FARMERS' REGISTER— JAMES AND KANAWHxV. RIVERS. 



255 



The deep stake which Virginia has in internal 

 improvements generally, and more especially in 

 the improvement of this great central route, 

 which must directly benefit so large a portion of 

 her territory, and can alone connect her with the 

 rich and immense regions of the west, must be 

 perceived by all. No Virginian can close his eyes 

 to the humiliating truth that we no longer retain 

 that place among the states of the Union, which 

 we filled at the commencement of our revolutiona- 

 ry struggle; or, to the still more humiliating 

 truth, that not even our present relative impor- 

 tance can be maintained, unless we advance with 

 our neighbors in that course which has aggran- 

 dized, and will continue to aggTandize them, if 

 we remain stationary while tiiey are rapidly mov- 

 ing forward, the distance between us must inevita- 

 bly increase. If we neglect the bounteous gifts 

 of Providence, while others turn them to the best 

 account, the disparity must be greater. Separated 

 or united, our relative inferiority must become 

 daily more perceptible. 



But these considerations ought to operate equal- 

 ly with every Virginian wherever he may reside. 

 Our purpose is to invite your attention to those 

 which apply almost exclusively to yourselves. 



The increased facility, cheapness and safety with 

 which your produce may be transported to mar- 

 ket — the enhanced price of that produce, in conse- 

 quence of the enlargement of that market and of 

 its purchasing capital — the vast number of arti- 

 cles now wasted, which, in this cliange of circum- 

 stances, will become saleable, are truths too obvi- 

 ous to escape your notice. Places of deposite must 

 multiply and grow into respectable villages, and 

 the number of travellers between the west and the 

 east be incalculably increased. The benefits re- 

 sulting from these circumstances will be diilused 

 through the country. A wilderness may be cov- 

 ered by an industrious, thriving population, and 

 forests, over which wild beasts now roam, may 

 be cultivated by man. These flattering prospecCs 

 are not imaginary. They have been realized, to 

 a greater or less extent, wherever internal im- 

 provements have been made. The same causes 

 will continue to produce the same effects. These 

 advantages will be as permanent as they are obvi- 

 ous. Others, though less permanent, will be, for 

 a time, equally certain. 



A large portion of the requisite labor may be 

 performed by yourselves, and the compensation 

 for it will be prompt and ample. Great part of 

 the money will be expended in your own neigh- 

 borhood, in the consumption of articles for which 

 you have now no market. Immense augmenta- 

 tion in the value of every acre of land in the 

 vicinity of the line of communication will be the 

 inevitable result and reward of these improve- 

 ments. 



You are then urged, by the strongest motives 

 that can operate on the human mind, to make those 

 exertions without which your navigation, your 

 roads and your country must at best remain what 

 they now are. Not only will the commerce oi 

 those more distant regions, which nature destined 

 for our ports, be diverted, and seek other markets, 

 but the commerce of a great part of Virginia her- 

 self will pursue the same course, and wdl enrich 

 other states. Measures are already in operation, 

 which will infallibly produce this result, if we 

 continue to neglect our own g-reat interest. 



You, who inhabit the country on the proposed 

 line of communication, more especially the pro- 

 [)rietors of the rich lands on and near the rivers, 

 are urged by an enlightened view of your interests 

 to promote the great work to which your atten- 

 tion is now solicited. In addition to the motives 

 already suggested, you will never forget that the 

 money invested in it, will have a double operation. 

 While it will improve incalculably the value of 

 your lands, it also acquires a property which ought 

 to yield an income proportional to the expense in- 

 curred. 



This object, so interesting to you, depends on your 

 exertions. If you will do nothing for yourselves, 

 you cannot hope that others will do every thing 

 lor you. We have thought it might be useful to 

 remind you of the very inadequate contributions 

 you have heretofore made towards it, and to shew 

 you, from authentic documents, how unequal your 

 etforts have been to your means, and to shew also 

 the efforts and means of others. Thirteen coun- 

 ties, above Henrico and Chesterfield, adjoining 

 James River, lying east of the Alleghany Moun- 

 tains, whose white population amounts to 89,074 

 persons, and whose real property is assessed at 

 33,.565,022 dollars, h.ave subscribed 1,750 shares. 

 Four counties west of the Alleghany, and adjoin- 

 ing the contemplated line of communication, whose 

 white populatian amounts to 23,806 persons, and 

 whose real estate is assessed at !ft2,5 13,739, have 

 subscribed 1,G85 shares, of which 1,()70 were taken 

 at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha. 



The city of Richmond contains a white popula- 

 tion of 7,755 persons, and the assessed value of its 

 property is 5,803,466 dollars, and 10,024 shares 

 have been subscribed on the books opened in this 

 city. In addition to which, the corporation has 

 subscribed 4,000 shares — making together a charge 

 on the property of the city of 1,402,400 dollars, 

 equal to about 180 dollars on each white inhabi- 

 tant. 



This immense disproportion between the exer- 

 tions made by the city and those by the country, 

 in a cause common to both, will be attested by the 

 annexed document ; and supposing every sub- 

 scriber to comply with his engagement, which is 

 quite impTObable, the deficiency will still be 7541 

 sb.ares. 



We again most earnestly urge you to take this 

 subject into your serious consideration, in gene- 

 ral meeting, in your respective counties, and to 

 adopt those efficient measures, that may secure an 

 object so vitally important to Virginia, and so par- 

 ticularly interesting to yourselves. The direct 

 and obvious means, is to subscribe as liberally as 

 your resources will permit ; but other auxiliary 

 measures are within your reach. Should you be- 

 lieve that alterations in the charter are indispen- 

 sable to success — that fiirther legislative action 

 can alone secure an oiyect on which the prosperi- 

 ty of Virginia and of yourselves essentially de- 

 pends, none can apply to the Legislature with a 

 fairer prospect of success than you. Your influ- 

 ence and your deep interest in the subject, will 

 give a weight to your opinions, which cannot fail 

 to be respected. While, therefore, we urge you 

 by every consideration that can operate on patri- 

 ots and on men, to come forward liberally as sub- 

 scribers to this great work, we respectfully suggest 



