Orange and Alexandra
Railroads, had 10 look TO Richmond. Peters
burg and Alexandria for assistance; and could
not have raised the 25th, but for the aid each of
these cities rendered TO the Road they ielt in
terested in.
All those improvements had to rely on tho
cities interested in their success, or their chart
ors would have been forfeited.
| contend that whenever an improvement
runs through large section Of the State, and
the receipts after paying expenses will proba-
bly, pay the interest on its cost, it ought To be
made, whether the citizens arc able or not 10
subscribe
MIR. President, the connection of the East
ern and Western waters has found in me no
new advocate for, thirty years ago, when a
member Of the Legislature, from the county of
Gloucester, | advocated appropriation OF
$3,000,000 10 make that connection; and If that
appropriation had been made and the improve
ment completed, Richmond and Norfolk would
now have been cities equal perhaps TO New
York, and Virginia equal in population and re-
sources to any State of this great confelera-
cy. a gain, in lS47, / advocated connection
by Railroad Of the eastern and western waters
then urged in u speech delivered at Wythe-
vile its great importance, and notwithstand
ing it has been published, yet think may be
pardoned for reading small portion Of that
speech
"In a political point Of view, this improve
ment ought to be greatly desired. 1t will not
only increase the feelings of affection between
citizens of the different sections of this State-
not only add to her wealth, population and re-
sources, but will unite tho Western States with
bands of iron; yea, | may say, with bands of
gold, to this good old Commonwealth; aud if
there be any thing that can ever stay in The
Northwestern States the mod spirit OF Aboli
tonism, it will be sclf.ncrest; and what inter-
est be so strong to prevent this spirit of
evil, as that Virginia has The power to stop the
principal outlet for their productsf 1t will
also produce free intercourse between item
and US, and they will find that the Virg nia
slaves are perhaps the happiest laborers in the
world, and that their sympatnios have hereto
fore been improperly excited. But do not
intend to dwell upon the political aspect Of the
snbject, notwithstanding know that the bo-
som Of every true Vrg ginian would swell with
patriotic devotion-that he would hug with
delight to his heart any scheme which will re-
store his native State to the rank she formerly
held in the Union; and if she DC ever thus re-
stored-if her minera and agricultural resour-
ces be ever fully developed-ifher waste fields
and unnhabited forests ever wave with gol-
den harvests-ifever tceming millions be found
within har bordera II will bo affected bv these