1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



121 



Miles. Yards. 

 8 1335 



The distance in a right line from 



Bollirigbrook st. to Ci(y Point, 

 The distance in a ri<jht line from 



Petersburg and Roanoke rail 



road depot to City Point, is 9 445 



Length of the nortliern line 9 484 



Length of the southern hne 9 907 



From which it does appear that the northern 

 line exceeds a right Hne between its two extremes 

 by 907 yards. 



And the southern line exceeds a right line be- 

 tween its two extremes, by 462 yards. 



And that the southern line exceeds the northern 

 line by 403 yards. 



Estimate of the cost of the two lines are as follows: 



NORTHERX LINE. 



138,752 cubic yards of excavation, at 



12^ cts. per yard 

 184,811 cubic yards of embankment, 

 at 15 cents per 3'ard 

 1,284 cubic yards of masonry, at 

 .^5 per yard 

 850 cubic yards of masonry for cul- 

 verts, at ^3 per yard 

 800 cubic feet Jbr dry walling, at 

 82 50 cts. per yard 

 Three miles of grubbing, at ^300 per 



mile 

 Nine miles, 1453 feet of superstruc- 

 ture, at 84j000 per mile 



817,344 00 



27,726 60 



6,420 00 



2,550 00 



2,000 00 



900 00 



37,101 08 



SOUTHERN LINE. 



170,942 cubic yards excavation, at 



12^ cents per yard 

 44,500 cubic yards embankment, at 



20 cts. per yard 

 113,759 cubic yards embankment, at 

 15 cents per yard 

 1,800 cubic yards masonry, at $5 



per yard 

 1,000 cubic yards for culverts, at 

 #3 per yard 

 Four miles grubbing, at .^300 per mile 

 Nine miles 2721 feet superstructure, 

 at 84,000 per mile 



894,041 68 



^21,367 75 



8,900 00 



17,063 85 



9,000 00 



3,000 00 

 1,200 00 



38,061 76 



898,593 36 



The following estimate of machinery and fix- 

 tures is to be regarded at the least with which the 

 Company could conveniently commence operations 

 with any degree of efficiency; after which, the in- 

 crease of business upon the road will indicate the 

 necessity of a gradual increase in the quantity of 

 machiner}'. 

 2 locomotive steam engines, at 86,000 



each 812,000 



12 passenger cars, at 8750 each 9,000 



20 burden cars, with springs, at 8300 



each 6,000 



And for depots at each end of the road, 



eay 85,000 each, 10,000 



837,000 



Before closing this report, I think it proper to re- 

 mark, that in case it should be determined to ap- 

 proach the James River at the lower point, I am of 



Vol. IV._16 



opinion that an improvement in the line might b^ 

 eiicctcd by a change of the route more southerly, 

 which would aviod some deep excavation througli a 

 ridge at the corner of Weston fields. The esti- 

 mates submitted comprehend a proper allowance 

 fJir contingencies. I herewith hand a map of the 

 survey. 



JOHN COUTY, 



Civil Engineer. 



For tlie Farmers' Register. 

 SURPLUS REVENUE. 



There is no subject which at present seems to 

 command a larger share of the public attention 

 than that of our surplus revenue. The immense 

 moral and political influence which an overflowing 

 treasury is likely to exert throughout the whole 

 extent of our wide-spread territory, is a matter of 

 too palpable and striking a nature to escape the 

 public view. The consequences of this character 

 are really alarming, and calculated to inspire the 

 patriot with serious apprehensions for the continu- 

 ance of that virtue and political mtegrity in our 

 people, which Montesquieu has but too truly as- 

 serted to be the vital principle of republicanism. 

 1 have not taken up my pen, however, to portray 

 these effects. Others, tar abler than myself, with 

 all the power of their elotpience to sustain them, 

 have forced the public mind into contemplation of 

 the subject under this particular aspect. Besides, 

 an agricultural journal is not, perhaps, the proper 

 receptacle for discussions of this character. 



There is one view, however, of this important 

 subject, (of a politico-economical character,) which 

 seems, as yet, to have made no serious impression 

 on the public, though certainly I think of the 

 highest moment. It is this : that a large surplus 

 revenue must necessarily keep the lohole monetary 

 system of our country in a constantly unsteady and 

 deranged condition; and this, too, in spite even (fall 

 the e forts of government to prevent it. 



The modus operandi is easily explained. Every 

 one <it all acquainted with the complicated concerns 

 of trade, knows the vast importance of the cur- 

 rency to the harmony of all its operations, and at 

 the same time, the extreme sensitiveness of this 

 important portion of the capital to every thing 

 which affects either its quantity or the velocity of 

 its circulation. Of all the parts of the currency, 

 none is more important than the money. This is 

 [jcculiarly important as a general measurer of va- 

 lue throughout the country. Now, that which in- 

 creases or diminishes its quantity, all other things 

 remaining the same, must necessarily raise or de- 

 press prices, and a continuance of such vacillation 

 as this, throws thccoimtry into the utmost confu- 

 sion and disorder, and seriously deranges all the 

 operations of trade. 



Our surplus revenue does, and must inevitably 

 continue, to produce such disorder and vacillation as 

 I have just spoken of Mr. Gallatin, some years 

 ago, estimated the money in actual circulation in 

 our country at about 8 120,000,000. Now, suppose 

 our surplus revenue to be 840,000,000, and of 

 course, liable to be collected in money. Here, 

 then, we have the government in possession ot 

 one-third of all the money in the country. Sup- 

 pose that government should suddenly collect the 

 whole of this revenue, and lock it up, if you please, 

 in the strong boxes of the treasury, what would 



