Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-28


Demonstrating single main or frank lime through
the centre of the State, and OF giving only 10 this
the aid of the State. 1t is well known that our
population is not dense enough nor is capltai suic
emily diffused, to make the construction OF these
expensive works possible by individual investments
alone. And it is equally understood, that IN the
southen States especially, wealth, where 1t exists
not in form capable of being useu cohsenen'y
for such investment; is not easily conVerloie, do
expressed in the CONNER ciai world many OF our
people being rich in land and slaves not money
and another fact has been well asccrtaned by all
those who have endeaVored to get subScrptiohS ~,
stock to any scheme proposed tact morti1ylng anu
deplorable but undoubted, that those who have cap
ital, and those who are to be most oenenteeu ny
these works, the most reluctant and the most
backward contributors f aid. The men OF moucfate
means-the enterprising, working men OF the coun-
try being the constructors, capital can be foiced 10
the Just contribution due from 1t IN the IN
fancy of public works; and so long only do these
works need aid that is, by taxation for revenue:
This is the protection of the poor, the sautary ana
Just enforcement of the Liberal capitalist 1t is equa-
ble because it requires those to pay, according TO
their means and benefit VINO profted by improve
ments, and those to pay most largely, where the i'm,
provements made; thereby working general
good to the people and the State. In order then to
do Justice and right to all sections far as Is prac-
ticable your committee believe and have SO recon-
mended that public improvem, nts should be con-
str,Icted wherever in the different sections OF the
State the wants of the communities and the peculiar
location indicate their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by con-
plank roads, navigation. And this must and well
at an early day, be done \ judicious and prudent
policy would suggest that it be done gradually; not
with over haste with caution, but with safe
progress. Those sections of the State not now pro-
vded for instantly should remember that 1t Is hard
y possible at to do everything for every quar-
ter that needs ought to have add and those sec
tons failing to be provided for this session of the
Assembly, must have their just claims recognized
and granted at another; since the objections made
to some local schemes, are based not upon any OPP
position 20 them, but upon doubt as to the pro-
priety of undertaking too much at 1t should
be well Remembered by these sections however, that
the day has now passed 10y when any antimprovc-
nent people receive the same consideration, at
the halls of legislation those who ftvOrabet to
the policy adopted by the will of the people Of the
State and when any section NAV desire just aid it
always be best obtained by representatives left
free to in spirit Of general Hbcray, or better
still by such specially Instructed TO act in this
spirit, according to the Will of their constituents
Your committee have said, that in their opinion
the proper policy of improvements is to carry ont
general system. What other policy could with JUS
tice he adopted? Years since, the State gave her
aid to two railroads, is wei. known, in two sec
tons Of our territory. When, six years ago the
question came up the North Carolina Railroad
bill its passage claimed by the people of middle
and western North Carolina right due to them.
1t WAS hardly contested ami only carried by the pa
trotc and SclfSacriiicng of few bold men;
and what has not this road done already: 1t has !
done enough to abundanly repay the Investment, II
there could be other return IN arrcStlnS the lille
flood of emigration that desolating the State,
and in making North Carolina hearts, North CARROLL
ma feeling, NorthGarolina pride and character, where !
none of all this existed before in giving an onward
movement from dead inactiOn in showing the peo- |
pie the value and necessity of such works. 1t has !
raised up life from stagnation made prosperity in
end of gloom and for these good results may well
be regarded, even so far, bencacton to the State
at large. Your committee cannot hold such doctrine /
that this work. any work, ought to be Sustain
ed at the expense of all Others 1t would be the act
of partial parent to make one favored line or out
let and leave all others to per Sh. The system |
adopted and this road as located is believed to be
right. 1t has been directed by the influences which
Justly control-the influences of individual enter |
prise, and energy, and capital.
As respects the State debt for her present interest
on works of improvement, the aggregate amount Is !
less than three millious OF this two millions /
count of the North Carolina Railroad; of the balance,
her stock in the Raleigh and CASTOR road pays INFO
the treasury PEI cent. dividends in the Whining ,
ton road per cent; in the Fayetteville plankroad |
s per cent; leaving unproductve, only the unfin
ished work of Deep, NcuSc, and Tar rivers. The !
two ends Of the North Carolina Railroad construct /
ed for seventy miles the eastern. and over forty |
miles on the western end, paying far beyond !
what multiplication an unfinished work, the !
most fattcring profits. This is not very gloomy
prospect for the dollars and cents of The
investments, though it has been referred to some |
times hopeless debt for which interest must be
provided by taxation. We hear of State debt, with ;
word of State credit, for all the wonderful and
happy results Is it to be considered at all possible
that Investments paving full per of interest
in the infancy of works, will not pay when the .
works completed, and the prosperity they bring
is established? Everywhere have these enterprises
been conducted we'll and protitably-in North Caro-
lima alone they cannot, in the opinion of some, be
done safely or jud;ciouSy! We are then to be
sidered exception in capabty, have been
made in condition, in time past But have these !
Investments further objects? is the State look
ing to nothing beyond the paying value of her stocks
in these works? Many of US have supposed this to
be but secondary consideration that the first great
object to advance the general welfarc-deveope
the locked up resources increase the prosperity of
the people, and so proportonably increase that of
the State. Look at the Wilmington read it has in
creased the value of taxable estate in Wilmington
four fold has built commercial city; has appre-
ciated immensely the whole region along its line;
has made towns spring up where none existed before
barren lands fertile in Observation-Disclosures valua-
bic in material: at the Raleigh and CASTOR road,
what has it not done for the counties on its line
or Franklin, Granville Warren? At the North Caro-
ina road the assessed value of taxable real estate
more than doubled line of 223 miles! passing
through the heart of the State for capablity of pro-
1uctveness energies of the people aroused the
whole country within its range, embracing extent
Of not less than thirty miles each side, already,
pr aspect Of better day. stimulated to greatly in
creased production, the lethargy of long years bro
Ken at last immigration stepped short manufacto-
les rising into life, mineral wealth opened the
light! Are these wonderful results nothing to pay
back to the State substantial results moth
ng to plead for extension, enlargement of a
yStem which thus diffuSes, under the hand of Be-