Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-10-17

following CORRESPONDENCE in reference thereto
will be read with interest. The length OF Mr..
Stuart's letter should not deter any one from
giving it a careful perusal.
Hon. Aler. H. II. Stuart:
Dear Sir-As have always entertained great
respect for your opinions on public questions,
and as I presume you have given some atten-
ton to the subject of our State finances, l will
be much obliged if you will favor me with your
views in regard to the debt of Virginia and
the wisest course to be adopted n regard to it.
I further ask that may be allowed to publish
your reply. Yours truly.
FL. Ell, ROBERTSON.
STAUNToN, Va, October 18th, 1871.
Henry FL Robertson, Esq
Dear Sir-I have had the honor to receive
your note of the 9th inst, in which you re-
quest me to give you my views 10 regard to the
debt of Virginia, and the wlsest course to be
adopted in regard to 1t.
The subject is one of deep interest to the
State, and which may we'll challenge the
thoughtful consideration of her wlsest states
men and fDanciers. While do not profess to
have the ability, or even the statistical lnfor
nation necessary to deal with the subject In all
its aspects, | cannot refuse to give you such
themselves to my mind | do this 10 the hope
that my suggestions may lead to such discus
sons and developments Of facts, as may tend
10 a wise solution of the difficulties by which
we are surrounded
The principal points to be considered are
Ist. The amount Of the debt of the State.
End. How, and for what purposes, it was
contracted.
3rd. How, and in what mode, it is TO be set
tied.
By referring to an official statement appen-
ded. Up. 429) to the Acts of the last General
Assembly, you will find the following account
of the State debt on lst January, 1870:
Old funded debt..............S $50 779 go "a
New funded debt and to be funded 1854 973 Sc
Interest due and unpaid on old
funded debt........ 1884 nc. 80
Interest due and unpaid on new
funded debt..... 1,611, 1856 II
$45, &c, 34S 90
Add bonds ofJames R. s K Co.,
assumed by State $50. ........... 2l2, 1870. 90
Total State debt. January 1st 1870 $45, ST. 1880
This was the debt of the old State of Vir-
GINA as she existed before the war, and when
She included within her boundaries, not only
her present territory, but the whole Of what
now constitutes West Virginia.
Having thus given, from an official source,
the precise amount of the debt, | will, for the
sake of convenience, IN the subsequent portions
of this letter. omit all fractions.
The aggregate amount of the debt being def
initely ascertained, [ will proceed next to con-
slider how, by whom, and for what purposes
this debt was contracted.
At a very early period of our history Gen.
Washington, who, In his capacity of surveyor,
had acquired an accurate knowledge of Wes-
tern Virginia, became deeply impressed with
the importance, as well as the practicability, of
opening for commercial purposes, water line
of communication between tide water and the
Ohio. This was long before railroads were in
vented, and when 1t was believed that trans
portation by water could afford the only feast
BILE means OF conveying the products OF the
West to the Eastern ports.
Gen. Washington communicated his views
to the Legislature of Virginia, and brought all
the influence CT his great name to bear to in
duce that body to take measures for the con-
sruction of the James River and Kanawha
canal.
A great deal Of legislation was had from time
to time, and many appropriations were made
from the treasury, and many loans were effect
ed TO carry on this State work.
The aggregate Indebtedness of Virginia in
Cured In the prosecution of this improvement,
now amounts to about $50, 400 000) ten mill
lons four hundred thousand dollars.
Il must be remembered that when this work
was commenced, a great portion of Western
Virginia was a wilderness, destitute Of any
convenient means OF commercial intercourse
with the Eastern portion OF the State. There
was not even turnpike, or well graded road,
leading into the western portion of the State
Ali traveilDg was on horseback, aud the few
commodities that were brought from the west,
UprI tranSnnrteu on mack horses.
1t can then be readily understood, that the
delegates from Western Virginia adopted with
enthusiasm, the proposition OF " ashlngt0n TO
give them cheap aud convenient commercial
highway to the east, aud, in the Legislature,
they were unanimous in voting for every ap-
Precipitation tending to Its completion.
Ga the other hand, most OF the delegates
from tide water and Southern portion of the
State, whose constituents were not to be direct
Iy benefited by the improvement, voted stead
lily against these expenditures.
About 1926, the genius of Stephenson de-
monstrated the practlcabllly OF applying steam
as a motive power On railways. La 1928 Mas
sachusetts and Maryland commenced their
railway improvements. and, IN few years, the
whole country became excited on the subject Of
Railroads. Every year developed new i'm
proVements IN the structure of the roads and
in the machinery used upon them, and tended
more and more, to strengthen the conviction
that Railroads were essential agents of pro-
gress and commercial prosperity. The farmers
and planters saw that they afforded rapid and
com paratively cheap means OF Transporting
their products to market The travelling pub
lie could not be insensible to the increased IA
ciities which they afforded, by annihilating
time aud distance. The merchant compre
hended at glance how largely they would con
tribute to his interests, and the owner of min
eral lands perceived that they would enhance
MANIFOLD the value of bis property.
During the twenty years which ELAPSED be-
tween 1910 and 1860, the subject of railway
communications occupied larger share Of the
attention OF our Legislature than any other. -
A great many charters for roads we're granted.
the commonwealth agreeing to subscribe IN
some instances two-ffths, and in others three
hfths OF the required capital. In most cases.
the cost or construction was underestimate
and after the capital had been expended. the
works were burthened with mortgages
Such was the eagerness of the peopie, in al
most all parts OF the State, TO secure the CON
structlon of railways into their respective
nelghborhoods, that no man could be elected.
from large majority of the counties. who
would not pledge himself to advocate and vote
for liberal system of railways and turnnikes
This was especially the case in the COMMITTEES
west OF the Blue Ridge and the Piedmont dis
trlct. The only exceptions were TO be found in
the counties on the eastern shore and the nor
them neck. The course Of the delegates from
these counties was denounced as narrow and H.
liberal.
From this review, it will be seen that the
Il