Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-01-23

pay.
Jan. %, 1858.
Cur Prospectus-Internal Improvement.
: We publish in our issue Of to-day, Pro
tposais for extending the usefulness of the
"Vindicator," by 'devoting considerable
portion of its columns to Internal Improve
inent, and to the development Of the mine
raj, commercial, manufacturing and agri-
cultural resources Of Virginia.
1t seems to us that such paper is a de-
sidcratum in our State, and, indeed, the
only thing wanting to open the eyes of our
people to the great advantages we possess
to arouse their enterprise, and make Viz
ginia the greatest State in the Union.
The genius of Clinton pointed New Y ork,
little over thirty years ago, to the advan-
tagcs of the connection with the Lakes, and
through them with the great Valley of the
Mississippi. She heard his voice of wisdom
above the din Of demagogues and small pol
lticians who opposed him, and already, with
natural advantages greatly inferior to ours,
in every respect, she commands the trade
of the Union and Of the world. Her popu
latlon is greatly more than quadrupled-
her wealth and prosperity know no bounds
her expenditure, made in order to attain
her present enviable position, though great,
infinitely greater than ours need be, is small
and insignificant compared to the triumph
she has achieved-the empire she has won.
Maryland, at a much later period, en-
dorsed the example Of New York, and with
natural advantages yet inferior to hers, the
little State Of Maryland has brayely entered
on the race for empire, and through noun
tain passes and over mountain tops, regard
less of expense, and Of the most appalling
obstacles, has constructed magnificent
work, connecting her city with the Valley
of the Mississippi, but at distance and
over difficult grades, which would have dis
.couragcd AN ordinary spirit Of enterprise =
Yet, even sac, has been amply remunerated
and her great Railroad is pouring wealth
and power into her lap.
Virginia has yet to learn that she DOS
scsses the shortest and easiest access to the
great and constantly increasing trade of the
sWcst-that she has only to rouse herself
from her slumbers, and stretch forth her
arm, to clutch it, and hold it forever against
all competition that on this whole CONT
4nent ftese ls.no connection 50 short, and
presenting so few obstacles between the At
lantlc shores and the Mississippi Valley, as
that through the very heart and centre of
her territory that for less than onc-tenth
OF the expenditure incurred by New York
she can make that connection, and forever
after command the trade and commerce
which accumulate over more than five thou
sand miles of Steamboat Navigation, thro'
valleys more fertile than the Nile, in spite
of all the efforts of New York, Baltimore,
and the rest of the world combined. The
beautiful ports Of Richmond, York River.
Alexandria and Norfolk, the finest in the
world, stand ready to receive this rich COM
mcrce and wait it over the seas.
We should remember, too, that in max
ing these connections with NEWEST we are
at the same time opening up the vast
resources of Our osTn State-furnishine to
our own people facilities to market-increas-
ing the value Of our own nds-discover-
ing our mineral treasures and making them
avaAable-enlightening our citizens by
bringing them into communication with each
other and with the world-that these advan-
tages are by no means insignificant, but
would, by themselves, more than repay the
cost Of our great works
The coal and salt of the KanawhaaV al
iey-the coal and gypsum ond lead, and
all the other minerals of the Southwest.
have lain for centuries in the bowels of the
earth, and only useful to small neighbor-
hoods where they are found. The watering
regions of Virginia, containing every con-
ceivable variety Of medicinal water, have
been reached by only. a fowover painful and
dangerous roads. The fertile lands of Wes-
tern Virginia have lain uncultivated and
.unHihabited. The development of them alone
would enrich the State and fill her treasury
with an increased revenue, which would
more than pay for the necessary improve
mcnts.
Cur object will be to bring out in bold
relief before the eyes of the people the ad-
vantages Of the course we advocate-to fur-
pish them with documentary evidence and
with facts which cannot mislead-indicatine
what should be the policy of the State. Our
guide -saall be tx. glory and interest of the
''ehese sstate snd of every part of it. No
sectional feeling shall be permitted to influ-
ancc our course. But it will rather be our