The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-16

tersDurSWhen the state shall IN addition 20 the inn
povement of the navigation Of the James river have sent
line of railroad directly down 10 thirty feet Of water at
some eligible point the Hampton Roads-when these,
the chief of these works shall have been accomplished
will have diated back TO every point Of the interior
confluence of the trade OF the continent will have taken
place. through its centre, the shortest lines in the
best temperature of climate, and conveyance OF trans
portaton and concentration of wealth and population
will be found at point where there harbor spacious
enough and deep enough for all the merchant and naval
marine of the world and afordng site for city rival
ling in the of time New York London. And the
accomplishment of this confluence and conveyance and
concentration will find Virginia empire in hersef
he anomalous condition Of Old State taf all de ndeoeed
resources Of a State and Of State ruth all he ameora-
tons Of old STATE Her old Eastern fields derded for
exhaustion will not be counted any longer curse, for
they cleared of the virgin forest which requires
much work for the logwood in the hands of first la
borers in the States and the ways will then be
opened to fields of coal and iron and limestone of the
richest quality and greatest variety in immediate nxta
position tenold larger than those OF Pennsy TO
mines of copper Of unknown extent to innumembe
and exhaustess springs of SALT which bubble up from
tural crevices and through arteian bores with napha
and gas perform all the OF light and fuel without
wood coal TO the luxuIant pastures OF more than ten
thousand hills and valleys uncropped by horses
cattle, mules, swine and to a sheep walk for wool
wealth unequalled in Saxony England to greater ex
tent of water power for manufacturing than is known in
any other territory Of the dimensions: To noun
tain forests of giant timber without stint and To the
lumber of the low lands of the growth in salt air
the test for ship building to immense fisheries of shad
and herring, and great variety of other floating fish in
every river of the eastern slope to Jus pJao of more
than 900 square miles of oysters and other shell fish, yield
ing than 80 900 900 of bushels, and employing
nearly 100 600 tons of coastng vessels to every variety
Of soil for agriculture horticulture and aboriculture in
every variety of climate from sites for the turnp the
garden for the strawberry, the peach the pomegranate
and the fig, sweet as those of Smyrna to these all
those--and resources in Kuyuaia's Hais and
now undeveoped and almost untouched And this will
show you that Virginia counted and uncounted wealth
alone is enough to justify all her expenditure and
ton, past and prospective. But if Vrgiaia
from, dc saJoad 10 e Ohio without 1.-THE of this perpct
ua resource still the back country beyond her is inter
minable and cxhausess and her eligibility Of track far is
produce is worth tcnfold more millions than she
be called on to expend. track simply Mediterranean,
her temperate line Of latitude of 49, due west from
the Chesapeake to the Ohio, and from the Ohio to the
Mississippi would TO ennelate nothing else, add two
months of labor to Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Michigan,
Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and the whole Northwest,
against the obstruction Of frost in winter the northern
lines to the Atlantic and against the low stages Of water
in the western rivers IN summer and would millions
worth per Of western -four from souring, and OF
western pork from spelling, by being sent through
lines instead of South, down the river by New Orleans
and through the Gulf of Mexico.
And that track does not stop at the Mississippi but
goes To the gold mines of California, and takes the
China trade at San Francisco, and brings along with
back the continental trade of North America, in belt
expanding from the Mesla valley in the southwest to
Minnesota in the northwest, and conyerging through
Texas Arkansas, and Tennessee the southern, and
through Iowa. Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
the north limb TO the focus of the trade with Europe al
the mouth of the Chesapeake the last and only point fit
for large shipping between Philadelphia and New Orleans
all the rest Of the coast being Haeras bound. The
track Of lightning after light around the globe is directly
over and North America from the Chesapeake to
Sn Francisco and when it reaches there it will telegraph
it has the otherAmerica China, England
America! With our connexions and Pacific road
on this track will heap up plbuum enough on the
yarfn nj all
Europe ASIA Africa and South America without touch
ing the transit of the ishmus of Central America
Me continent, IN The temperate soe w Prom letter for Tie
population Of he gloJe.
TO complete some Of the principal works and put in
progress other works in the next ten years Virginia will
require for Covington and Ohio road IS, 600, 900
james river and Kahawha canal 10000, goo
Other works 200, 900
$4,000, 900
This expenditure can be economically applied in appro-
prations Of 81 800 900 per annum; and at per cent
the average additional annual required in the ten
years would be about 100000 per annum on this
debt
The old debt of the State is $40 900 900
Deduct the States assets, in the aggregate
10 millions, but available--- 6,000, 900
Leaving to provide revenue for 10000, 900
Interest old debt then, at per cent- 81 400 900
Average interest new debt for ten years 500, 900
Civil expenses per annum-- 600, 900
$500, 900
Contingencies ------ -------- 400, 900
Average expenses for next ten years- 5000, 900
The of the State are
From taxation, under present rates S2,s1s, 900
From increased assessment of lands 100
millions ------------------------- 400, 900
Total means applicable ----------- 3,2ls, 900
Thus If the legislature will not disturb the existing
laws and not lower the present rates of taxation for
few years only, may, with present and certain means
abundanty provide for all the expenses Of government
for the sinking fund Of the old debt and for appropria
tons of at least So 500 900 per annum to public works
And people able and willing TO bear this burden
for decade two rather than sacrifice the expenditures
already made rather than dslonor the State credit and