The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-27
Rivers and Harbors.

The President is called upon by some OF his
political friends to veto the river and harbor
BILL This bill contains an appropriation OF
sevcnty-fve thousand dollars for the Inn
proyement OF James river, one OF three hum
dred thousand dollars for the improvement OF
New river in West Virginia, and appropria-
tions OF millions OF dollars for the repair,
preservation, and improvement OF rivers
and harbors throughout the Union, but
principally in the northern States. The
President may be induced to veto this
bill; but we think not. Whilst we
would regret such an act on his
part, it would not be without its compensa-
tions. He would thereby do much to dam
age the prospects Of HAYES and WHEELER.
To veto it would be to iniure vast interests
in every section OF the country. 1t would
be saving penny by throwing away
pound. 1t would require in some instances
perhaps Ave times as much money to i'm
prove the same rivers next year as it would
then require il the work Of improvement
were carried on during the present
year-that is, continuously. What sort
OF excuse could an engineer give
for allowing James river, for example,
to be filed up this year by ireshets, when
he knew that to allow its channel so to be
filled up would neccssitate Che expenditure
next year of five times as much money as
would be required for the two years under
continuous system OF operations: Or
what good reason can be given for stopping
work on He'll Gate rocks and other places
OF like importance The saving OF few
hundred thousand dollars which it
is said have been unwiSely and
Improperly appropriated for the i'm
provement Of creeks in West Virginia,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, would
be no equivalent for the vast damage that
would result to the immense material inter-
csts OF the whole country from cessation
OF operations upon works OF national I'M
portance, national magnitude, and national
utility. An appropriation to James river Is
an appropriation to New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and every other
city in the United States. SO an appropria-
ton to He'll Gate is also an appropriation to
hlC!lfUOUlt, IbuillltioiCJ DOStoL, -NNN "A'>''''1
ST. Louis, and every other city
The time was when Virginia representa-
tiycs in Congress voted against approprEt-
tiOns for the improvement OF rivers ana
harbors-whcn the representative from the
Richmond congressional district refused to
vote dollar for the opening OF James river.
Those were the better. purcr, ana Srccncr
days OF the republic. There was some en-
c,lsc for the scrupulously conscientious
concrcssmen who refused to allow the no
TONS treasure to be used for the improve
,ncnt of the States rivers. But that day
and That condition OF things are ut an end.
No Virginia congressman Willnow, wctrust,
refuse to appropriate the nations treasure
for the improvement OF the nations rivers.
James river is certlinly one OF the nations
rivers. What Mr.. LINCOLN said concerning
tho tune OF "Dixic '-namcly, that he had
eaptllrcd it-may also be said OF James
river. The nation captured james river in
time OF war. There is no longer any doubt
as to which Government, the State or the
national, ought to improve it. II there be
one Virginia congressman who holds to his
antc-bellum notions on this subject, we
would like to say to him that he could bet
ter serve his State ut home than in Wash
ington. Let us recall him, and make him
Governor or give him some other office.