Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-11-09
Report Of tie Ricer COMMITTEE.

ALBION MCDANIEL Chairman
d. L. EDstH, Secretary.
Report Of tie Rieer Committee
The committee appointed - enquire into the cxDc-
tiorcy q. "icctlng Steamboat Navigation on J anles
Biver, from LynchburI tn Richmond. together with
The probable cost O: the WORK ask leave to Report:
That in the discharge Of the duty uss'rned them
they have otaGed correspondence with Mr. David
Dick OF Mcaiy.lIa Penn. the cucrprsins protector
of steamboat navigation the Aleghauv river; and
Mr.. h0mas Blanchard OF Springfield, Mas. the
builder q. the boat used on tina, stream The letters
OF those nti1nHn communicating description OF
their b at, aui The rSutS o thair cypcrlfru' are
herewith submitted Your committee lave al o hrru
favored by gen lenan OF tins place with the peru,
sal OF private letter from Il distinguished ca~iucer
OF ano'h'r S'a'o, upon the su5C Of The James III
yer imp9ovcme1t-and one from another gentleman
vi hgn standing communicating some valuable lpfur
milton IN relation TO tic Schuylki Navigation -
From an examination Of these documents the several
reports that have boon made 10 the legislature ard 10
Inc Board Of Public Works. upon the improve
inent of James River, and from verbal inoruration
o5aIned from other intelligent individuals. land a.
monTs, them the talented and scientific engineer Of
this SGte,) your committee have arrived ut the con
cusnn That 1t would be practicable navigate the
James River VIZ STEAMBOATS, of the description used
on the AlIeghu1y in is present state--ot az most
with such improvements Of the present siu,ccs IL
Gould Dc made at ldcTall. expense az least ,u-
ring the hign water of he winter and spring VINE
Their such navigation would answer the purpose this
meeting has In view, Presents different and IN the
o2n!on OF your committee much more iupor; ant
quest
The exports constitute n l"as. three fouT;s Of the
whole tonnage on James River. The principal srti-
ccs OF export are tobacco and flour. The latter of
those articles, must Of necesY be carried % market
IN the latter part OF the snmNr and IN tire autumn
oT lose hn profit Of the carly m,-&et which .v.s =,
the Richmond -four such decided aGvanag N South
America AMI IN the Nor'l!ern markets Of our own
country. FHN same observation viii Apply 20 the
!Ugcr ind valuable part Of the t,bucc0 croD: IL
being fact well known 10 all engaged in that trade
that comparatively small proportion of il is ready
Tor eIportaon "afII6r han June OF July These re-
marks to considerable eX cmt apply also imports
much The larger portion Of them beng made in the
months of September aad October, when the river g.,
Usually at its lowest state. This statement of facts
make IT apparent to your committee thai any improve
mcnt that would nor give ia good r.yga:Ion at all
seasons Of the year would be Of lncensiderable ad
vantage 20 LyHch5arg OK The upper James river coun-
Try.
With these views yonr committee have found #
uoc"Ssary 10 enquire whether any, aud IL INV what
kind Of Improvement would fleet his object, AGrr
The hest Consideration your have been able
to 5cs'ow upon ih's important Glostloa, they have
come TO the conclusion that the plan of I,cl.s oyd
dams. from Maidens Adventure to I.ynchburr. as
recommended by Mir. Crozet in bis able anu satisfcc
t5rv reports To the DJori of Public Works in 1926
ana 1928 or iu'I description and estimate of which
your committee refer to those Renurs herewith sub
nu"al is The only Plan that promises this result
whether some alteration might not he made in hat
plan, - substituting improved slu:ce navlration
" locks ana G5uIS at some o.! the less difficult points
yJTT committee VIII not undertake t. say. SLopld
the W"rk, however, b. undertaken, your committee
would consider this quest well worihy thc rray.
consideration 81 those ~ whom its management may
b" Committed
Having arrived at This point in Their labors the next
sHblcc: OF enquiry with your committee was, wheth.
CT the tonnage upon the river could a ri 10 paw such
tolls as would justify mourning the cot OF such
work. BY reference TO Mt Cfozet's Report rl2th
M Rep. Board Pub. Wks. page 2j3 II viii be seen
Thar the cost Of the improvement from Lynchh:rr 10
Wndens Adventure IL estmnted at cGGIIIO. lie
e'imles lpage 254] that the tolls ought 10 produce
SiOO, or nearly ten per cent per annnm 10 pa the
IN crest on the capital expended and the cost Of re-
p1usaDd supCrntcudlntS With view to ascertain
how far the tonnage of Lynchburp alone would no
towards paying this sum, your committee have OBJ
tanned fOm the warehouse books, -four inspecfors
mlers and merchants of Lynchburg estimates Of the
actual amount os tonnage 10 and from I.vnchhurr
within the last twelve mpnilis. The total tbus ms /
ccriaIned IS 3J97l ,l4G ibs or i78I4598.22IO tons
OF which about three fourths were shippcd down the
river to Richmond ard he other one fourth I'm from
thence. Making allowance fyr the Unprecedented
depression Of trade and commerce Of every descrio
ton' during the past year. your committee would feel
Justified IN estimating the average amount of 90 QUO
tons or about - per cent more than The actual
amount thus ascertalned for last year. But not to
appear 90 sangulDe your committee viii rate IL nj
me even amount Of 10000 tons. Your committee
estimate Tie average cost Of transportation i'm the
present slate Of the navigation at 80 cents nor 100 I
or So - per ton. exclusive of the toll now paid ON
The canal below Maidcn's Adventure BY reference
70 Mr. Crozeu's Report Of 1895 rlOh An Rep
page 1901 il will be seen that he e,tmates the cost
81 transportation from Lynclburr 10 Richmond by
steamboats,, upon the improved nayirstlon Of 81 G3
per ton. For the cake Of even numb rs. AMI make
some allowance for errors IN calculation lalthoue be-
considers hi. estimates full high your committee
VIII cot t,is down at - - per ton l,,L 100 toto,
rom - - present rate lsayrs reduction of Is
pr ton IN cost Of Incorporation Eupposiuc n in
Grouse 10 tie trade of Aynchbr,s. 60 be p-oduced b.
~ Improvement, the following would be the result,
of fis reduction. VIZ:
$3.50 N tolls woNJ produce on &c coo IONS a5s 600
or ~iihn 5000 IS the estna, 70 inc m, nere.ga.
~ tO justly tIr work.
9 10 deducted from tho cree 80 .---.. -... --.H
u9ou l8OJG tons projr~,a .at ....-' --..,-