The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-12
THE RAILROAD POLICY OF
VIRGINIA.
BY A CITIZEN OF THE STATE.

| 81 ~ NAllLEN VT IRE SlAlhs
Rich in all the elements of material
prosperity, unlimited in mineral resources.
with soil naturally prolific, and climate
free from the extremes Of temperature,
Virginia is finan cally poor, her credit
clouded, her taxes onerous, her future
to be determined by wise or unwise, libe-
raj or contracted legislation.
The past is gone; it cannot be recalled.
1t is unwise to brood over dead issues.
The living present demands our attention.
If well improved, career of possible
prosperity is before Us, far transcending
any realization of the past or former antici-
pations Of the future.
What does Virginia need to make her
rich and prosperous? The reply is obvi-
Capital to open mines, erect furnaces, es-
tablish factories, construct mills, utilize
water powers, improve lands, transport
products, establish commerce, build up
towns and cities; aud labor also, without
which capital would rust unemployed, or
be expended elsewhere.
xIOW CaIl Shpildl dllu luuOl DG ScCuIeu
Not by fostering sectional prejudices not
by contrasting what Vngnia Is with what
she was not by closing the door against
citizens of other states or immigrants fro n
other countries; not by establishing a
social ostracism; but by every possible
encouragement politically, socially and in
every way TO encourage capitalists from any
quarter of the globe to aid in cutivatIng
the field of productive industry, now ali
idle waste; by encouraging immigration by
wlse legislation f; by Disseminating intorIna-
ton in regard to climate, soil, resources
and all other inducements as compared
with more distant localities, and by grant
ing every possible facility to improved
means OF transportation.
1t might facilitate and encourage the es-
tablishu,ent of colonies to pass general
law authorizing the courts to grant charters
of incorporation to cooperative associa-
tons. The corporate privileges which it
would be desirable for such colonies to en-
Joy and exercise, would be to purchase and
hold lands and sell or lease to members or
others; to erect mills and hold them as
common property to carry on collectively
any mining, mechanical, or manufacturing
operations to construct roads and bridges;
to purchase and own, raise or sell improved
farm stock or implements /; to connect the
settlements of the colony with nayigable
streams, canals or railroads by means Of
branches to borrow money for improve
menus on mortgage, al sucn rate az may De
agreed upon 10 loan money 10 members
tor improvements to represent JOINT pro.
perty by stock, and TO exercise the usual
privileges of corporations.
The advantages OF such system would be
obvious. Individuals with limited resources
cannot make proper Improvements, build
BRIGGS, make good roads, erect churches
and school-houses, mills ana factories, and
have not credlt 70 borrow money for such
purposes put colony OF sumcieht
Si!elsln' ar.ins eoIecIlseiy, can accom-
piiSn al tn's, anu more AUG oouio, Dy
mortgage Oh JOINT properly, whic'i heeu not
cover Ing properly oi h'uNiuuai members
| secure inc csptai NECESSARY 70 maze I'D,
| proveinents OF expensive character required
| lor tne common dement,.
| All such improvements would increase
the taxable property, ana proPoftionateiy
reauce .ne eeheta' average IL o'uer po'tiohs
OF inc olate.
Due tile mos. enec.se sgency N sls ue-
feiopnieu' VI iesou.Se' 70 . 'neans v, cueaP
uanspo.' ss ~ .ne oess uiarhel anu
amohss. oheSs 'ao'ii''eS 'ah"ays s'anu pre-
ehl Tha, ..,,,a,. o;.;, :.
Anss ahy .n'instns Si.,.sn hs1les.eu ~
.ns p1ospel..y VI .ne o.a's sao , 1e op'
posea 70 .1s CONSTRUCTION ., laliI1aus, tx
81. wlei :, hinuenGea oy persona! eohsiu.
era.ons, Is 1mcI h'a,, -. why not perm;
aa,lOaus ~ ~ oal. ma m "aa, 'nc MAP, Tap.'a'
sa. ~ p,o.u, anu WI SuSp,e a's s M',i,,s ~
spsnu .lis 1iioh M ny ~ nia sAs 'n s',
nee ~ an Maiy ,anu mas l.er i'e' f"'l'
foau law noi ~ o shans -. Tiso.
Uher s.a;es n h ..ie.a ~, ~. suos'a M
aa h,,i, n aJ e,th;r' The tsrr;t to ~