Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-05

success
cinia's best and greatest interests!
The subiec, OF uniting the eastern and western
CONNER ciai interests of Virginia, by means of a
navisablc cetn0i fiom Richmond to the source of
James river; aud corresponding Improvement OF
Big Ksnawha er, sc. are length beginning
TO assume aspect calculated to arrest that atten
ton which its importance merits.
As one of the people. interested in the common
welfare; and speaking, as believe do, the voice
OF very large share of the state, respectfully
invite the attention of my fellow citizens; and par
ticulariy of the members of the Legislature, to the
contemplation of this important subject.
II can succeed in calling the attention of others
whose superior abilities will enable then, to afford
their assistance the accomplishment OF this grea,
est object: Nor should 1 have ventured before the
public in behalf Of this enterprise, in the presen,
low e65 OF its patronage and progress, were not
actuaed by belief, that the future character of the
state its prosperity, and some OF the best interests
OF the community, Identified with the ultimate
success aud completion OF this work.
will first premise. That the idea of uniting the
eastern and western commercial interest of Vir-
ginia; by means of The Improvement of the James
and Potomac rivers, and of the tributaries of Ohio
interlockng with the same, was entertained by the
late General Washington, will appear by his
communications to the Legislature, both before
and at the session of l7Si;' by the late General
OF Monongalia and Kanawla, can utter an echo
and by OF their contemporaries, in whose
literary correspondence, we find it recommended.
If memory serves me, this subject was first in
troduced to the Legislature, by Col. Lewis, dele
gate from buckingham; nearly twenty years ago.
II first drew the attention of the Legislature how
ever, in the session of iSll-I2; as appears ty a
resolution of that session, appointing commission
ers 10 examine the James and Kanawha FLYERS, with
view Of asceraining the prdcticabiiity of the
improv emens in question: Those commits sion ers
consisted of the Chief Justice of the u States
two practical gentlemen from Rockbridge county,
and one from Buckingham. All eminent for their
Intelligence AL responsibility.
Those commissioners, after having carefully
viewed the ground, aud collected such data on the
subject, their means would afford, reported to
the next Legislature, that the work was pracficQ-
Die, and within the venient means of the state
The pracicability OF the work and the great bene-
fits which would in all probability result to the
community from its execution, set forth in
that report, in such mastery manner, as well
bespeaks the source Fl ON which it emanated (co-
pies OF it, reprinted, may be found in the sessions
documents of lSi5-l6) But, in consequence of the
intervention OF the late war, the subject was no
farther acted on, in 1872
AT the session OF ISi5-l6, the Legislature in
corporated the Board Of Public Works of which
the illustrlous Thomas Jefferson was a member and
charged it with the exclusive, and more immediate
supervision OF the several public improvements OF
the state; and with others, the improvement of the
James and kanawha rivers, sc. The attention of
this Board was Immediately called TO the subject
and an eminent professional Engineer, from Massa-
chusets, was sent out to make an actual survey of
James and Kanawha rivers, and some of the inter
mediate country, with a view of collecting accu-
rate data, from which TO Judge OF their susceptible
~ of improvement After a careful survey of
James river, from Richmond to Covington; of the
old road, thence 10 Kanawha, and of Kanawha
river, thence to Point Pleasant, on Ohio, the En-
gineer reported concurrence with the commits
sioners OF 1872 i'll the opinion of the practicabiity
OF the Improvements in question (Iis report will
be found with the documents OF the Board of Public
Works, ISI7-ls.)
No efficient measures, however were at}nn.sb
towards Carrying the scheme into opera.... .....i
February, 1919; when the Legislature, upon me-
mortal from Kanawha county; passed resolution,
directing the employment OF two skilful Engineers,
TO proceed under the instructions of the Board of
Public Works, 10 survey and level those two rivers,
and the intermediate country, with the same view /;
and after digesting the most eligible plans of i'm
provement, and locating the site of the canal, Sc
TO report thereon, to the next session, which w as
done accordingly, OF which shall say more here
after. A CITIZEN OF THE WEST
Lexington, "a. 22d .Nou. 1925
One OF these communications gave
of the James RIVER Company in 1854.