Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-01
MI. James Barbour's Speech.

esq, of Culpeper, in the House OF Delegates
on the bill authorizing loan to the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad. Did our limits
permit Of it, We would gladly publish the
whole speech-but our space only allows US
the opportunity of making extracts from
what we consider very able, well consider
ed, and conclusive argument.
Upon my first view Of our finances, Mr..
Speaker, even upon the basis OF this mlnorl-
ty report, we are in condition, without any
increase of taxation, to make proper appro-
priatons to our unfinished Railroads. In
the name Of the taxpayers | demand that
you make them The large investment OF
the State in these roads must remain unpro-
ductiye until they are completed. The peo-
pie can get no relief from their present
onerous taxes, until some returns upon these
Investments are realized. This absurd de-
nothing policy serves but to bind the burden
permanently upon the shoulders of the tax
paying people. The money of the people Is
already Invested to large amount 10 these
works. 1t is our imperative duty to make
that investment pay US return, great or
small at the earliest possible day. The
completion of these works is our only alter
nltive if We wish to relieve the taxpayer
This question Of appropriations involves no
question of taxation. If we make them, no
one proposes to raise the taxes Ii we re-
fuse the appropriations, no one proposes to
reduce the taxes. 1t is simply question,
whether we will apply our present means to
complete these roads, or whether we will
suffer our revenue to accumulate 10 the Urea
sury, to be applied in the future to far less
useful purposes. Upon this issue | am will
ling to stand before the taxpayers. The
bill now under consideration, makes an az
preparation, which secures, within twelve or
fifteen months, the completion Of the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad to Lynchburg.-
When that is completed, you will have from
the Tennessee line t. the Potomac river,
your State traversed by nearly four hundred
miles of continuous Railroad, competing
with unrivalei advantages for that rich cur
rent of Southern and Southwestern travel
to the North, which makes every Railroad
over which it passes valuable property
Mr.. Atkinson, the Chief Engineer of the
Orange aud Alexandria Railroad, and gen
tleman Of the highest authority on Railroad
subjects, after n careful examination, ahd
upon data which he gives, estimates that the
receipts upon this road, after its connection
is completed, cannot be less than $4,000
per mile The State now owns upwards OF
$500, 900 in the stock of the Orange and Al.
exandria Railroad, and - 300 900 in the
stock of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad,
besides a loan Of million OF dollars to the
latter company The whole Of this lowest
ment is now unpruductive. So is her invest
ment in the Virginia Central Railroad, TWEEN
~ miles Of which Is to be made part OF this
line Here are between four aud five mil
lions of the public investment wholly unprc-
ductive TO the State. Complete this deficient
link; put your own line in condition to at
tract the great travel of the South and
South West from the Western and North
Western lines, over which it now passes. and
you give imme iiate available value to what
is now dead Investment, Of four or i've
millions of the peoples money. Sir, is rot
q refusal of this appropriation a crying
wrong to the over burdenel taxpayers, who
are entitled to Us relieved from tho weight OF
these unproductive investments! The cur
rent of Southwestern travel, going North
and East, now passes off at different points
on the Ohio River, over the Ohio, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, and Maryland Railroads.
Complete this link, from G0rtOnsvllle to
LynchburS, and the Virginia line, in direct
connection by Railroad with Memphis, VIII
present advantages and attractions that will
inevitabIy command that immense travel,
with its vast profits.
According to Mr.. Atkinsnn'S estimates
the gross receipts of the Virginia and Ter
/ - ka
aunum instead of Its present receipt OF about
500, 900. The gross receipts OF the range
Road will be 81 800 900 instead Of 81 900.
And the receipts of the Central Road Will
considerably increase. The State as Stock
holder will draw three,tiitbs OF these nett re
cepts which will go into the treasury tor the
relief of the taxpayer. Other beneficial re-
suits will ensue. II no other advantages
were to be derived except to enable our own
companies to earn annually between three
and four millions of dollars drawn, in great
part, from abroad, and expended mostly at
home, either in payment OF the expenses OF
the oOul panles or IN distribution as dividends
among the Stockholders, that alone would
be some compensation for this appropriation.
What spring would that give to enterprise
what employment 70 latOr-what prosper
" to the communities penetrated by these
improvements. But yet more-6y securing
this large business to our owu companies,
you will enable them to reduce their freightS
and fares-you immensely promote the de-
eeopment of the country By Cheapening the
transit of its commodities TO market. The
official returns show, that since the cODstruc-
ton of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
there have been added seventeen millions o.!
dollars to the value Of real estate in the
counties adjacent to it. Since tho cOnsruc.
ton of the Orange Road, Of less than half
the length of the other, nine millions have
been added 10 the assessed value OF real
estate in the counties adjacent to 1t. The
tax on this new value of real estate on the
Orange Road actually returns to The treasu-
~ nearly six per cent. yearly on the amount
! invested by the State in that work. BY &c.
curing 10 these works the large business
which will enable them 10 lower their fares
and freights, you press still further this won
deriul development of the valuable country
! DOW penetrated By these works. Your VIZ
GINA and Tennessee Road was originally
designed to enable you to stretch out beyond
the State in competition for the trade end
commerce Of the Southwest. Give that
great Improvement the benefit OF this yaiua-
BILE link and you brighten and whet the wea-
pom which you WELD in your contest with
! Northern and Eastern cities for Southern