Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16
For me enquirer.
THE LEGISLATURE INTERNAL IMPROVE
MENTS 20.

Messrs Ediiors:-From the reported condition OF
our Legislature yesterday, conciuIe TUG. WI" ,
continue the session the mos If NOT al ne tune tue
Consultation permits; and feeling deep interest, III
common with the thinking taxpayers OF me stare,
have determined, through your coluuus' 10 lhahe
few suggestions and remark or Two u lne p'e'n
bers of the Legislature And, first, sugeest that, ID
nv opinion the session should be continued I'LL every
dollar that can be raised without increasing the tax
on the subjects taxed last year, 10 aPPloPlaee u
certain of our rail roads. And. next, suggest no
more can be done, that $5l6 4lS 'S De aPproprateg
from the treasury to the extension OF ana
Alexandria Rail Road from Charlotesve t 10 nsnch men
burg. The citizens on that extension nave G suo
scri6ed and paid $344y78 70; and to make inc STATE
three.flths stakeholder she must now suoscrioe ano
nav s5l64lS O8, as above stated. further suggest,
If This sum is insufficient ss infer it H. 70 compete
the line and equip IT, and in reach OF inc hnanceH'
that the Stale appropriate three fths OF the sum ne
cesssry, in addition, to complete and equip. make
these suggestions because am satisfied, that az soon
as this extension is completed the tax payers VIII lm
mediatey be relieved from all the burdens they nave
borne and will, by these appropriations contribute
to the Orange and Alexandria Rail Road;
Next in importance are the Central and Covlngton
and Ohio Rail Roads including the tunnel from Rich
mond to the White Sulphur Springs IN dreenDrler.-
To get these roads in to that point every nerve
should be stretched to the fullest extent Alter these
works are provided for, there are any others that
promse remuneration, and have any thlng lett 10
aid them WITH do il; but it out OF the question 10 tax
in order to raise appropriations for works mat can
never pay, was greatly asonished to zee the DOM
mittee ON internal Improvement, report an appropris
tion of $3.50 900 to the Manassa Gap Rail Road Com
pany Ii s certain the committee could NOT nave
into the condition of that company, or, II they did
having the power, they determined 10 add that sun
of the taxpayers money TO the $3OO,UOO and upwards
of the appropriations heretofore made, which the re-
ports of the Company prove conclusively have been
literally thrown away. Having voted for the charter
and eIerted myself to procure from the Treasury the
81, Maoo nap Pail RoaA 0h m
ed il 10 painful to me, indeed to state, without the
fear of contradiction, that the managers Of 1t have
squandered at least million OF dollars which mus
and will be total loss unless the State furnishes The
means to complete the several lines OF rosd upSt
which portion of themillion has been expended. Nc
pledge OF that company that can be made, will pro
cure enough money to complete the lines, which were
commenced in 1854, when the subscriptions for int
purpose had constructed and equipped the road te
| Strssburg, and the subscription made in 1854, o.
s4UO. 600 completed the road to Woodstock, its pre-
sent terminus. as the reports OF the company viii
| show.
When say the company have literally thrown
away $500, QUO, and upwards OF the tax payers mo
ney aude to the State subscription OF thres,tlfths
of $500 600 for the Loudoun branch and $500 600 fol
the extension to Alexandria, OF which the State has
paid at least $3O0,00O and individuals and corpora
tions and counties at least $2OO 00O which, with the
existing debt of upwards OF $6O0 OOO over subscrp.
tons unpaid and other assets accounts for the mil
lion charged to be hopssssy lost Besides this loss
it must be borne In mind that the tar payers have
paid 81 ,2OO,0U0 for the road to Woodstock, which
must also be Lost to the State and individual stock
holders unless the State takes the matter in hand;
and hope che will. And, as | am almost sure che
cannot prudenty make direct appropriation to re-.
lieve the company, suggest that she guarantee
bonds Of the company bearing seven per cent. inte
rest to pay the present debt and provide that the
company create no more debit and recommend this
provision in making the appropriations have ad
vised to the Lynohburg extension and the CeRtra
Road. AUTHORIZATIONS.
MARcH6, 1853.