The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-05

lJorlty OF the whole number authorised q,
carry the purposes of the act passed On the
Soth January, 1905, intn effect
1t further appears, 20 ytur committee, that
on the 18th of October last, five of the said
commissioners, siz. Charles Bcale, Joseph
SrS!by, Jabez Lettwich, Daniel Couch and
Shai les Davis met and the river being in a
proper situation, did proceed in IL boat draw
!ing ore foot water and did actually view
the river from Crows ferry to the basin i'm
the City of Richmund
| 1t also appears to Your committee from the
report OF the said commissioners, that the
river was not at the time well Capable of be-
Ing navigatcd by vessels drawing one foot
water. but that in Hamiltous fails Shep-
pard'S island, klitcheE's island, at Warmers
I falls. at Campbeirs shoals, and immediately
I below. at the Quarry falls, Tobacco hills,
Grassy islands. Cashaw tails. Nicholas Da-
Wis s iiah dam and Hardwick's island, above
I lynchbuhg. there was not a sufficient depth
OF water, as the boat hung in some places and
rubbed IN Others and below Lynchburg the
boat hung once aud rubbed several times.
itaiso appears your committee, from the
at!datits OF Joseph Paxton, Jchn Booker and
Bird Goodw.', that they attended the said
commissioners, that they h We been long ac-
quainted with James river, that at the time
they attended the commissioners the liver
was unusually low that they have never
known 1t but once or twice lower than it then
was, and had it been six or eight inches
higher they would still have considered it as
low in dry season
! It also appears 10 YOUR committee fror,
the afhdarits OF William Harrison, John
iCrecsy, Allen Lavender. Samuel Thurman
| William Cox and Samuel Burks, that they
have been long acquainted with the naviga-
ton OF James river, that lin October last the
river was unusually low, that they were Sc
veraliy engaged from the middle to the last
or saic mCnth IN voyages from LyhChburg
and points above and below down the river to
Richmond, that their boats brough. from FIVE
thousand to nine thousand pounds w eli ght each
and although the river was low and in a dry
season, yet that 1t admitted of sa : and easy
navigation and that great improve nents have
been lately made in the river.
T. 1t further appears to your committee, from
the affidavit of Thomas Dodd, that in the
month of October last lac clme down the n
yer from Beaie's bridge and Smith's SHOALS
win a'oad OF henp and butter, weighing al
bout Is, U lbs. that he mad generally hve men
Fon board above and through the Blue Ridge
to navigate the boat and four afterwards
that his Ooat hung and rubbed several times,
that the river was IN a very low state and
had it been three or four inches higher he
should still have considered il low that i'm
his opinion there is foot water from Crows
ferry TO Richmond and including the obslruc-
lions stated by MN, thIAks the navigation
safe and easy.
| IL also appears to your committee from the af-
hdavit ofthe SAID John Greasy, that during the
lat summer he brought down from Jackson's n
Yer upwards oi three tons ct hemp, liat he then
cons dered tiie river low and dry season lno'
h gh l. thau in the month OF ctober, that the M.
VACATION from Beale's bridge down was very
good, that he accompanied the commissioners
from Lynchburs and that the whole weight con-
tanned /" the trial boat including all the persons
| was 52y2 lbs.
1t also appears to your committee from the af.
/ hdavits OF several OF the persons aforementioned
VINO state themselves as SSpe. fenced watermeII,
that 1t isnot unusual for boats h,ilg or rub but
that t is never regarded matter OF any oanae-
qnence
Your committee beg leave further to report,
tiist colonel Edward Darlington aa1 Doctor Vii
L,tn Foushee appeared before them and as the
AGENTS OF tie James river company submitted The
| blowing proPosltIoI-Ihat m order to avoio :
| until and unnecessary contest On the fact of
Tier having complied OF complied with The
terms o Their charter in relation to the navisa-
ton OF Jane. rver, and i'll order TO promote the
| iuterest OF tiiS comnon Wealth and OF til, publ,
| WIN may have occasion To- use the river the con,
| paiJ Would iuTHisl un,er the direction OF sue
Officer Is may be appointed, by t.te executive by
'he commissioners or oy The legislature, sucn
SaS"ilaoiS iotCe as IilS legislature, executive
the cfhcer to be appointed might oi.cct, to M0rt.
!Pon The rIycrn the neat summer The suniaicI
succeeding ii, to be applied to such POINTS in IL,
river AS nave been objected 10 10y the commission
ers This proposition was made ON condition
That the act passed tbs 3Jih OF January 1898,
| herein before recIted, should ne repealed
Resotptd rs the opinion Ut GAS com.n,ttee, that
| thu lanes River mFa'iy have noe rDadr tlIe ri.
! ver we'll be OF ben.~ navigsied III dry sea
sons by vessels drawing one foot water pursuant
| 10 the terms Of their charter.
| ReSofvel as the OPINION o. this committee that
the further time vt Twelve months b. alto yel TIE.
Sud company 10 complete TIC inIproS { MS and
20 n'h~e The river SO nayi gable, AID Chat in tie
mean time they be permitted torecevc ijih oils
| the sad resolutions being read d second time,
~ re aBI eed, 20 by The House.
! OrGeTe!, That b.l. be brought in pursuant t.
the 81 resolution, and tn i Tie conimttee who
=" dc the said report, 90 prepare and brng in
the same.
| 4 bali " To amend an act, entitled all act, con
| cernnig appointments to civil Jtiicts,' lwhich
! lay on ;tc laJe, VIII. several amendments as to.
| ported l.nU tie committee of tby whole house
Oh the state OF tle conutnnwo aith) was taken UP,
! and tile sah amcicmrnts read, anu proposition
made iutther 90 atn-u,i ilIc same.
| "a mntO1 was then made to postpone The fur
tner consideration OF tie sad bill, wI,h thr a.
~, ndnients, to the > lst day OF MagCD mex Ayes
! 3D. Mos ~ ~ This bill was founded MIR
! Dme?s resolution, 1t simply contemplated the
exclusion ct the members of the Legislature