Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-17


the adoption Of the necessary measures for procur
ing information essential to the discharge hereof,
and without which il would seem to be extremely
hazardous, if not, impractcable 10 decide, what
would be " proper Tariff Of Tolls, for the IA
nawha River"
| The people of Kanawha. however, hoped that
the powers of the ex-olIicio members might
| be found adequate to the exigency, and in full
| meeting assembled, they appointed the undersign-
ed to open correspondence with his excelency
the Governor, OH this subject, as will appear by
the proceedings OF that meeting, marked, a., p.
y but IN this their hopes were disappointed, as
will be perceived by reference to the letter of the
Undersigned, & the reply of Gov. Giles, of the sth
oil Oct last, in possession OF the Board.-Availing
| themselves Of the suggestions contained i'm the
Governors Letter, the undersigned lost no time in
addressing similar request 10 the President and
| Directors Of the James River Company, and which
was as promptly complied with, by the appoint
ment OF Maj James e. Warren, the Company's
Agent with directions TO make the necessary sur
Veys, ami examinations, and to invite the attend.
ance OF Peter Scales, Esq. member of the Board
during the performance of those duties; but, I'M
fortunately Tor the objects in view, Mai. Warren
received the directions Of the Company, at dis
lance from where the examinations were to be
made, and on his arrival the Kanawha River,
about the LIST OF Nov, he was met by fresbet,
which rendered the examination inpraccable,
| and precluded the hope OF his being able to make
any useful inspection of the river during the pres
ent year. The undersigned, foreseeing hat their
design OF procuring full and satisfactory evidence,
thro' the official Agents. to be laid before the
Board, might be defeated by rise in the River,
mad, previous TO the receipt OF an answer from the
James River Company, pressingly invited MIR.
Scales, personally to examine the work done, and
the effect thereof upon the Navigation-and to in
sure TO the Board the fullest evidence, in their
power, a part OF the Committee were deputed to
ascertain from personal inspection, and from the
testimony OF others, all the facts belonging to the
subject, TO be used in the event Of disappoint-
inent In the examination expected TO be made by
the Officers of Government.
preparatory to this examination, and with view
! TO the fullest, and farest developments of the
grounds upon which relief was expected the UNI
dersigned addressed an invitation TO Maj. Warren,
soiicitipg ms presence and assistance, during the
examination OF the River, and in taking the testi-
mony to be laid before the Board; will appear
by reference to the Letter marked (B., p. 49,
oH the 18th OF Oct. part Of the Committee
commenced the examination Of the River, at the
Great Falls, and on the 2lst, were joined by MIR.
Scales, at Charleston, who accompanied them as
far down the River the examination was con-
Quoted
| 10 the result of those labours, the undersigned
particularly invite the consideration of the Board
and which will be found embodied in the document
marked, F-, p. 25) and the affiiavits following it.
1t Is not the purpose of the undersigned 10 enter
into critical analysis OF this Of evidence; but
they hope TO be INDUCED in stating the leading pro-
positions which II clearly, and rreiutably estab
fishes.
l. That this examination, as well as that made
by Col. Rutfner Maj. Parks, were at periods of
ordinary low water
2. That the improvements. from the Great Falls
to Charleston gives but ii, 10, and IL inches depth
| OF water in the different sluices.
| 8. That the difficulties and dangers in navigat-
| ing this part of the River, are increased by the
work done by the James River Company.
A. That from Charleston TO the mouth of Ka-
aWha, many OF i:.a sluces afford but from IA to -
inches depth of water.
D. That on this section of the River, over which
| "a Trnta fba Nf I'll,
navigation are augmented, without producing any
compensating facilities in sending salt to market,
during the periods of low-water.
b. That altho great improvement has been made
In the strength and Stficiency of the boats, the
Losses sustained in navigating the River, since the
completion OF the work by the James River Com
Pany, nave been greater, than during any cores
pondng period before this work was undertaken
| a. That the work done on the River, has, in TO
degree, lessened the of transportation either
| in low or hgh-water
8. That Steam Boats are driven from the River
whenever the stream is not so swollen, as to COM
pensate Tor the volume OF water drawn from tho
natural channels by the suices, and sufficient to
give adequate depth over the wing-dams, or jet
! ties.
Under these circumstances, it is found extreme
| ~ dihcuit, even to imagine any ground, upon
which paternal government can stand justified
| IN imposing toll of any kind
| Upon enquiry, however, we learn that sugges-
IONS have been made, mputing TO the people of
| penditure, which has been made upon the James
| anu hanawha Rivers, particularly the latter, and
tnat from this circumstance il is inferred by some,
that tolls may be rghuy imposed whether BEN
ehts have been conferred or not-a ground so pc
culiarly iallacious, we persuaded, have no
influence with this grave and enlightened Board.
III the people OF kanawha participated in the pa
triouc desire Of restoring to Virginia her rank
nong her sister States, by opening lines Of COM
nerclal intercourse between the great estuary OF
| her Eastern River, and the Western States and
gave assurances OF their readiness to bear their
fair and equal portion of The burthens, which the
| enterprise might create, are they now to have
THIS evidence OF their affection for the Common.
wealth, visited on them a political delinquency
ODE atoned Tor by the payment OF 10 or $4,000
| per annum!
| The people of Kanawha River applied for, or
desired the Improvement of their River, as a sepa-
rate undertaking, or with view to their Western
Trade; for this purpose the bounties of Nature
| had been amply sufficient. 1t never was thought
| OF by them in any other point OF view, than as a
connecting link of the line, by which the Trade of
| the west was to be conducted, thro' the centre
| OF the State In devisng the species of improve
ment TO be made-in sele citing the Agents by which
Elt was to be coDducted--n forming the contracts
| by which II was TO be executed-oT in watching o.
yer the hdelity OF the performance, the people oil
| kanawha were intrusted with no experimenting
| power beyond what was possessed by every other
portion OF their fellow citizens, and 10 render them
responsible Tor the misconceived, misconducted
| enterprise OF the government, would to our hum.
| ole conceptions, be strong instance Of the con-
seriousness, OF power overcoming the cearest evi.
dence of justice and right.
| We are aware, that the act of the last Ses.
sion has been but very imperfectly executed and
that feelings unfriendly TO calm and dispassionate
examination Of the tolls, have thereby been pro.