Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-30

wing subject onerous TO the state, will, ere many
years revolve, produce revenue, not only equal TO
the payment of the interest on the money which
may be required for carrying on the improvements,
but for the redemption of the principal, and from
whence afterwards a large proportion of the civil
expenses of the state may be betrayed.
The admissions shall call for will not, trust, be
deemed cXtavagant, the subject does not require
il nor would venture to become its advocate, un-
less it appeared to plain rs to carry convic-
ton to the mind of every person who will give him.
self the trouble to examine the subject.
Admit 1st--That Lynchburg does not send and
receive more than one half the produce and mer-
chand.e which is carried up and down James river:
2d-Thatthc produce and merchandise carried
up and do~n from Lynchburg annually, is equal III
the aggregate to 10000 hhds tobacco
| 3d-Thatthc acreage weight of hid. of tobac-
| co may be estimated at 1000 lbs. gross:
| 4th-That the quantity Of produce and merchnn-
die carried upund down the river to and from 9th
er pats than Lvnchburg, shall be rated in the ag-
gregate least equal for revenue to the q,td1t
| ~ carried ~, and do'on to and from Lynchburg.
| On these data 1 proceed TO make the following
| calculations and differences:
| The average rate of ffeights on tobacco from
Lyuchburg for several years past, is said to have
been As cents per hundred exclusive ofhe provisions
found the boatmen and the tolls paid to the James
River Conpanv; it will be- therefore, fair to rate
the expenses in bringing tobacco from Lynchburg, at
not less than So per hhd without making any allow
for the risk ofdamage which is often sustained.
Produce and merchandise to and
from Lynchhurg, rated equal to 10000
fore, now suffice, to 10 an ns expense of 100000
Produce and merchandise to and from
| all other parts the river, subject to
similar amount, 100000
The amount now supposed to be paid
| for transportation up and down the river
above Richmond, exclusive of risks, de-
| lays and damages, may therefore, be
rated at $4,000
| When the river shall have been i'm
proved so as to admit canal naviga-
ton for boats carrying 25 tons of freight
Ill addition to the boatmens necessary
provisions, &c calculate on the fol-
lowing results:
| 25 tons of down freight, will be equal
to IS hhds. tobacco weighing each
| 1900 Id. gross-the back freights esti-
mate at one fourth of the down freights;
it will follow therefore, that boat from
Lynchburg, in its trip, will carry freight
| up and down, equal to 43 Sd hhds.
which estimated at s per hid. amounts to $50 90
i The expense attending this trip, after
allowing ID days for its accomplish
mem, with hands and horse to each
= boat, cannot exceeds rs 90
There will remain then, after paying
The navigators most literally, the sum Of a75 90
From the Mount thus saved in each
rip, viz. S2I5, suppose tolls to be le-
lvied at the rate of cents per ton per
nile, rating the distance to Lynchburg
by water. at $50 miles, the amount will
; only be 234 81
Thus there will remain clear saving
to the owner or grower of the produce
r and merchandise, each trip, rated at
81 IA tons or 43 Sd khds of tobac-
COT of s 40 63
The whole produce and merchandise
passing up and down james river, by the
preceding estimate has been rated at
equal to 10000 hhds. of 1900 lib. gross
, each, about 28570 tons--the dis
: lance to Lyncburg has been rated at
LOO miles by water.-Take this the
average distance of the trip-rate the
tolls at 5 cents per ton per mile as above,
or at s - per ton, and at that rate
there will be derived revenue of 214,225 90
From the above, deduct for expenses
RI ofcolection, the large amount of 1926 90
IoO,UUO w
And there will then remain a sufficient sum to pa
interest on S3,000000.
Itmay be said that have overrated the averag
distance of the trips. This may be true accord
ing to the present navigation of the river--but a
SaInst this, II may be observed that | have great
/ ly moderated the quantity of produce and mer
chandiZe to and from other parts than Lynchburs
as the present tolls 10000 hhds tobacco do nc
amount to one-tiird of the revenue now received b
the James River Company for tolls on freight.
| trust twill be unnecessary to add any thin
farther to convince you that have not called 70
any unreasonable admissions, and therefore, tina
my position, that clear revenue may be collecte
| OIL .he produce and merchandise now carried IL
and down James River at the rate of cents pc
| ton per mile, equal to the payment of interest o
| millions of dollars, is susceptible of easy proc
that 1t is equally easy to prove that these tolls
be imposed after the navigation shall have bee
| improved, without all enhancing the cost of tn
carriage of produce or diminishing the profits of III
persons employed therein.
/ fit capable demonstration that nett reve
nue. of $4,000 per annum from tolls on such reigl
alone, as is now carried up &down James River ma
he easily collected, the improvements sha
have been completed, what may not be expected
process of time from the augmented quantity of Pre-
duce raised by an increasing population, Throughout
an extensively fertile cO,nrv both sides of jaime
| River: what new sources o. employment will it uc
open when the rudest materials of the forest or eve
those nclosed in the bowels of the EARTH may be cal
ried at any easy rate Of transportation from tn
l-o,, ,oF tl,o e.