Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-12-08
Fl z S 5 z GE
MESS AGE
OF
V.R08 ERTM. STEW ART
TO THE
General Assembly of EissourI.

ADJoURNEp SESSION, NOVEMBER 2S, 1859.
J Gentleman of The Senate and
/ Of the H0Tss Of Representatives.:
/ Having constantly mingled with your cons;.t,
eRts during the last few months. YOU have douJt. {.
! less sought, and obtained from theIn the mforma.
/ Lon, The want Of which occasiOned the adjourn
ment Of the General Assembly. From the ex.
preston of the people, so far as any have been
Obtained, you have probably seen, that large
majority are in favor of the completion of ouI
railroads; that within reasonable margin Of the
limitation Of the S;a'a debt il is manifestiy the
wish Of The people that State and shall be given
ii such manner as will be most certain 10 secure
the desired end. and best calculated 10 protect
the interests OF the State. The people are eyi-
IDENTITY convinced, that, 50 far as the finances of
the Stale are involved in our railroad enterprises
there is less liability 10 loss in further effort 10
complete them, thaa in withholding the aid il is
/ IN the power OF the State 10 give. Everywhere
our citizens are manifestins their appreciation of
! the advantages of railroad facilities, and are
I awakening 10 the importance OF obtaining. al the
/ expense Of LIBERAL outlay, immediate or even
I pToNIL1dte railroad Accommodations. Private en-
tespTlse Is now making tie most vigorous efforts
/ wneTr, few years aro, the people were almost
wholly Indifferent 10 public enterprises. TIE
people now seem 10 realize the fact, that the COM
q
| n as tie C,a!r!i Empifs Scie OF the UH.cn: and
/ th5t the failure TO complete them will iao.itably
| put h"r IN The position which the enemies Of the
| system have supposed their completion will do
q condition Of oppressive taxation, crippled cner-
I sIcs. sd retarded prosperity.
While tie people, by private means, and
through county subscriptions are ready 10 con-
irUuie literally, /. Is evident that Stale aid is also
necessary; and with what can be given, the peo-
pie Will push the roads through at an early dav
hen, from lie border Cf Kansas 10 the hfissI=-
siprI: from Iowa to Arkansas, the State will
be intersectod by the ircn track, and become lie
great central thov0u.hlare Of the nation: Nor VIII
NE suIrt Of public entuTp'ise arrested in Is e.
t1riS BY the completion OF these t.uri, roads
HEY have created an impetus that, al no remote
period, as in many OF our sister States in the
hesi, VIII give rs an iron network, supplying
railroad facilities &c every portion Of the State
And these branch roads will serve rs so rcsuv
Feeders, and add immensely 10 the business Of the
roads, 10 The construction OF which The State hLs
50 largely contributed at a time when aid could
be obtained in no other way, and without which
the crr u I|asrcss would yet have been almost
o. wholly stranger IA Missouri.
II is needless now 10 refer TO the causes which
during the uciPiency OF our system Of internal
Improvements, made 1t impossible for rs 10 enlist
capitalists IN our enterprises, while other States
cOu'd IN theirs. 1t is fact known 10 all who
have any acquaintance with our earlier chJris-
The only alternative wss the one adopted; and the
result o. our oriag 10 this has given Missouri 4
name she could have attained by no other mean,
until period indefinitely in the future. The rap
I'd increase Of popu.aion the thrift, the spirit or
improvement. jnc enhanced value OF property. and
the iuNHles OF lite row enjoyed ia cur miGst
would have been reserved for future generator.
Nor has the foolish cry Of oppressive taxation
any JusliabIe basis. Improved facilities for
poriallonand travel. through a productive
and cultivated country carry with them r.orc
Than al equivalent For their cost, in the enhanced
value of lis products; TO which are added induce
nents fyrthc occupancy and thorough improve
lucAi o. al the available resources Of the cOun-
try, increasing both the quantity AID value of tax
able property, AID furnishing 10 the Hcighhcr-
hoods Through winch they pass, ut tTii.Hs indi-
v!duai cost, the physical cCEyenIcuceS, 'hc means
for mental and moral culture, and the social ad-
vantages and enjoymcnts, without which ciyiiza-
ton IS comparai.velYa blank, subseEyius 10 otl!sr
end than crude supply, 10 the masses, CT Their !
physical necessities.
A cursory glance at The history of any coz.nq- |!
rlty within our knowledge will indellibly impress
this fact upon the r.ind: that just in proportion
rs community is provided with facilities for
reaching market. furnishing an easy. expeditions, /
and cheap mode for a commercial interchange Of
commodities, does that people become industrious ,
and prosper Gus; and that, IN the same ratio, DO
the means of travel, and the Consequent comming-
ing Of different communities, tend TO the increase
Of general intelligence, promoting an enlightened .
and liberal public sentiment, and augmeniIns the ,
sum of human happiness.
The chief objection urged against any further /
increase Of the public debt, is the danger Of taxa
ton. As has been repeatedly stated in former |
messages, il the burhen OF the entire debt incur
red by the loans OF bonds to our railroad compa- |
les sho nd ultimately fall upon the people, they |
viii have received an equivalent in the ENLARGED |
value OF property; and the means for the payment
Of the incidental increase of taxation viii also be
realized, manifo!dlF, in the increased value Of |
marketable products.
No argument is necessary 10 show that land are /
valuable Just in proportion 10 their proximity to .
market, or 10 facilities for reaching market. Land
so remote from market that it COSTS more TO trans
port its products to the place OF consumption than
their market value, is, in this condition of things,
worse than valueless for agricultural purpoSes-
IL located as that the transportation of its pro-
ducts is equal 10 their market value it is still com
mercIai!y worthless. IL located where the cost
Uf transportation is equal 10 three-fourhs of the
market value, its occupants are still in pioneer
cut of from nearly all the
of commerce, and lily remunerated for
their tolls and privations. But Just in proportion
rs the distance from market, or the cost OF trans
is diminished, does the yaue OF market
able commodities increase at the place where pro-
iuced; and the cost of transportation Is lessened
in proportion 10 the increase of facilitiesthe COM
partively easy and speedy mode of conveyance.
Thus, because Of the difference IN the value of its
products, land which, before the Introduction of
railroads, was worth only three TO ten dollars an
acre, ,and with difficulty sold at Its nominal value,
is now, by reason of railroad facilities, readily
sold at fifteen 10 fifty dollars an acre. In many
the increase is even much greater; while
in others, and in the ratio of remoteness from I'M
proved facilities, is the percentage Of the appreci-
alton less, Where land has advanced in value
fve-fold, it is because the profits realized upon
IFS products are, or can be made 10 be, five times