The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-29

7bf petition Of (aaa,y in5a6itanti Of tie counties Of
6Vmtiy rebrecnfs-
HAT the law incorporating a company for the
purPoie of clearing and improving the navigate
on OF James River, Inch your petitioners beg leave
TO refer founded upon principles advantageous TO
the individual iharehoders, and beneficial that part
OF the community affected by its operation in the
manner expressly declared by the III and 18th fe6is
ons of the faid law but the method which has been
purified by the Directors of that Company contrary T.,
the original Object of the law tends to acrce the in.
teref of the community, and to promote that only of
the individual harehnldcrs and the inhabitants of the
city OF Richmond In bringing this fubieti before the
Legislature, your petitioners declare, that they have
not the mott diitant view inclination 10 inure the
James River Company the City of Richmond:
but believing that they excIuGvely the OBJ
jes Of public patronage, and that the great and pr
mary Object Of the Legislature was to extend equal
advantages to all by facilitating the transportation of
produce into Underwater from the upper parts of the
country they cannot be contented in feeling it nop-
ped at Richmond, turned into an object of fpeeua-
ton, to the great oppreion OF comfortable part Of
the community. The fir fiction of the law Of ncor.
poraon, contempates the clearing and extending the
navigation of James River from Underwater upwards
to the hghef parts practicable on the main branch
thereof; and the nineteenth fon expressly provides
that the navigation iha be opened from Weitham to
Underwater before the Company fhoud be entitled to
demand the tolls but the laudable exertions of the
indulge them with extenfion Of the time in which,
under their charter, they bound 20 complete the
navigation, and TO permit them receive full toll all
though they had complied with the provlions in
the act OF incorporation. Your petitioners were rot
diatisfied with this benevolent act of the Legislature
IN giving the Company refpte from expences and an
opportunity accumulate their funds, becauFe they
would be better enabled proecute the work TO the
full extent OF the original Object and express conditions
OF the act OF Incorporation but your petitioners, and
they believe the community generally, begin to view
with fome concern, and to entertain ferrous doubts as
TO the further proection of this important Object and
are apprehenve that this indulgence will foon be con.
ttrued into matter of right.
II is to be prefumcd that there are fome few who
prelerring individual aggrandzement TO the general
good willing that the work ould progrefs no fur.
Their but this is by no means the public opinion and
isby to the public interelt that it houd be
10; under this mpretlon your petitioners beg leave
to reprefen your honorable body fone of the fer-
Gus and opprehive consequences which rcfnlt to the
community, well individuals from the want Of
communication Of the canal with tide-water---It
IS marriott that aioit every article OF produce trani
ported bv the Canal is Subjected to an additional exA
penie of Forage and drayage and it is undenabe that
every expenfe attached to the produce is ultimately
paid by the cultvaor Of the foil corequertly there
is actual LOIS upon the real value Of produce funan-
ed by the cutvator fthe foil equal to the fun necef
fairy to carry from the preent place of depoft into
Underwater and to AVOID the cxpsnie OF ltorage, FREE
queEty conpels the fale Of produce upon terms ad-
vantageous Only to the purcbafer The delay in COM
Peting the navigation, is only injurious to the a.
gricultura part Of the community but is equally 70 to
the Coal trade for the portage Of Gueh low priced
heavy article mineral Coal, and the lois fuRaned
by the necefy Of depot upor the banks Of the ca
nal, added tn the abour aud Inconvenience Of renov-
ing it again be 7prej for tranfporta,on, when il
might be accomplished by one operation, materially
Injuries tl.c commercial part of the communication
petitioners mua alto with great difference repre(ent
10 your Honorable Body, that topping the navigation
in Richmond, is giving to that City an undue mono
poly Of every pccie Of property transported to market
By the Canal It operates extremely injuriouny and
may be iaid to he an a6 Of oppreffion 70 the Mer-
chants md inhabitants Of other towns whole local H.
ustion entities them TO every advantage to be derived
from the Accomplishment Of this deGrable obieG.--
Your petitioners conceive that it is unnecery TO mem
ton particularly every injury and oppreTion refuitir~
from the want ola communication If the Canal with
Underwater, the advantages reful;ing to the con,ur
nifty generally, from caiy intercourse and mutual
exchange OF produce between the UPPER and lower
country,-Your petitioners pray that a law may PATS
compelling the Directors Of the James River Co.npa-
ny within given time, to communicate their Canal
with tide-water in the expressly declared in
the act Of incorporation.
Argu(t %. IeWe.