The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-04

of those whom they succeeded in associat.
ing with them, is the State indebted for the
successful completion of this great inpro
vement. the beneficial effects OF which
cannot be over estimated. This road, by a
system of magnificent engineering, pierces
those mountain barriers, the Blue Ridge
AID AlIeghanios, and taps the great pro-
ducing regions of the West, the vast COM
merce OF which with us will be measured
only by our ability aud capacity to grasp
and control 1t. The opening of this great
ghwaY to commerce will be the begin
mug OF new era in the development of
our State. For the first time in her history
coal and iron, those twin sisters ofmodern
material progress, will be united in
an easy and profitable relationship.
heretofore tho public Improvement
system Of Virginia has looked to tho
/ Development OF her agricultural interests
and resources, but hereafter operating
| upon broader and more comprehensive
ana useful basis, while nursing and pro-
| noting these interests, it will also seek the
development of her real wealth--her min
eral resources. Virginia must inevitably
! hecome o great manufacturing State.
| FROM tidewater to their sources her nu
| merous rivers constitute innumerable and
| almost inexhaustibe waterpowers, capa
BILE OF turning the entire manufacturing
machinery of the world, and in her hills
ana mountains is deposited more mineral
| wealth than lies within the borders of any
other State. The Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad will bring tho Goals of West Vir
ginia to our vast iron deposits along its
line, and there will spring up throughout
the country it penetrates furnaces and
| manufactures of iron, which will bring
into our borders wealth and population to
a degree unprecedented in the past history
ct our State. The completion of these
| great railway lines, and others in process
| # construction and the rapid recupera.
| ton of all our already constructed roads,
should inspire US all with renewed hope
md confidence in the future of the Com
monwealth firmly believe that we have
| entered upon an era of unexampled pros.
| perity, and that cherishing the glorious
past for the lessons of wisdom, it teaches
we have but to discharge our full duty in
the living present to realize the full meas
ire Of the prosperity and Development
Awaiting US.
| One other great internal Improvement.
md upon which the State has expended
more money than upon any other, still re.
rains incomplete. No more conspicuous
nonumentIo of the unwise internal improve.
aent policy of the State exists than the
ames river and Kanawha canal. Not
hat the grand idea of uniting the waters
Of the James and Ohio rivers by great
Internal water line was unwise, but rather
nat the mode and manner of working ont
o success that idea, is obnoxious to the
'everest criticism. The State from time
time invested immense sums il, this
'roiect, and what has she to show for it
to-day except several millions of WORTHLESS.
stock. True, canal, such as il is, has
,een constructed to Buchanan, distance,
believe, of one hundred and ninety-eight
niles, and every considerable benefit to
commerce hare resulted therefrom, but in
70 wise commensurate with the expects-
ions heretofore entertained. Nor will
his work ever prove Of any considerable
'alue to the State or to commerce, unless
t be enlarged and completed to it's pro-
| 'osed western terminus. But to accom-
| dish this properly will require an expen-
liture of 100000, 10000, and how is
that vast sum to be obtained? The
tate is prohibited from lending it any aid
10Th by her necessities and her fnndamen-
al law, and aid from private sources with.
| u the State to the amount named would
he impossible to obtain Realizing these
rndoubted facts, the authorities of the ca
lal company, with the sanction of the
General Assembly, have rendered this
work TO the General Government on con.
'ition that 1t assume the responsibility of
| completing it; but have never entertained
| he slightest faith in this movement The
assumption of an undertaking or enter
| rise like this is not in consonance either
With the principles or practice of the Fed.
eral Government. Beyond an inconsider
Sble appropriation to defray the expenses
It the survey and estimate of the cost of
he work, it has done nothing and al
hough aspiring politicians may make this
heir peculiar and particular hobby, the only
'uccess which will ever attend their efforts
will be their own retention of or advance.
,nent to position. The government of the
United States, in my judgment, will never
undertake the completion of the James
River and Kanawha canal. 1t might lend
the aid of its credit upon safe and satisfac
Fnry condition but beyond this am sat-
isfed that it will not, and really ought not.
10 go. Let the owners of this property
Including the State) transfer the title or
all their interests to company of respon.
sible gentlemen of established reputation
for probity, and financial ability, upon con-
aition that the work be completed, in sat.
istactory manner, within specified period,
and be thereafter used, within certain pre-
scribed limits. as to tolls and general man.
agement, and entertain no reasonable
doubt that company of gentlemen, of the
character named, can be formed, and that,
when properly organized and in possession
and ownership of the property. upon the
terms and conditions just stated, that gov.
eminent aid, if needed, could be obtained |
in the way of a guaranty upon the first |
mortgage bonds of the company, to suffi- |
cient amount to complete the canal To |
this extent, and this only, is there any real
hone Of government aid in this enterprise.
While It is work of national importance,
and in case of war. under certain though
not very probable circumstances, might be
of incalculabe benefit to the nation. yet it
does not fall within that category of i'm.
which the National Govern
ment feels itself authoized to make on its
own account. 1t has within few years
past been granting subsidies of public lands