The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-06
The Public Works-The State-The
- Canal Fl

has long been apparent to all practical anc
observing men that the blended manage
ment Of the State and private interests b!
representatives Of both in council and I'D
ministration has been seriously detrimental
to both and the conclusion is irresistible
that the best thing for the general welfare
Of the people and the State would DC y
declare q complete and entire divorce =,
the State from all connection "'"'
participation In. the control OF these WORKS
From the beginning the heolnpas'oiI'
of this association has been exhibited. the
State proxies and the private stockholders
ave ever been at cross purposes. So it
has been, very much, with the two classes
of directors. The proceedings of compa-
MES under this condition of things are i'm.
bued with partisanry and favoriteism. The
State comes in to put up or put out GER
tain persons, and what the State does IS
exactly what the representatives OF indivl-
duals are generally disinclined to dc. 30
here is agitation and opposition stimulated
by passion. The State is not always the best
Judge of what is best, and its representatives
being often merely appointed from party
or personal favor, as often have little or lao
practical experience of the matters en-
Trusted 10 their direction. If they err, the
very impatience of the representatives OF
private interests with their policy naturally
drives them to the opposite extreme; 50
that whichever side triumphs, it is more
than likely the prudent middle course that
lies between them is not followed and Ill
this way both public and private interests
are seriously impaired.
How different would be the management
of the same works left TO the keen saga
city. the strong motive for gain, and the
untiring and concentrated energy of indi-
yidual interest and control? Better in
deed would it be that the State alone had
charge of the works-bad as every one
knows the State always manages every
thiug-than that they should be continued
under this unnatural and u~npropitious al
liance-this mixed control. But it is from
individual direction under the spur OF in
dividual interest, guarded by that watch
fulpess and economy which individual re-
sponsibility to private interests ever main
tains, that the highest degree of sue
cess and usefulness Of the public works
can alone be attained.
Therefore is it better for the State to
withdraw from that participation in the
management of the public works, which
has only resulted in her own injury. Whe-
ther she parts with or "commutes" her in
terests In these works or not, she had a
thousand times better leave them to pri-
vate aud individual enterprise.
If we have these opinions concerning the
public works generally, we entertain them
with certainly no less emphasis with regard
to the James River and kanawha canal
than with regard 10 the railroads. The
canal is just now attracting much atten-
ton, and its administration has been Sc
yereIy criticised. The statistical view Of
its operations have been year after year
presented tothe Legislature, and year after
year have they been examined and COM
mented upon. TIE canal has been in the
Legislature an everlasting target for legis-
latiye sharp-shooters, and its friends have
ever been kept on the defensive. 1t has
long fingered and fingered long on its way,
and is yet without a terminus. That it has
no terminus is an easy solution of much OF
its troubles but that it has no terminus
after so many years Of State effort and
State expenditure is a powerful argument
to show the inefiiciency of enterprise ana
exertion under the auspices OF the State.
Perhaps no work ever had a succession
Of more respectable and intelligent ofiiciais'
and the unanimous opinion in regard 10 us
present executive organization Is that u
consideration and esteem. But the canal
has been ever unfortunate, ever SLOW anu
ever the object Of assault and derision; yet,
we say, that finished, IT IS 'he nnoS' III
portant work in the State. Ana why Is II
not finished We repeat because IL Is
in the hands of the state.
poorrr;np to the management OF the
canal. we think it is a truth hat the want
&c success that has marked its history has
hean more due TO the fact that the State
had the control than to the want of capa-
o;,v If those who administered its affairs.
Il has depended upon the Legislature and
upon the Board of Public Works. Where
official enterprise would have gone ahead
it was trammeled by the State, and where
there was official apathy and Incidence
there was not enough spirit and vigilance
in State superintendent to change that
apathy to activity and that Incidence to
industry.
The fate of the canal has been, in our
opinion, natural, and we fear it is not to be
changed until a complete reform has been
effected in its relations to the State. 1t is
under this view that we have for some
time entertained the opinion that this great
work ought to be leased to some enterpris-
ing company under proper restrictions and
mon condition Of its extension at least TO
Coyington. Leased under these proper
guards for q term Of years to a company OF
means and energies equal to the under
taking, we have not q doubt that in a very
short time there would lie such a revolu-
tion In the operations Of the work that
would astonish every one, and afford the
most benefcent results to this city and the
State.
There are men in this city-residents