Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-05
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

for copy of a very interesting report on the
present condition of Virginia's (State) fnan-
cial affairs, bearing date Feb 9th uIt. Itis
from the pen Of that worthy scion Of al, useful,
honorable and honored stock for generations
past, James Barbour, Esq. the delegate from,
Culpeper.
1t is Of general public interest from the fact
its figures prove that there is no other State Of
the Confederacy whose financial affairs are in
healthier condition, Notwithstanding Virginia
has for some years has been leading the van in
the matter of developing her resources by the
construction of internal improvements, which,
when finished, as very few Of them are yet,
will 20 far towards relieving her citizens from
any taxation whatever. Our limits forbid ex-
tensive quotations from this important and in
tsresting paper, though We cannot resist the
temptation to -republish for the benefit of our
readers dealing at times in stocks and bonds,
the peroration Of the report, as follows:
The Commonwealth has acquired and now
holds and stocks amounting to 500, l99, Ago So or
this amount the Second Auditor has classed as
productive 81 SIS ,s55 10, placing in this class
only those upon which interest was actually re-
celved during the last year. To this amount may
be added about 5000, 700, which will be produc-
ance OF the $50 1873 SO consists of stocks in
internal improvement companies.
OF the stocks classified by the Second Auditor
as unproductive, SD, "A O6 consist Of stock hed
by the Commonwealth in railroad companies.
Very few of our railroads have been completed,
and no dividends can be derived from those
which are not completed. Of the value of these
stocks, however, we may form an estimate from
the fact that individuals and corporations have
invested two dollars for every three dollars in
vested bv the State, with the exception of about
three millions, which have been expended upon
State works.
If the expectations of those who are more i'm.
mediately interested in these companies shall be
realized, most of them, when completed, will
Yield the state a return upon her investment, and
will then con ribue diIertly to the relief of the
tax payers. The treasury of the State derives no
inconsiderable benefit from our internal improve
ments, apart from what we may receive merely
as stool holder. An increased value is impaired
to the property OF the country penetrated by these
works. The recent assessment shows that the
value Of the real estate in the Commonwealth az
assessed for taxation in 1856 exceeds the assessed
value in 1850 by the sum of sos, IA, $50. An in-
crease of 2 per cent. has thus been realized with
In the short period Of six years. Our annual
official returns exhibit steady increase in the
assessed valuation Of our other property and in
our free and slave population.
These results afford gratifying testimony that
the policy heretofore pursued by this Common
wealth has not injuriously affected the interests
OF her citizens, but has contributed to enhance
their property and streng then their numbers As
an illustration of the extent to which our invest
ments in the stocks Of internal improvement CON-
panles have contributed to enhance the value of
taxable property, reference to a table will show
that in fourteen counties within the influence of
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad the assessed
value of real estate has increased from $40 al9
$50 In 1850 to 1876 ,2g ,il6 in 1856 aording an adj
dltion TO the taxable value of real estate within
six years of SIC, SIS, 93l. The increased valua-
ton OF real estate in these fourteen counties is
50 per cent, and constitutes than one sixth
Of the increase in the assessed value of all the
real estate in this Commonwealth 1t is fair to
estimate that similar increase In the values of
other taxable property has been experienced in
the same counties. In these fourteen counties
we are deriving from our present tax on the
value added to real estate since 1850 annual rev.
enue of S67 ,379 50.
The whole outstanding debt of this State
amounts, In round numbers, to So, 900 900 The
State owns bonds and stocks, as before stated to
the amount Of $50, 0O0, 900. The taxable property
OF the state at its assessed valuation amounts to
nearly SoOO,OOO,OUO. Our annual revenue under
existing laws Is sufficient to defray the current
expenses of the government, to pay the annual
interest on our existing debt, and a sinking fund
SUFFICIENT to redeem the principal within thirty
four years. and after the close Of the next fiscal
ear, Will leave an annual surplus Of 81 600 900
TIE SoUrH Pass WAGoN-RoAD EXPEDITION.
&c, &C.-By a private letter from a gentle
man of the party, We are enabled to lay before
our readers the following intelligence from the
camp Of the South Pass Wagon-road expedi-
ton, on Wind river, received by the last ar
rival from the plains
This camp is about thirty. five miles from the
south Pass, In due nOrtherIy direction II 4,
called Fort Thompson; so styled in compliment
to the Secretary of the Interior. 1t Is UOU feet
lower than the South Pass; Rocky Ridge a long
spur OF the Wind-river mountains, divides il
from the Pass. Ii rains at the camp on Wind
rlver when ii SHOWS on Roc XIV X idge over which
the L tab army was compelled to pass to oct to
Hams Fork and Fort Bddger After crossing
ninety miles over sand plains without grass
Wind river Is in tue Buffalo country and Is the
fdvorlte wintering ground of the eastern Shosho-
NE Indians Here it was that Chief Engineer
La d., OF the wagon road expedition, proposed
wILtering b s. advance party, Tad not the main
expedition arriv, d.
Superintendent Mlgraw, who was at this camp
when the advance party of exploring engineers
lrft for the States, soon afterwa DIS Joined the
Utah army. H. took with him many of his men
As volunteers, and over one hundred Of tle best
mules, third part Of which have since died of
exposure and from want of grass The weaker
animals were placrd in charge of fourteen men
al Wind river. A log house was built, contain
Ing seven comfortable rooms a fine corral was
e'ectfd, aud On December Sth, the date Of our
correspondents letter, with the exception of two
men who had left camp to convey salt to the
Utah army, the lite party remained comfortably
housed aud the one hundrt d mules Were all alive
u o'J iceu OF Ounch grass had been suffi cient
To keep the latter in good order and they Were
i2htly corraled. Some appr-hensions were en-
RETAINED of an attack from the Crow Indians
but the chiefs Of the Shoshonees, encamped with
their tribe at short distance from Fort Thomp-
son, had Promised to guard the herd of animals
and protect the party.
A cess to th camp is easy ON the States and
Passage can be made from il to Bear river valley
and the Sreat Salt Lake, north of the Wind river
by the plains OF the reat Snake river
Ii +. Ficklin, member of Lander's advance
exploring party had gone from the head quarters
OF the army to the Flat Head country by the line
of valleys which extend from Wind River north.
His trip would be hazardous until reaching the
Snake River, after which the whole country is
open. Ficklin was accompanied by Ned Will
u imson, monntaineer and a member Of Lam
RS party OF last year. when the upper passes of
the Wahsatch Range were explored. The line
ofcanntry followed by Ficklin Is grassed through
out the year and rarely covered with snow He
will return by the old route described by Father
Desnet The chief difficulty TO be apprehended
Is the waylaYing of his return train by the Sal
mon river MormOns and by the predatory bands
Of Blackfeet Indians.
As there is very little snow between Fort La
ram and Snake River, north Of the Wind River
m aims. tn .OuCh 1ed ,ba p,,t4.