Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-31

of the State owning IT, that indicated by the history
of some Of the wises. nations Of antiquity, and exemp
ed by the action Of New York. II ia time come deci
awe action should be taken. Precious moments are
RAPIDLY passing. Now is the season for obtaining
lumber for the construction OF watts or furnaces this is
the period for making the arrangements for the years
work. Whilst the Legislature hesitaes the lessees pause
In the completion Of furnaces actually under way The
eyes Of waiting and suffering people are turned towards
their representatives Action, action demanded. This
Il no time for chafsrng bargaining and jewing the
property worth the price asked, take 1t; not, ap-
point appraisers and let them do justice between the
State and the citizen. When the Commonwealth pro-
poses to pay let her take the whole sanes and control
and direct all salt operations. Lst this interest be
royalty pertaining and belonging to the sovereign State
Should this property pass into the possession Of joint
stock company what guarantee have the people that the
urcs Of salt will not at once rise TO s00 or $780, or
to any other amount the company may ask and the ne
cessities of the people compel them to pay VIII laws
be passed limiting the price If they are the salt may
be transferred to the Caronas Tennessee. Lsgisa
ton cannot prevent extortio II it does, it will cut of
the supply and the susrngs Of the community instead
of being palliated, will be intensified.
There is another aspect OF this question which should
not be overlooked It Is more general in its bearing
and may be part Of the policy which alone can berate
| US from commercial dependence. Too long, alas has
the South relied upon other countries for many articles
of prime necessity. Immense amounts have been levied
upon her productions, through the channels by which
they are obtained The expenditures OF her citizens for
such things as should be produced at home have sus
tanned the commerce. built the cities and enriched the
people nov wsging upon her war of subjugation.
Wherever trtole Of prime necessity ia disposed Of
in large quantities. there heavy purchases are made and
trade and traffic established. This general truth "a i'm
pressvey illustrated by the course Of trade from the
Kanawha Valley. More than three millions of bushels
Of salt are annually from there upon the waters Of
the Ohio. The largest market for this salt is at Cincin
natl To the merchants Of that city it is consigned and
they receive and resell il. Tho manufacturers make
their purchases there and complete the dependence
established BY this system that the food eaten and the
clothes by those engaged in the production Of salt
are all purchased in this queen city Of Ohio. These
heavy transactions attracted population and capital and
aided in concentrating at that point all the various occu
pations and business Of commercial centre As much
ss four tons per week Of MERCHANDISE is shipped weekly
| from Cincinnati 10 Charleston, Va TIE MERCHANTS re-
ceve large profits from the purchase and sale OF salt
and on the goods sold to the Virginia manufactured
This tax on Virginia labor aud production contributed no
little 70 the mercantile prosperity of city conspicuous
for S hostility 70 lhe South and Southern institutions
Now suppose the Of trade so directed that
Richmond Petersburg Lyuchburg, end other cities were
the points where the products Of the State we're bought
and sold, and from whence distribution made. The
first advantage and gain would b, the keeping at home,
the moaey now sent away. The amount expended Tor
the two articles OF ea and plaster, Is quite 100000
every wear The profit 10 the merchant may be safely
estimated at 800 900 more Add to these sums the pro-
6s on the goods OF various kinds sold exchanged In
these transactions a-d would present an aggregate Of
much more than 5000 OOC retaiaeq te enrich our own
The extent OF this saying-or proa Is not full
" represented by these Ggure There ns:hng truer
than that capital attracts and produces Oipa and the
resulting advantages Of this concentration and accom-
mediation are developed by tho growth Of ces-he eI.
psnsion Of trade, and the general prosperity OF peo
pie striking c1smplfcaton Of the truth of this prip-
cps is presented in tbs history Of the City of Syracuse
New York few years ago 1t was q struggling village
| a,.,tered slong the margin Of a Now It is q
m.gpi6ceut city Of about 100 900 inhabitants, compact
" built with broad well paved streets-.doned by put
lie cd oes rvang in magnitude and beauty those oil the
emporums Of the board and surrounded by private
residences which, for architectural grace, and dimen-
sops compare with the houses Of the artocrlcy Of Eu
ro,. The nucleus of trade which started and su5tans
this city il the Salt manufactured from the onandsgo
Salt Springs By wise legislation, this Stats property
has not only contributed largely 70 the revenues of tho
treasury by the tax on the SALT and the tolls the Ca
p, but has accomplished far By retaining at home
the money which woui otherwise have been expended
10 other communities. The beneficial influence Of this
policy Is dnused OYER the various trades and occupa
4 tons Of all classes Of society.
should the Virginia Legislature decide to inaugurats
similar policy the purchase Of the entire tanes Of the
counties OF smyhe and Washington is necessary They
could be had for less than the value placed upon them by
the agents OF the State and upon which they
having taIes If the sum for which the two esateg are
rented can be taken any criterion Of their productive
and relative value then the capital they represent law
ful interest is about $40 600 II essees afford
nav for the Preston estate an annual rent Of $4,000
aud for the King estate 10000 and estimate the cash
value Of the lease having years to run at $500 600
the true value Of the realty, in fee simple is far
than the sum at which the estates assessed Since
this assessment was made, improvements costing from
S50 900 to s5 900 have been pat principally upon the
Preston property. The buildings a! toe Plaster banks
and the mil with Eve of runners driven by two
Vines Of iory.horse pOyer, eaph would be especially
valuable for grinding sa il it be made by Sslar evapora
ton. These buildings were put up in lsb7-6s.
The appointment Of sensible energetic superintendent.
clothed with ample authority to act, and furnished with
ADEQUATE means to commence and complete system Of
manu- racture upon scale commensurate with the de-
aads Of the people, would ensure to the State in
year compensation for the appropriation now suggested
IT'S true, the whole Of the purchase money for the
property might not be realized, but the sAypg to the
country and the sense Of relief impsrted would be
than remuneration for any obligations assumed and ad
yances made.