Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-29

whereby | trust shall be able 10 con, irce
you, that the improvement of James rivsr in
The manner contemplated, so far from pro, my
subject Onerous Ia the state, will, ere map,
years revove, produce Il revenue, not oniyr-
quail 10 the payment of the interest on the
money which may he required for carrying on
the Improvements, but for the redemption of
the principal, and from whence afterwards i;
large proportion of the civil expenses of the
state may be betrayed.
The admissions | shall call for will not,
trust, be deemed extravagant, as the subject
does not require il /; nor would | venture Ia
become its advocate, unless it appeared To m-
SO plain as TO carry conviction TO the mind of
BILE to examine the subject.
Admit 1st-That Lynchburg does not send
and receive more than one half the produce
and merchandise which is carr led up and down
James river:
2d-That the produce and merchandise
carried up and do,on from LyDchburg an
nually, IS equal in the aggregate 10 10000
hhds. tobacco:
3d-That the average weight of hid. of
tobacco may be estimated at 1000 lbs. gross
4th-That the quantity of produce and
merchandise carried up and down the river
to and from other parts than Lynchhurg, shall
be rated in the aggregate as at least equa! for
revenue to the quantity carried up and dopn
TO and from Lyschbug.
On these data proceed tn make the fol-
lowing calculations and differences:
The average rate of freights on tobacco
from Lynchburg for several years past, is said
10 have been 4S cents per hundred, exclusive
ut the provisions found the bOatmen and the
tolls paid to the James River Company; il
will be, therefore. fair To- rate the expenses in
bringing tobacco from Lynchburg, at not less
than SO per hid. without making any allow
ance for the risk of damage which is often
sustained.
Produce and merchandise TO and
from LyDchburs, rated equal to
10000 hhds. tobacco, at So per hid.
Is, therefore, now subject TO anex
pense OF 100000
Produce and merchandise to and
from all other parts ON the river, sub
ject TO similar amount, 100. 600
The amount now supposed to he
paid for transportation up and down
the river. above Richmond, cxcu-
sive of risks, delays, and damages,
may, therefore, be rated at $50. 600
When the river shall have been improved
SD as TO admit a canal navigation for boats
carrying 25 tons of freight. in addition to the
hoatmens necessary provisions, &c. ealcu-
late on the following results:
rs tons Of down freight, will be g.
quail to IS hhds. tobacco weighing
each 1900 Id. gross-the back freights
| estimate at one-fourth of the down
freishts-it will follow, therefore,
that boat from Lynchburg. in its
trip, Will carry freight up and down
equal To 43i hhds. which estimated
at SO per hid amounts to $3.50 90
The expense attending this trip,
after allowing Is days for its accom-
plIshment, with hands and horse
to each boat, cannot exceeds rs 90
There will remain then, after pay
ing the navigators most literally, the
sum of S97s nm
From the amount thus saved in
each trip, viz. 1915, suppose tolls to
be levied at the rate Of 5 cents per
ton per mile, rating the distance to
Lynchhurg by water at SO miles, the
amount will only be a. eS4 81
Tins there will remain clear saw
ing to The owner or grower of the
produce and merchandise, on each
trip, rated at 81 ions or 4sa hhds.
OF tohacco,f of $40 63
The whole produce and merchan-
die passing up and down James
river, by the preceding estimate has
been rated at equal 10 10000 hhds.
OF 1900 10. gross EACH or about 1850
tons-the distance 10 Lyncbhurg has
been rated at $50 miles by watpr.-
Take this the AVERAGE diStanca nf
the trip-rate the tolls at 5 cents per
ton per mile above, or at s75 per
ton, and al that rate there will be de-
rived revenue of S2f4,225
From the above, deduct for expen-
ses of collection, the large amount
of 1926
100000
And there will then remain sufficient sum
to pay interest on IS, 100000.
Ii may be- said that have ovPrrated the
average distance of the trips. This may be
true according to the present navigation of
the river-but against this, it may be observ-
ed that have greatly moderated the quantity
of produce and merchandise to and from
other parts than Lynchburg, as the present
tolls on 10000 hhds. tobacco do not amount
to one-third Of the revenue now received by
the James River Company for tolls on freight.
trust II will he unnecessary to add any
thing farther TO convince you that / have not
called for any unreasonable admissions, and
therefore, that my position, that clear reve-
nue. may be collected on the produce and mer-
chabdise now carried up and down James