Staunton vindicator. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-02
Internal Improvcment OF Virginia.

It is very evident that our friends of the
Spectator had just escaped from violent
rencontre with the Tax-gatherer when they
pcnned the following article which appears
in their issue of the. 23d ult. Poor fell
lows-we can well imagine their sad plight,
when, with empty pockets, such as belong
20 the fraternity of editors, nowadays,
they escaped from the strong grip Of friend
PECK, minus their coat tails-and Slam
ming the door of their sanctum in his face,
inditcd, with indignant pen, this anathema
against internal improvements in general,
and taxes in particular
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, Prom the
number of resolutions of inquiry offered in
the Legislature on the subject Of appropria-
tons to internal improvements, one would
infer that the State treasury was full of
money, and that the people were not bur-
dcned by taxes In addition to the appro-
priations for the great works now in pro-
.grcss, money is asked for any number Of
turnpikes 'sfrom New Martinsvillc to Bos-
ten Station and from Abraham Enoch's
to Elijah Whitlatch's," and other equally
important improvements. The Governor re-
commends an appropriation OF s., 300, 600,
to be apportioned as follows: Coyington
and Ohio Railroad, 81, 800, 600; Railroad
between Charlottesville and Lynchburg,
$3.50, 900; Norfolk and Petersburg Rail-
road, 100000; York River Railroad,
$500, 900; clearing of James and Apo
mattox rivers, $3.50, 900: other works,
$500, 900. We are grati6ed to believe
that these numerous schemes will defeat
each other, and that no appropriations will
be made to any Of them.
We are sure that nothing but the excite
mcnt of a recent escape from imminent peril
could have driven our patriotic and public
spirited neighbors the organ Of the ma
jority in this great county-into so anbe-
coming position, so hostile to the true
interests of our people. Are they aware
that they and the people they represent,
liye upon the very line Of that noble, ma
tional work, to the carrying on Of which
Gov. Wise proposes to devote 100000
Of the S., 500, 900 which he recommends
ahe Legislature to expend for improvement
in the next two years 4? Are they aware
that it already reaches from the waters Of
the Chesapeake Bay to within stones
throw of Coyington- between Coving
ton and the Ohio River is only 220 miles
proposed to be constructed by the State of
Yirginia-and that when that gap is filed.
one end of the Rail Road will rest on the
shores of the Atlantic while the other will
communicate not only with the whole net
work Of Western and Lake Rail Roads, but
with 5000 miles of Steam boat navigation
through the most fertile valleys of the
carth-rich, beyond measure. in count
less variety of productions, and tceming
with population already great, but IN
crcasing annually by thousands Are they
aware that this is the shortest possible route
between the waters Of the Atlantic and the
Mississippi valley commended, too, by
climate, grades and curves, above all 9th
ers Do they know that the annual re-
ccipts of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road
the inferior of this route, in every respect,
arc now from four to seven millions Of dol
lars per annum-whilc the receip pts Of our
road but little exceed half a million--and
that this difference Of receipts is solely ow-
ing to the fact, that the former road has
reached the Ohio, while ours has mott that
if our line was completed the balance Of re-
ccipts would inevitably be largely in its IA
yor and against its rival Do they rcmem-
Der that this line passes through the centre
ofthc mineral water region Of Virginia
the finest and most various in the world
and through the heart Of the coal, the salt
the timbers Of the Kanawha valley; enough
of themselves, to give ample business te
half dozen Rail RoaA and to fill oul
State with wealth ? DO they know that the
Covington and Ohio Rail Road is hardly 81
important to the State, and to the world, al
continuation of the Va. Cen. Rail Road tx
the Ohio, as it is when considered as !;
feeder to that important and languishins
work, the James River and Kanawha Ca
nal, and sure pioneer Of the watcr-linc tt
the Ohio by which, if completed, freigh
can be taken from any point Of the Missis
sippi valley through the heart Of Virgini;
to New York cheaper than by any Other
route :? Finally, and above all, have they
forgotten, or have they never read that mas
tcrly letter of Gov. Wise, in which he de-
monstrates that, without raising the rate o.
taxation one cent beyond its present mark
Virginia can borrow in ten years, in install
ments of 50, 500, 900, the sum Of $25,-
600, 900 for her improvements, pay the in
terest annually, and raise sinking fund
sufficient to pay it off as it falls due ?
Our representatives in the Legislature
would cut handsome figure in following
the lead Of their organ, and dcprccating all