The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-07-13

'+sN "]S IL E1Si6i6tS W oVIIVn "VuSS !
on tie credit o. the State to briId roads
End bridges. The FIRST Legislature
met rnIer tho rev constitution on the
18th Of January, 1852, and tho great
bulk Of tho internal improvement debt
was made at tue sessions Of 1852 SO,
IS and $50, and general system Of
Improvement entered upon
throughout tic State aud in no part
o! the State were !auls increased 60
Grch as ii Yves: Virginia. .
IL 1857 tho whole amount Of money
expended and paid BY tho State for in
tcrnal improvements vas S222,sl4,.
All Oh.
OF this sum there had been
expended for Railroads Sl3, 1T o.
For Navigation Companies d,7I7,G6G 81
For Plank rOnds 396, 45G a
For Turnpike ruads 2,299,7!4 IS
For Bridges 1904 80
For State Roads 1891, 1875 o.
Less ST., lg0,s47 4S--thc increase
value Of lands west Of the AlIcgaay
from 1850 to 1856, CT six years.
These arc startling facts, and arc
worthy ct this time, of cur best
thoughts. So much, then, for the
niue! abused Internal improvement
policy Of old Virginia
Now let us see what has been tho
result of the contrary policy pursued
IN this State.
According to an official statement
furnished by tho Auditor at tue las.
session Of tho Legislature, tho whole
valuu Of the lands III this State i'll the
year 1860 was SS3.7740,73S
lu 1871 %, 320, S9S
Increase in Eve years l,5SO,lt
Whole value Of lands in
West Virginia in 1916 1O0,7lS.991
Increase in ten years !5,973,!59
Less S9,OG2 .VG9, Of What lands in.
creased III Virgipiu, West oil A-nrgn.ny,
under he. wGcu auusct iUt.tpG im-
proyelucnt policy, trom laip - lsJ5.
Lrsds iucresseG ii Ers.a:l, VIZ, %
Allegheny, IRON la5J 10 1904;
So, VSj. 81 a.. ia West virginia
irom 1866 to 1S-!. t. H:g5.
S4j,973.2j9.
Do not these tac's and iisp!.s soow
that tue non-iwpr oyemenL siaud.sIii
policy heretofore pursued by our Law :
makers has had rsoss damaging effect
upon tho growth and prosperity Of the
State? 1t has dispiri:ed the people
Kept OFT immigration aud capital. aud
caused thousands Of our mos. cuterpriz.
ing citizens to move to other States. In
many localities Of the railroads. where
tho iuhabitants prior to the wur were
progressive aad we'll to do, siGna Of
dark ages begin to appcar-blight and
laildCw arc to &c seen in tho miro and
decay Of their roads and bridges, AMI
poverty aud distress in tho homes Of
tic people They seem to have lost
hope, and settled dow into state OF
passive Indifference. Tho early dtvCl.
Opm4"t of the State is demanded by the
highest considerations 0! the public ne.
ccssity Nature has ubundau,Iy sup.
piled us with tho means, which We
have Gully to mako available aud access
Giblc tc enterprise and capital, to give
our young Commonwealth high ranl;
in tue Sisterhood Of States. Before Us
urc great achievements mud wonderful
productions CT sagaciors AMI far.ssGiuc
statesmen, aud men Of science, OF bOth
the o. aud rcw world, for Oul study
aud imitation. The patriots and public
EcaeiacicrS Of country arc tho pillars
Of its support, and by the suffrage OF
mankind objects Of peoples most de-
vout gratitude. We have pathway
marked cut aud Illuminated all along its
course by the purcst patriots It'd mos!
enlightened public. bepefcctors Of any
cOGutry under Gods clear blue sky, to
guide Is il the performance Of our
pGLIic duties, With these great cxaIn.
pies and shining lights before US, the
question agaiu rocr:s. shonId We hest.
tate to cmbatk in the great woTl: Of
Stale development! W. are told that
tho time is to como III the order Of
Providence VIXEN all b;ckCriu., aud
strife. aud auimosty, ,ui Inference "f
opinion 0! mAu VI Ia u, .:j.,,n.oa"a
to CEASE; whea j. i-..@t ~ &c
lO%n with 81 A.l 80 SIS, .to- Al
straw as tho OK; i2'4. 3. 10. psrvsr.