Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-15
VIRGINIA Legislatures
HOUSE OF DELEG ATES.

| ~,
and for other purposes beilg under conside
ration,
MIR. Harrison moved 10 strike out the 81 and
3D. sections which provide for The improy ement of
Jackson's river, from Covng'on 10 the mouth of
Cow Pasture river, upon tine lock and dam sys-
TEN.
In support of this motion, Mr.. Harrison said
Aher seven years labor and expense in the par
tla execution of continued canal upon the James
and Jackson's river, the State has II snfe,ti, aban
doned that project, and has come to fault II
Is right they should do so. Numerous reasons
might be assigned for this course, but, sir, I am
unwilling to consume the time Of the House, UNI
necessarily, and shall, therefore, forbear 10 enter
upon his wide field, unless it shall be rendered
necessary by any gentleman who may adv ocate this
system. Suffice il TO aay, ;har we comm enc ed i,
with 'he expectation, (fonnded upon The repor, of
engineers OF much celebrity that two hundred 6.
hty one niies, viz. from the upper end of the old
canal. 10 the mouth OF Dunlap's creek, could be
elected i'r little more than II. millions of dol
lars We have finished about 33 miles at an ex-
peDse Of about million Of dollars
The Engineer of the Stale has reported, and
the Chief Magistrate recommended new system,
consisting of sill water navigation, By sncces-
sion OF locks and dams, giving three feet deplh
Of water in the shal!oaesi part
Mr. Speaker, in this state OF things, mus. be
allowed to say, with due Difference to the better
judgment OF The committee to whom that ps.t of
Inc Governors Message, which relates 10 this
subject was referred, that we had right to expec
from that committee elaborate and lucid report.
showing the reasons for this abandonment of
grand scheme of internal Improvement entered
upon with so much zeal, and prosecuted for
time, with 30 much vigour, with the resources OF
the State having for its Object too, not only the
Improvement OF our own condition but that of &C.
Verai OF our sister States; not only the elevation
OF the national character Of Virginia, but OF The
American people. All this, extraysgant as il may
appear, will be seen by reference to the various
annual reports Of the committee Of internal im-
provement, from the year 1872, down to The pc
rod when the work commenced WHY this
course has not been taken, although a member
OF that committee it is moi for me 10 say.s In
stead OF that what has the committee done, Re.
ported bill which has for its object the improves
ment OF a section in Jaskson's river, fom Coy
ington 10 the mouth of Cow Pasture, by locks
and dams This. sir, is The only part of the bill
which has any reference this whole line of i'm
proyement in the navigation of these rivers Sir,
we are told that this is 10y way Of experiment If
there be any section in the whole line 10 81 hicb
this mode OF Improvement is not applicable, il is
this very portion. where the fall il stated by the
Engineer OF The State, to be two hundred and
thirty feet in less than % miles an average Of
nine and an half feet per mile 1t IS fair 10 pre-
may be 20 feet per mile. The number Of dams
which would be required 10 effect lock and dam
improvem ent here, would render il al least doubt
iul, whether contin ued ranal would not be ~ ost
expedleDt, al any rate IN some part parts Of
this section The report of Thomas Moore {
vol. proceedings Board OF Public Works. part
9th, page 35) estimates the cost Of improving this
very section, "parny by means OF dams, canals
and locks, aud partly by the natural bed Of the
river m ed sH,fdtno All At all g.
boats Of at least % tons burfben" at $20i ,7s2
so; and we are told that all that will he required
upon The proposed plan will be 500 900 | " III
here ask the attention Of The house, W bsi read
/ by way OF argument, plan Of Improvement
whirh u is my purpose TO submit 10 their consde.
ration whenever this bill shall be disposed Of:
Where's the General Assembly OF Virginia
have become satisfied in the progress OF the
work already executed, that the Improvement OF
the navigation OF the James and Jsckson's river by
a continued canal is not he mos, expedient mole
that can be adopted: And whereas ihe plan re-
commended by the Engineer OF the State, by 2
saltwater navigation by locks and dams, may be
advantsgeousy modified on account OF the follow
ing objections, viz.
lat, that IL will cost considerably more iban u
modified in the way which III be herein directed
IDLY, taking the distance between Maiden Is
Adventure and Lynchburg, one hundred aud wen
~ miles, in which he Gsl in the liver Issstej to
be about three hundred and sixty feet; then SIP
posing the dams to be raised upon an average
eve fee, above The sudsce Of the water, which is
as b'gh a. can well be presumed, seeing il Is pro-
posed 10 have " low danls,'' there would be Sc
venty-two dams and locks. The chance Of End
ing some of there out Of order, and the delay Of
the towboat, which mus, wait for all the boats it
-
Such report offered ~ NJ nryee Of fooebsod,
Chairman Of sub committee appointed Tor hsi rhfpuss, add
rejected ~ ibe sFsBd COMMITTEES u all sppesr ia the In
gnges,