Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-28

To the pa lie in saving hree
iourths of that expense per an ~
"um S $4,000
70 the Jimes River Cone
pany. f6ll interest on the "a
lSpuht 70 be expended by
them, inyreceiving one fourth
OF the.sam expense, or 10000
To the city of Richmond,
in the Improvement of its
waste land 5000
Total 5000
Besides an accumulation to
individuals in the value of
their lots 100000
Il was also stated, and the reasons
assigned for giving that O inion, that
less tsan one. fourth of the produce
coming into he Basiu, would pass
through the locks, and it may now be
added that if that amount should pass
them, and if a saving on draysge &c.
should at 6rst appe ar of 10, 900 dollars
per .annum--that as it would seldom
happen, that Batteaux coming from
above, would pass directly on. but
that the tobacco &c. would generally
be re-shipPed from the public ware.
house-that the expense Of sach re-
shipmenr, would cost at leas, one half
the amount OF the draysge, or that the
net advantage to the public, would not
exceed 5000 dollars per annum.
10 reimturse the 6fty thousand dol
lars expended on the locks, (tho' it is
probable compromise might be made
with the undertaken, to save some
part OF that exponse) an alteration ON
the rate of toll, on the produce which
will pass through the canal, appears
the mostProPer, will and certainly be as
eiiectual as any other which can be
proposed-Sapposing one third instead
OF one fourth of the expense of draw
age and wharfage to be. given, and i.
VIII be found that the saving. of ex-
Pense to the trade will be &c, 666 dol
lars per annum, instead OF the petty
sum Comparatively 10 be received
rom the locks of 5000 dollars--or
that the actual difference in the
two cases, IN favor of the canal. is
|Si,ooo dollars Per annum-while great
and important advantages will be OBJ
tanned from it on the one hand. and
winnie the icks will! not only be atten
ded with the frequent repetition of a
neavy expense, but will in the mean
time, produce nothing which can an
pear as AN object worthy of attention.
Tins statement is tolerably correct.
1t might be supposed that. no doubts
wouid remain as to the. part which the
Legislature viii decide upon, The
proPoser OF the canal has never wished
ms state ments or recommendations TO
be attendedto without inve stigstion-s
ne has already solicited during the
last SESSION. that such an invr stieation
might take place, and he now wishes
nothing more than that a Commute {
81 the house should be, appointed TO
ectinformation, and to Law a cor
rect andproper view of the subject he.
ore them-thisSwould, be attended,
with very, little trouble. There are
persons in Richmond, who are quail
ned to give a correct statement oil
nearly all the expenses which would
De incurred In forming caual and
one or TWO OF the principal merchants
could say whether the representations
which have been made IN other respects
were exaggerated, or whether thew
were not correct. The proposer ofthis
plan is so confident Of the ADVANTAGE
the canal would produce, that he ha.
no hesitation in asserting, that if it was
erected, and atoll OF the full anoun,
OF the drayage &c. was required, that
in bringing vessels up, almost to the
MERCHANTS doors, and in the safety.
! easesand expedition with which the,,
business would be transacted, that ali
OF them would use it, and still consi.
der 1t az extremely advantageous tc
the m.
1t cannot be necessary to repe at
,, what has been already fully and plainl,
pointed out, and which it is believed
upon investigation, will be found to b,
correct, that the public advantages &c
5e derived from the canal, would ex
coed those to be expected from til,
locks, 70 the amount OF more than S 20.