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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 ' *