Newspaper Page Text
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 182d.
BY MYRON BARTLET.
Volume l...'...No. 4.
prospectus
OF TBt
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
MACON TELEGUAVB,
A WEEKLY BEWSPAFBR,
PRINTED AT MAO ON, VA.
THE local advantages of the town of Ma
con, as an emporium for Literature as well as
Commerce,—situated as it is, almost in the
very centre of the State; at the head of Na
vigation on a beautiful river; in the heart of a
new, fertile and healthy, country,—were n-
mong the inducements that led to the propos
ed undertaking. .. . , , .
The rapid strides this infant settlement has
made, in the short space of four years; the
importance, in a commercial point of view, it
has already acquired; the attention, the in
terest, it every where excites; 'the tple of
business, of capital, of-colfent, so'rapidlyflow-
inff there; already direct the public mind to
the high destiny which awaits it.
Though there is already one -neatly printed
paper m Macon, yet the peculiar situation of 20th of March. On that day the' members
the times—the increasing business of tho place composing it were convened in Milledgeville,
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
To the Honorable the President and Members of the
Senate and Speaker and Members of the House of
Bepresentatives of the General Assembly of the
State of Georgia. •
Gentlemen—The Board of Public Works,
in obedience to your injunction, heg leave, re
spectfully, to submit to your consideration the)
following report of their proceedings. ' .
In consequence of the severe and protracted
illness of the presiding officer of the Board, its
first meoting was necessarily delayed until the
\he - w # - .
—the intelligence, tho public spirit of the com-
munity—the increasing population, wealth and
importance of this section of the State,—call
loudlv for tho assistance of another Press;
which shall not only dlseminate useful infor
mation, but advocate fearlessly, the rights
or the people ! .
With regard to tho Political course intend
ed to be pursued by the Editor, ho presumes
a few remarks will suffice:—He pledges him
self to no faetion or cabal. Warmly devoted
to the cause of tho people, his constant en
deavor will ho to promote their interests—his
highest ambition to merit their confidence.—
Though he does not deny a preference to the
principles of one of tho contending parties
that agitate this State,—yet such measures,
and such men, onlv, as to him may seem
best calculated to promote the public good,
will receive his support, without respect to the
party which claims them.
The Editor sees with pain, the dilemma in
which Georgia ir placed, in regard to hor rela
tions with tho General Government, and the
awful crisis to which she is hastening. With
out stopping, to inquire, whoiher, in the origin
of 'his dispute, she had justice on her side, he
pledges himself, to use his unwearied exertions
to presorve tho rights and dignity of the. State,
and to avert tho evils that threaten to over-
[whclm her. In supporting the rights of Geor-
he shall not feel himself hound to assail,
... ith unmorited abuse, the Government of tho
United States; or to ascribe to others, the e-
[vils which may have arisen Irpro our own im-
rudencc. Wherever, in his opinion, censure
nay >* * doserved, it shall not be withheld.—
sa*.Georgian, in feelings and interest, he
ill contend, strenuously, for every iota of her
ights! As a descendant of the Martyrs of jbe
lovoiut ion, every attempt to weaken the Gov-
rnment of his Country, or sever tho Union
of these States, will meet with his utter abhor
rence, and determined opposition.
TERMS.—Three Dollars per annum, if
paid in advance, or Four Dollars at the end
of the year. Distant subscribers must in all
eases pay in advance.
Advertisements inserted 'at the usual rates.
M. BAIITLET.
XNTSXJJGBHCH.
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
Tho Hamilton arrived at Portsmouth, brings
accouuts from Monte Video to the 25th August.
In tho accounts of of July 30, it was said that
Adniiral Brown was not well supported by his
owq vessels. His own ship was completely
cut up, unfit for repair. The Brazilian squad
ron also suffered much, one brig, the Cahoclo,
Cnpt. Grenfel, put into. Monte Video to repair,
and her captain was severely wounded, and his
arm afterwards amputated at the shoulder joint.
Several others of the Brazilian squadron also put
hack to repair. The last accouuts from Buenos
Ayres speak of tho Brazilian blockading squad
ron as being in the outer Roads of Buenos Ay
res, and that Admiral Brown, with a body of
seamen, had gone to Bahia Blanca to join the
Chilian squadron of about four frigates, expect
ed there from Valparaiso.
Monte Video was closely Invested by about
700 cavalry, who completely prevent any thing
from the country coming into thecity. Monte
Video is complexly stripped of produce ; and,
of course there is little trade, as they have no
export to the surrounding country—(hoy only
* 'ot sufficient for their own consumption.—
Tho garrison of Monte Video is about 3,500
'trong, mostly infantry, and the place is very
trongly fortified. Colonia is strongly fortified
n 'J garrisoned by about 1000 or 1200 infantry;
and these two places arc nearly all that the
Brazilians retain in tho Province.
It is said that tho Buenos Ay roans nro about
mvading Rio Grande, a Brazilian province
-nd General Le Cor, in tho Brazilian service,
was about leaving Monte Video to take com-
ninnd of the Emperor’s troops, stationed at St.
™ m* ^d to consist of3,000 cavalry and 5,000
General Martin Rodrigues, tho Buenos Ay-
an commander’s head quarters, were at Du-
®n°» about 30 leagues from Monte Video, and
xmt 80 leagues from St. Anna, the head quar-
j ® rs £ f ‘“o Brazilian army. Later accounts
peak of General Aliviar as being appointed
n inlander in chief of tho Buenos Ayrcan At*
It is expected the result of the campaign to
on the frontiers of Rio Grande, will
%n»n 0,le °f* ho contending parties to yield, and
miy enable Lord Ponsonby to succeed in his
°rts to effect a reconciliation.
and immediately proceeded to the organization
of tho Board and to the adoption of such mea
sures, as they conceived would most tend to the
prompt and efficient execution of those duties
which had been assigned to them, by an espe
cial act of tho Legislature.
In tho prosecution of this design, they ap
pointed two Assistant Engineers, to aid tne
Chief Engineer, of whoso appointment they
were advised by the Executive of the State.
To advance, simultaneously, the survey of
the two lines of communication, ordered by
your honorable body, the members of the Board
were divided into three committees; to each of
whom was assigned the superintendence of the
examination of a particular .section. To tho
first, which consisted of Messrs. Lumpkin and
Pittman, was confided the duty of directing the
examination of a suitable routo for the Central
Canal or Rail Road, from the Tennessee river
to its intersection with the Transverse Canal or
Rail Road; and the Chief Engineer and an
Assistant Engineer were directed to make tho
? nernl and preliminary survoys of this line.—
o Messrs. Crawford and Schley, who com
posed tho second committee, was entrusted the
superintendence of the examination of the route
for the Transverse Canal or Rail Road. And
to tho oib«r Assistant Engineer wi.s assigned
the duty of making the necessary surveys with
directions to the Chief Engineer and the As
sistant Engineer, employed on the central line
to co-operato if circumstances permitted.
The limitted time, tho extent of the surveys
required to be previously made, the approach
of tho sickly season, and the necessity of com
mencing the examination at the upper extremi
ty of the contemplated line, rendered it advi
sable not to attempt any immediate operations
on that section of tho central lino of communi
cation, which extends from the transverse line
to the Atlontic-ocean.
That no time might be lost in commencing
the surveys, Mr. Burritt, Assistant Engineer,
was commissioned to proceed to tlio North, to
procure the necessary instruments.
Having thus made every provision, which ap
peared to be required for the immodiato and
successful accomplishment of tho various,under-
takings entrusted to it, the Board adjourned af
ter a session of four days. For a detail of the
minor objects which occupied their attention;
and for a full account of all their proceedings
during this meeting, they beg leavo to refer to
their printed Journal, which is herewith trans
mitted.
Mr. Fulton, die chief engineer, arrived at
Milledgeville, on the 25th of April, and soon af
ter proceeded to the general examination of tho
transverse line from the'Flint river to Augusta.
Deeming it inexpedient from tho peculiar cha
racter of tho country over which it passes, to
make any survoys in reference to the construc
tion of a Cnnal, Mr. Couty, assistant engineer,
was instructed to confine his operations to a sur
vey for a Rail Road. This object ho lms suc
cessfully accomplished, and plans, sections’, and
estimates of this line, ore herewith submitted
for examination. :
Afior tho completion of tho general examin.
ation of the transverse lino, the Chief Engineer,
accompanied by Mr. Lumpkin, proceeded to
reconnoitre tho country from tho Tennessco
river, in order to select a suitable route, and to
ascertain the practicability of constructing a
Central Canal or Rail Road, to unite tho wa
ters of that river with the Atlantic ocean. The
examination had scarcely beun commenced in
the Chorokoe country, when it was terminated
by the interference of tho chiefs of that nation,
which rendered necessary a relinquishment of
any further attempt.
This interruption is the more to bo regret
ted, as it occurred at a point of tiio highest in<
tercst. It had, however, progressed sufficient
ly far to loavo a strong presumption of the prac
ticability of uniting, by a Canal, tlio waters of
tho Tonncsseo with thoso of the Chattnhoochie
river.
Mr. Burritt, assistant engineer, joined tho
Chief Engineer on his return from.tho Chero
kee country, and they proceeded together to tho
survey of tho line of tho Central Canal from
the Chatahoochio to the interior of the State.
The Chief Engineer, haviug received an or-
dor from the Executive of the State, to join at
Fort Mitchell, tho Commissioners for running
tho boundary line, was merely ennablcd to com
mence this work. Previously, however, to his
departure he loll instructions to Mr. Burritt,
assistant engineer, to proceed with the survey.
Continuing down tho valley of tlio Yellow
river to near Turkey creek, Mr. Burritt passed
over tho dividing ridge to the Ulcofayhatchce,
and about the end of July, terminated his sur-
voy in tho lower part of Nowton county, a dis
tance of about fitly miles. From that period
his illness has prevented him resuming his ope
rations in the field. Mr. Fulton, after the dis
charge of the duties to which ho had been call
ed by the Executive of the State, proceeded
to the general examination of the country, from
the point at which Mr. Burritt had terminated
his survey; and took running levels to the trans
verse line. "
The accompanying reports of the superin
tending committee, and chief engineer, are
so full and circumstantial on the various objects
connected with tho examination of the line of
tiio Central Canal, that the Board conceive
that a repetition, in this communication, of tho
information contained in them, is unnecessary.
It is a subject of disappointment to die Board,
that they are unablo to furnish your honorable
body with either plans and sections of any ma
terial part of tho survey of the Central line.
They will briefly advert to the ra ises which
have-produced ibis inability. TiwlRisence of
the Chief Engineer, by depriving tho service of
his skill and personal oxertions, tended most
materially to retard and injure die progress of
thoso operations which had been confided to
him. The illness of Mr. Burritt, after a con
tinuance of only about a month in the field, ne
cessarily prevented the completion of those
works, the execution of which were entrusted
to him. Tho Board rogrot to stato, that from
an error in tho principle upon which he pro
ceeded, tho surveys which he did complete,
havo not accomplished the object for which
they were directed to be undertaken.
The extent of that part of them which affords
the materials for accurate plans and sections, is
so small, that it has been deemed unnecessary
to have them executed.
In pursuance of tho views of the Legislature,
as expressed in the act of the 24th December
last, tho Board has instructed the Chief Engi
neer, accompanied by a committee of superin
tendence to proceod with an Assistant Engi
neer, to re-oxamino the country from tho Chat
tahoochee to tho transverse line, and to have
an accurate survey made for a canal on that
routo which shall bo selected as most eligible.
It being impracticable to execute, at thtf sarae
time, survoys for both a Canal and Rail Road,
the first only has now been ordered.
This measure is not only in accordance with
the commands of the Legislature, but will be of
much value, independently of the prosecution
of tho original design, from the connection which
it has with the Chattahoochee river, and from
the increasing valuo of tho country through
which tho CulralTnusc -pass.
After discharging this duty, the Chief Engi
neer has been directed to examine tho Oconee,
Ocmulgee, and Altamaha rivers, to ascertain
their capacity for improvement. And accom
panied by the third committee of superintend
cnce, to examino and survey the bauand har
bor of St. Simon’s Inlet io tiio town of Bruns
wick, and of a Canal to unite the waters of the
Altamaha with those of Turtle river. He has
also been instructed to make an examination,
and if‘deemed necessary, surveys of Cart
wright’s Pjint, on tiie south side of the Alta
maha river, of Doboy Bar and Sound, nod of
the Altamaha river, thence to Darien, and of
Sutherland’s Bluff, its approach, and of Sapelfr
bar and harbor.
These examinations form a part of those re
quired by the act of tho last Legislature, in re
ference to tho Central Canal.
An accurate knowledge of the capability for
improvement, of that river which drains the
greater part of our territory, cannot be-other
wise than highly important to tho general -in
terest of tho community, jit is absolutely ne
cessary, in order to. decide the question whe
ther tlio Central Canal or Rail Road shall ter
minate at tho Atlantic ocean, or at one of the
navigable rivers emptying into it.
Tho conflicting reports of the advantages of
fered by the several sites for seaports, at tho
outlet of tho Altamaha, and the importance to
the' host interests of the state, that a judicious
selection should bo made, have determined the
Board to give an impartial examination to
all tho points, which presont any claim to at
tention, and to mako accurato suiveys of those,
which in tho progress of that examination, may
appear entitled to them.
A report on tho comparative advantages of
Canals and Rail Roads, is mado by the Chief
Engineer, in compliance with the act of the
24th December, 1824,' calling on this Board to
present such a statement, to your honorable
body.
Together with a general view of tho subject,
it contains estimates of the first cost of Rail
Roads of different materials, opd of a Canal,
with statements of the annual expense of each,
in maintaining them in complete repair, defray
ing the superintendence, and reimbursing the
interest of the capital invested in the construc
tion.
As it also gives the performance of horses on
each, tho data are furnished for a comparison of
their relative advantages. >
It will ho seen that tho Chief Engineer re
commends tho substitution of wood lor iron in
the construction of Rail Roads.
Its cheapness and abundance strongly recom
mend this material to attention; but on tho o-
tiicr hand, its perishable tendency and the di
minished load which can be transported upon it,
aro serious objections to its employment, yet as
tho original cost is small, if in practico the load
which it,has been estimated can be transported
upon it lie proved to le correct, and the dura
tion of the materials ho found not to be lass
than five years, it may with advantage bo intro
duced, as it substituc for iron Rail Roads and
Canals, when the amount of transportation is
small.
A knowledge of tlio relative valuo of tho dif-
sCale, to test the cost, peformancc and durabili
ty of wooden Rail Roads, and would suggest that
one, on tho plan recomraendcdby the Chief En
gineer, bo constructed from Milledgeville to the
boat landing on the Oconee.
This experiment can be made at a small cost,
would be convenient for examination by the
Legislature, and will be useful to tlio trado of
Milledgeville.
In the prosecution of tho works assigned to
their charge, tho Board has expended $10,144
74 1-2, of tlio appropriation made by the Le
gislature for their use. Of which $943 96 1-2
havo been in the survey of the Transverse lino
ot Hail lload; $1,545 62 1-2 in the survey of
a route for the Central Canal; $1,466 60, for
Instruments; $366 for compensation of tho
members of tho Board; $5,000 for salaries of
the Chief Engineer, and two Assistant Engi
neers; $300 for the salary of the Secretary and
Treasurer of the Board; and $526 55, for
miscellaneous expenses arising out of the ne
cessary operations of the Board. As tlio Board,
pnless more extensive surveys arc ordered by
the Legislature, will not find it necessary to re
tain more than one Assistant Engineer, a re
duction of $2,500 will be made in this depart
ment next year.
There will he a further saving of $1,466 60
1-2, which it has been found necessary to make
to provide the service with instruments.
The Board have in a former part of this re
port, adverted to the injury which those inter
ests of the stato over which they havo been
called to preside, have sustained from tho tem
porary withdrawal of tlio Ghief Engineer from
their service.
In alluding to it again, they disclaim any in
tention to call in question, either the right or the
expediency of this exercise of authority by the
Executive of tlio State. But when they reflect
upon the uncertainty of tho execution, by an a-
gent over whom they possess only a subordin
ate control of those duties which may bo as
signed to them, and on tlio loss of labor and
pecuniary moans, which may resujt from the
withdrawal, by another authority, of that agent
at a time when his prosence may be most re
quired, the Board feel themselves impelled by
a sense of duty to call the attention of your
honorable body, to the evils which have alrea
dy been produced, in the iiope, that their re
currence may he prevented by such provisions,
as shall vest in them an undivided authority o-
ver tiio Chief Engineer, subject only to tic
controlling power of tie Legislature.
Before closing this report of their proceed
ings, the Board may, it is conceived, be per
mitted without incurring the charge of supere
rogation, to present to the General Assembly,
the views which, in tho discharge of the duties
assigned them, have arisen in their minds.with
respect to the policy of tlio State, and of the
general system to be adopted, in tlio prosecu
tion of its Works of internal improvement.
The State of Georgia is, and must from cir
cumstances continue to be, essentially agricul
tural. Her great and primary interest is that
of agriculture; and her obvious policy in all
her efforts at internal improvement, is to cher
ish, in the first instance, that interest which
constitutes the great source of her power and
of her wealth.
The commercial interest of the State, as
contributing to the prosperity of agriculture de
mands the fostering hand of public patronage,
and is entitled to such encouragement as may
he required to afford tho necessary facilities in
the disposal of the products of the soil, or tho
purchase of foreign supplies. But the attempt,
at this time to invest the State with a commer
cial character, must from the circumstance of
climate, of population, and of geographical po
sition, ho vain. •
f Should, however, tlio policy of directing the
resources of tlio State to tho acquisition of for
eign trade, by the construction of lines of Ca
nals or rail roads, extending to its boundaries, he
admitted, it appears to this Board most evident,
that under the existing circumstances of our own
territory the amount of trado which can ^bc
drawn from abroad, and the inducements which
could he offered to tliat trade to pass down tho
new channels opened through our State, the
attempt to accomplish this object must fail.
To withdraw the trade of a country from its
accustomed channels,some inducement of actu
al advantage must ho presented.
The new mode of conveyance must offer a
superiority in the economy, tlio expedition, the
safety, or'the certainty of transportation, or no
thing is gained by tho change.
The inquiry therefore presents itself, what
inducements would a line of Canal or Rail
Road, such as has been contemplated by the
Central Canal or Rail Road,offer to the trade of
tlio Western States, to find its way to the O-
cean, through our territory, rather than down
its accustomed channel of the Mississippi.
Tlio cost of transporting a hag of cotton
from Florence on the Tennessee to Now-Or-
leans, is SO cents, To convey the same by a
Canal from the Tennessee River, to Milledgc-
ville, an estimated distance of 240 miles, will
cost $1 90, including the toll of the Canal and
the expense of conveyance, when tho for
mer is five cents per ton per mile, the lowest
toll which it will be shewn can be charjrcd.—
If to this amount bo added $1 50, the price of
conveyance from Milledgeville to Darien, the
expense of transporting a bag of cotton from
the Tennessee, through this State to the At
lantic, will be $3 40, while that from the Ten
nessee to New-Orleatis is only 80 cents. Ad-
dingto thoexpenso of conveyance down the Mis
sissippi $ l 50, the increased charge for insurance
and freight from the port of NdW-Orleans, the
rolativc expense of the two channels of con
veyance be as $3 49 to $2 30, oitunder
ferent modes of conveyance, being an object of this view of tho snbjcct, it will cost $1 10
tho highest importance, tho Board respectfully
call the’attention of ymr honorable body to the
propriety of making an experiment on a small
more to transport a bag of cotton from Tcn-
nessco to the Atlantic, through this State, than
down the Mississippi.
If / woOden Rail Roads be substituted for Ca
nals, the expense will bo increased to $3 85,
and tho difference in fayor of tho Mississippi
wiil then ho $1 55 per bag, '•
Were tho advantages of conveyance through
our territory, such as to attract the trade of the
Western States to it, it becomes an important
subject of inquiry,’ Whether the amount of that
trade is such, as to defray the expenditure .
which must be inenrred in tho construction of
a Canal or Rail Road to transport it.
Assuming tho estimates of tho Chief Engir
neer, wo find that a iniio of Canal will cost
$10,768.
Tho annual expense of which, embracing
tiio interest on tho first cost, tho renewals and
repairs, and superintendence will bo $1,439;
to defray this amount it will require gn amonnt
of transportation, when toll is five cents per
ton per mile, of 28,797 tons, or 201, 759 bags
of cotton. If wooden rail roads be used, the
cost 'being $2,200 per mile, and the annual ex
pense $907, tho amount of transportation muafr
bo 18,152 tons, or 127,064 bags of cotton—
An amount of trade, in either case, which the
presont condition of the Western States,
contiguous to our limits, offers no prospect of
obtaining.
Should tho rate of toll be increased, a lcsjt
amounrof trade will be required; but it would
produce an augmentation of the oxpense of
transportation, shown to be already too greats
When tho increased productions of the Wes
tern States, shall afford such an amount of
trade as will defray , the annual expense of a
canal or rail road, and admit of such a reduc
tion of the tolls ns will render it cheaper to a-
dopt the channel of conveyance through our
territory than that down tho Mississippi; or
when that pari of tho State, now occupied by
tho Cherokcos, shall havo been acquired, and
tho country adjacent to the contemplated route
of the canal or rail road, shall afford within our
own limits, a sufficient amount of transporta
tion, it wiil be the obvious interest of the Stato
to construct a suitable line of conveyance to llid
Tonnos§eo River. - >
But as th<ge circumstances do not now ex
ist; this Board aro compelled to believe, that
the construction at this time, of a Central Ca
nal or Rail Road, with reference to external
trado, is impolitic: and would therefore res
pectfully suggest to your honornblo body, the
relinquishment of this part of tho improve
ments contemplated in the act of tho 24th De
cember, 1825.
The advantages which result to a govern
ment, from tho construction of Roads, or Ca- '
nals, when the object is solely the passage of
foreign trado through its territoiy, is confined
to the profits which proceed from tho tolls, thtf
expenditure made during tho transportation
and to benefits of a commercial character.
But when these works also subserve the pus-,
pose of facilitating the conveyance to markot;
of the productions of the country, another ad
vantage is obtained of a character vastly more
important. Every saving in tho cost of trans--
S ortation becomes a positive profit to the pro-<
ucer, and is an absolute accession to tho capi
tal of tho country. ’ ’*
It increases the price of lands, because their
productions arc rendered more valuable.
It augments population, because it flows to
thoso points where labor is most richly reward
ed, and the wants of lifo ore most cheaply sup
plied. Hcnco tho resources of the country are
augmented, and its expenditures on internal im
provement arc richly repaid by important ad- +
vantages, far exceeding those which would ho
produced by an extcinal trado. of the same
extent.
It is owing <o theso bonoficial effects, that it
may ho sound policy in government to construct
public works to facilitate internal trado, when it
would be highly impolitic to incur the same ex
penditure for external commerce. When tlio
natural resources of a country are such, as to
require only the hand of cultivation to dove*
lope them; the facilities of transportation, by
giving increased value to a its productions, must,
tend rapidly to their augmentation.
Ilenre it bccomos wise in a government to
construct new channels of communication,
through thoso parts of its territory which pos
sessing fertility, are deficient in tho means of
transportation; evon although their first ope
ration may ho productive of loss. Tiie en
couragement to population and improvement
which rdsults from the increased value given
to property, is in itself an ample compensation
for tho temporary sacrifice of capital: but as
these circumstances will also increase the pro
duce to be transported, the ultimate gain may
sp far compensate for the immediate loss, as to
mako a lino of communication, through such a
countiy, a profitable speculation with reference
to the tolls alone. Public funds should bo ex
pended for public benefit, and it matters not
whether those benefits are immediate or remote,
direct or indirect, provided tho greatest ulti
mate good, is proJucod: and provided, that as
tho first in convenience is general, so is the final
advantage-
There >8 this further aivantage, in the con
struction of canals or roads for internal com
munication, that they may be of a less extent;
and bo made to pass through those sections of
the countiy only, in which they wiil be ihe
most profitable^aud to which they will afford
the greatest benefit. It will be obvious that a
canal or Rail Road the half of which is through
a rich and populous country, and the other
through one of an opposite character, may bo
very unproductive, which had it beet) confined
to the wealthier district might have been very
profitable. For the gain on the first half may
ho consumed iu supporting tha JjRjr on tho
second. *nj.
In the adoption of any genera! ’system of
internal improvement, it would see^n proper to
devote the resources of the State, in tho fiesf
' *