Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-12

The following excellent article from the Fredercks
burg News relative 70 appropriations for internal i'm
provements By the present Legislature is entitled to
earnest attention:
OUR PUBLIC WORKS.
The system of Internal improvements In Virginia
presents some interesting features of present epuu.
ry and commends itself to the careful consideration
Of the Legislature. In the depress state of the
uspces Of the Commonwealth it is apparent that the
measure of relief and appropriation must be small,
and for that reason it is OF the frat Importance that
wise and judoious application should bemsde Of such
means as can be expended upon the PUBLIC Works OF
the State. Virginia has already committed herself,
on an extensive scale, to the construction of nums
railroads in different parts of the State and has
invested some nine mlllions of dollars for the put
pose, which is now charge upon her Treasury.
II Is bootess now to argue against the original
wisdom of the policy which has been pursued. The
practical question is what should be done under the
BY the Legislature Is it best to
perfect these works, now considerably advanced in
progress Of construction, or abandon them alto.
gether, render the stocks vaueless and thus the
amount already expended as q permanent debt, and
lasting addition to the burden of taxation We think
the former course far more wise and fruitful of
beneficial results to the people of the State. With
this requisite qualification, however, let the Legisls
turs carefully examine into the condition and pros
poets Of these several works asking assistance at
their hands, and complete such ss can be made pro
duciivs and capable of making return upon the
amount invested in them. The fact cannot be dis
guised that the objectionable system Of Logroling
which has 80 long prevailed in our Legislature has
given birth TO some scbe!nes without value, and
which never bs made profitable to their owners.
Let these be passed by for the present at least and
forever too, unless brighter day should dawn upon
them and a proper discrimination e1ercieed in be.
half of such as have real claims TO public favor
Among the works which strike US as peculiarly
worthy Ut the attention OF the Legislature, are, the
Covington and Ohio, the Norfolk sud Petersburg
and the Orange and Alexandria Railroads. The first
involves the completion of our great central line o.
railway to the valley ofthe Mississippi, will make ac
cessible our whole tier of mineral springs in Western
Virginia, and develope inexhaustible mines of Goa
and iron now comparatively yalue'ess. The faith o.
the State is committed 10 this great work, and nt
timid Councils narrow economy should be allowed
10 delay unnecessarily its contamination. The Nor
folk aud Petersburg railroad is far advanced towards
completion and reQures, we learn, only one or two
hundred thousand dollars now to put it in operation
II is represented by those who have examined it, as
work of very superior construction, and If finished
without delay will have an important effect in revi
wing the business Of that most favored OF our South
ern Sea- a-porte, the city of Norfolk.
From our locality and past circumstances We err
perhaps not disposed to look upon the Orange ant
Alexandria Railroad with too much favor, but we arr
inpeled to discard all prejudice, and take highe
stand point of view upon this question. The roat
SSSNN''
fixed fact. We must now regard it in its relation
to the State at large and extract such benefit from
We can to ourselves locally The Company haV'
gone on to extend their road to Lynchburg, when
continuous connection by rail will be made through
Virginia and Tennessee to Memphis They have e1
pended some twelve hundred thousand dollars toward
this object, on their own account, and now wan
about half million of dollars to complete tn
work. They are asking loan of the State for thi
amount and propose paying punctually the interest
and one per cent to the sinking iund so as
no additional therefor. That this road msku
a great through line across tho State, will pay hand
somely there can scarcely be doubt and wthoc
some present relief the work niue. be suspended an
probably 20 to decay. The State has already near
million of dollars invested in the road to Gordons
yille which, in such alternative must be sunk an
loat This project in financial aspect promises
better return than probably any other in the State
and the tax payer. interested deeply In its com
pleon Fredericksburg too s not without her interes
in opening up this important line of iniercommunica
tion as il will afford Us the opportunity of tapping
the road at GordonsvilIe, and drawing to mark-
and for manufacture the cotton, and teemng product
of the great Southwest.
But cpart from the financial and local reasons sta
ted, there are other considerations which should in
duce our immediate representatives to favor tn
work Baltimore is looking with wistful eye 10 IN
connection down the valley of Virginia with the VII
ginis and Tennessee Railroad Applications for cha'
tiers are now pending before the Legislature tor road
from Winchester to Strasburg and from Harrison
burg to Salem, which will give Baltimore the suprem
control of our two lines to the West This dsastrou
result can be best avoided by lending to the Orang
and Alexandria Company the small amount now re-
quired to complete their road to Lynchburg.
Other work. in the State may need assistance a
the hands of the Legislature, but they do not rise il
dignity and importance to those above cited. Whe
all cannot be helped the preference must be given
such possess superior merit and promise the lar
gest returns. We learn from the beet sources OF in
formation that the amount required for the works IN
dicsted, be appropriated without any increase
the present taxation.
The last session Of the General Assembly havnI
failed to make any appropriations it is represente,
that many of the Railroads ore now involved in muc
pecuniary difficulty and embarrassment. The day O
indiscriminate opposition to all works OF Internal lin
provement has passed, and becomes the duty OF ou
Legislators to exercise some discretion where tn
public property is go largely involved. The peopl
have right to expect this of those having charge
their interests and will be Satisfied with neither NOR
nor less.