Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-16
Internal improvements.

first view but not greater we believe than is JUS
tilted by the advantages reasonably to be anticipa-
ted from the completion of the aeadiug improve
mentS. And, moreover, large portion OF the
profits ofour railroads, which mHst be very great
when the works are completed, will pass into the
State treasury, and thus go to diminish the amount
Of taxes assessed upon the people.
From speech delivered bv JosEpH SreAR,
Esq, in the House Of Delegates, we learn that all
the railroads in the State are at present doing
good business. The Central road received, for
trade and traffic the past year, one hundred and
seventysiX thousand doars,-6 per cent on the
capital expended from Richmond to Mechum's
River, to which point it is in operation. The
Danvlle road, completed only seventy three miles,
is yielding Shopper day The Orange aud Alex
andria road, completed to Culpeper Court house,
stxty-six miles, is taking in $500 per day! The
Manassas Gap road as yetonly thirty three miles
In length, is realizing S240 per day! And the
Virginia and Tennessee road, completed to Salem
is taking in Shopper day The reason why these
Improvements have as yet made little show
in the way of dividends is, that for the want of
other means their net profits have been appropria-
ted to the further extension of the works, provid
ing equiments, sc. When the roads are compile
ted, however. and in full operation, they will in
evitably yield handsome revenue.
II is not improbable that some of the recent ap-
Preparations, which We may consider inexpedent.
were carried through both Houses by the usual
system of log rolling. But, Notwithstanding that
system is worthy of severe denunciation, it will
always be practised to some extent in Legislative
bodies and if the success of great measure de-
ponds upon even throwing away a small sum of
money upon unimportant works, it is better to do
1t than to lose the greater good. When all the
leading lines are provided for, they will be indie
pendent of lesser schemes, and the latter can be
considered and acted upon as they come up with a
sole reference to their individual merits The
sooner our works of primary importance are placed
in that position the better, evidently.
Those of our readers who have given attention
to our weekly synopsis of legislative proceedings,
are informed to the character of all the bills to
which we have referred. The bill appropriating
81 100000 to construct railroad from Coyington
to the Ohio river, after being amended by the Sem
ate so as to appropriate $500 900 annually, for six
years, but which amendment was not concurred
in BY the House, was finally passed by the Senate
in its original form. 1t is not presumed of course
that the work can be completed for that sum, and
Nrn woul] have heon olod if tho HouSo boI oCrooJ
to the Sepate's amendment but the State being
thus committed to the work the Legislature will
hereafter, doubtless, make further appropriations
for its completion.
A question of considerable importance. connect
ed with this work, was under discussion in the
House of Delegates, last week. The James Riv
er and Kanawha Company have preference ove-
the R. R. Company, in the right of way and loca
ton of their improvement from Coyington to the
Ohio; and although the idea of extending the ca
nal beyond CovingtOn or Clifton Forge may be re
garded as abandoned, yet their right cannot be in
friSged. If, therefore, the railroad is subjected to
the necessity Of securing the right ofway now
claimed by the canal, the cost of its construction
viii be increased from 100000 to ST 100000
according to the estimate of Mr.. SHAW, the Enpi-
neer. To induce the James River and Kanawha
Company to surrender their right. Mr.. MBopEN
has proposed an amendment to the bill authrzinr
loan to the Company, making that condition
precedent. An animated discussion was had upon
il on Thursday and Friday, when the subject was
postponed until the 18th instant. The anti-inter
nal improvement Party-and the peculiar friends
OF the.Southslde and Virginia and Tennessee rail
roads were united in opposing the amendment
their wish being, it is believed, to enbarrass and
delay, if not finally prevent the construction orthe
Covington and Ohio Railroad.
The only other bill in N'hieh we feel a special
interest, is that appropriatiag three fths of $780,
OOO to construct Railroad from Richmond to
some point on York River This scheme was
brought prominently to the attention of the public.
In the first place, by letter from Mr.. SHAW to
the President of the Central Railroad Company.
published in December, 1851. 1t originated in
desire to preclude the possibility of tonnage being
diverted from the Central Road to Alexandria or
Baltimore. The length Of the road viii be forty
miles, and at the point Of terminus on York River
it is supposed place will spring up which will
be the "Pireus of Richmond" and confer upon il
advantages unknown to any Southern city.
We congratulate our representatives in theLcg-
islature, and our readers generally, on the success
otthe great measures already passed. A bright
day, we trust, is about to dawn upon the State
Or A Col. P. w. Porter, of Tennessee, has
invented rifle which is said to be one of the
wonders of the age The Richmond Dispatch
says 1t can be fred with certainty and without the
danger OF explosion, at least forty times in mip-