Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-01-22

what the aggregate would De any Senteman Can
tcypher out.
Take, for instance Orange, Alamance, Guilford,
Stokes, Forsythe, Randolph, Davidson, Surry, Yad-
kin, Ashe, Watauga, Davie, Rowan, Cabarrns,
IredelI, Alexander, cleveland, Caldwell, Wilkes,
Burke, Mcdowell, Rutherford, I'uncombe, Yancy,
Haywood, Macon, Henderson, Cherokee, Madison,
and Jackson, and suppose they could export an
average of 100000, land the little county of Pas
quotank does this,) it would make ever 100000.
If such the present amount of their exports, they
pay for it $2,25OOOO, of which, by railroad, they
would save at least 50, 100000 and if they do
not export half of this amount, it is all for the
want Of means Of getting to market
Nor will it do to say that railroad would des-
troy the vocation and the profits of wagoners. It
is singular fact that, though the producer pays
fourth of the value of his article to get it to
market, the carrier makes nothing. A railroad
would actually increase the business of these
their number would be multiplied, and hauling
shorter distances, with more to do and sure certain
business, their profits would lie enhanced. Sir,
when the producer is making, all those who carry
and trade in his articles can make when he can
make nothing, the carrier cannot make. Now,
they share the losses and labors between them;
with better state of things they would share the
profits.
And, Mr.. Speaker, let tell you secret-a
secret worth knowing, and one which, if generally
known, would change the sentiments of many gen
tlemen this floor in regard to the proposed bill.
That secret, sir, is this: that the more you tax
State, up to certain point, for works OF internal
improvement, the lighter you make the taxes in
proportion to the means of the people. This, sir,
is not paradox and let me proceed at oEce, and
with a very few facts, to demonstrate its truth.
l hold in my hands a memorandum, which will
read:
The report on the last census show that &c The
Farm lands Of the United States are set down as
amounting to 1lS,457 ,622 acres of improved, and
1S4, 621, 349 of unimproved total 3O3,O7S,97O
acres, worth in the average $40 per acre. The
average value of the Farm lands of Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jer-
sey, and Pennsylvania is about $50 per acre New
Jersey highest, Pennsylvania lowest } while Maine
New Hampshire and Vermont average about $15.
per acre. We are rather surprised to see the Farm
lands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi anu Tennessee, valued in the
average below SIS per acre. Should the average
be made in North Carolina alone, | fear it would
fall on the average as low as 50 per acre."
In connection with this statement may remark
that three hundred millions of dollars would be
liberal estimate of the present value of all the pro-
perty Of the State real personal and mixed; and
that to make this amount, the land will have to be
valued at an average of at least two dollars per
acre.
Now will not contend-I might contend. but
ments would bring up our lands to an average
equal to that of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
but l will insist and challenge denial of the
proposition that 1t would at least treble the pre-
sent valuation, bringing up the lands to an average
of six dollars per acre. will also boldly assert
that the value of personal property would be treb-
led ought to assert and maintain that it would
be increased ten fold IN ten years. Take a single
fact the coal on Deep river may lie estimated at
one hundred and fifty millions of tons-a very low
estimate This may be valued at one hundred and
fifty millions of dollars; and to deyelope this will
require an Investment in boats, wharves houses
shops, factories and villages of one hundred and
fifty millions more. Thus the improvement of the
navigation Of the Cape Fear would alone add as
much to the value of the State as she is now worth
and it would be much below the mark to assert
that appropriation Of five millions of dollars
would bring up the valuation of the State from
three hundred millions to one thousand millions of
dollars. That is five millions would yield seven
hundred millions and this seven hundred millions
being taxed ut the rates which our present three
hundred millions worth is taxed would pay for all
the improvements. Thus though the aggregate
amount of taxes would be enormously increased the
rate Of taxation would remain; and these taxes
would be collected from people more happy and
contented, and a population rapidly increasing.
with the pleasures of existence multiplied ten
fold
But this is not ALL In such a state of things
the taxes would be more equally dffused over the
State and our rich eastern friends would no longer
have the sad luxury Of complaining that they pay
all the taxes.
Nor is this all yet; for if our 800 millions
should be increased to 1000 millions, improve
ments would become capital investments, and more
than pay for themselves. They would be over
crowded with business and their income would
pay back the cost of construction while they would
be adding so prodigiously to the taxable property
of the country. Our Treasury, therefore, would
overflow; and them sir, we could add new and
large sums to our Literary Fund, and make ar
rangements for the education of every child in the
State.
All judicious Improvements auxiliary to each
other; and all combine to develop that chief growth
of earth, man, to stimulate his powers to ennoble
his faculties, and to minister to his happiness.
All these Improvements tend also to multiply
employments and this is a fact which universal
experience affords to theory. 1t was once thought,
and somo reasoning priori still contend, that the
invention of labor saving machines throws people
out of employment; but such has never yet proved
to be the fact. Take State without improve
ments there are but two callings, and these
are laborious and pay badly, while a vast portion
Of the population driven off or left in idle pow
ertv. Take any State earth with many i'm
provcments, and we find an opening for every BODY
We all know that mankind are created with an
infinite variety of tastes ATTITUDES and necesstias