Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-16

Idtt War WHen sVery thIOg had Teacbcd mort
nous price, aud when tobacco was selling from fifteen
to twenty-h FIVE and thirty dollars per hundred this toll
could have been paid without being scarcely fe-But
times are now greatly changcd-commerce is lan-
guishing,-the agricultural products have sunk to al
most their minimum price, aud tobacco is now selling
ro'a two TO three and four dollars per h nlred-Wha
Is lett TO the planter at this price, after deluctny tho
eNpences OF getting his crop market " til this heavy
toll added on!d poor, meagre aud piitul remnant
all that is left the reward of his labour and indus
try-He hoped the House the justice of rsduc.
n"S 'his TOLL aud relieving The planter from this srsv.
Gus oppression.
Mr.. YANcEY said, he hoped the House would ex.
tenu ITS usual courtesy to the report OF the Committee
oy concurrng IN the report and let il progress TO bill
when at It's proper stage he would endeavour to assign
such reasons, he trusted would ensure the passage
VI the bill member from RockoriJge, (Mr Whitley
sad he would Willingly accord 10 the member IRON
Buckingham hs request but for the argument of the
gentleman from Amherst aud the gentleman from Mel
son. both OF whom bad argued large upon the merits
oi the proposition Mr. fancey then sail, he regretted
that the friends OF the had thou pr oper to
argue the case when the was motion TO nd'he
report lie would therefore endeavour TO give to he
House true history of the origin of the sdbject. Mr.
Speaker IN the session of 1920, every section o, this
State was Sc zed with kind of mania tor public inn
provemen'. In the session OF 1915, large fund of
near Sl500000, had been apart "a a fund for in
ternal improvement, and a board OF public works an.
pointed TO manage this fund and TO such sub
jects o mu they deemed worthy of the pat.
ronage of the L. si>ature-Thsy The i'm.
provemen OiJames River by an indie Pc ndent from
mead OF great Tails the town OF
thence turnpike road TO the great falls OF that
river to be improved TO the 0his river as to unite the
eastern aud western waters this scheme was eubra ed
with delight by the intelligent vote OF the House from
every section oil tire State Ii argued that IL was
great commercial aud political enterprise worthy of
the State OF Vrgni1 that commercially, it would draw
TO this place the trade OF the West, and divert il from
New York by way OF her great canal then construct.
ing That would introduce into our bosom the trade
of the country the Ohio river; that that trade in ex-
change would take from articles OF foreign importa.
ton, which together with the down aud up trade would
pay a handsome toll towards the contemplated i'm.
provement. The engineers employed by the State had
made report favorable this mede OF improv ment
but when put to practice, found be very decep-
tive az TO the cost. l. sir member on this floor
when the law Tor improving James River passed. had
the honor 10 report the bill from the Committee over
which presided, and although James River man,
anu deeply interested in its improved navg ation,
one of the last that into scheme aud would
not have become supporter OF the BILL but for section
got incorporated, providing that additional tolls
should be impo,ei until the Improvement contributed
to reduce the price OF freight then at time exceed.
ing one- bird part OF IN gain in the price of ranspora.
ton. This pledge carried me in favor If the BILL when
without II would have be IN opposed. The canal ha,
progressed to Maden's Adventure about IS miles
where ii il stopt by Legislative enactmcnt; | expect
forever. This great Improvement, sir, taken up
as great State measure-no man, nor set OF men on
James kiver ever petitioned for improving the river
by canal; it solely measure of state policy for
members residing James River voed against the pas.
sage OF the law. They, sir, had moe sight than
which, in my opinion has been violated in the addition
al tolls which have been imposed upon whoa we,
residing above the canal, derive earthly benefit
from the small section finished the navig alton of the RI
yer generally is than when the property OF tho
old James River Company, they kept hands TO open
o5'rucii1ns OF SAINT and gravel that formed in tn
sluces; the public has done nothing of the kind
the James River Company has become the property OF
the Commonwealth. In the year 1924, the Assembly,
under ieversh excitement, having incurred consl-
derable debt for the partial improvement OF the naviga
ton OF the river, imposed additional toll tobacco
OF $50 per hid to constitute fund the Interest
OF the debt contracted, which | believe 10 be unjust
and orprrs sive. as IT IN violation OF the ed faith
OF the State. now call upon the House to recolect
that modification OF the tolls on the Kanawha river, Oh
the kanawha turnpike road, aud the article OF coal
passing through the canal, has taken place greatly in
rlet OF the orgind tolis--tha it seems TO be Just
that the tolls be reduced GA tobacco is propase
that the same measure OF Justice may be extended TO
us James River, as has been 10 others i'm another
sec;io" OF the State. The reductions made OF the tolls
on paris OF the same line of Improvement give us a
just claim upon tina j':siice of the Legislature and
hope they VIII concur in the report OF the Committee
Mr.. WHITE of RockbrIge said, that he would not
have troubled the House, bu; that all tn. arguments
seemed TO be side Of the question: AMI that in
favor of the resolution H. would not initiate the gen.
tleinan from Amherst and the gentleman from Nelson
III going into detailed history OF the several laws re-
latIng to the James River improvement, nor woui he
make any reflections on the grant sch enc as il was
termed, by way OF conemp',by these gentlemen The
foundation had been lad by the Govern nent long be-
there committed, in tran.ferrng the old Jas
River Companys stock TO the State, the predecessors
OF the gentlemen and Others, now members of this
House, who Advocated The re iuction toll had large
share in 1t: And they ought not now TO complain SO
ioHtiy of the consequence. Why those gentlemen
abandoned the enterprise aft r It's commence
men', he was at loss to un -rstand; but supposed
that they had satisfactory TO Justly Their
course 10 themselve' and Their constituents What he
(Nir Nhiie) intended 10 say the present occasion
vas, TO inorm the House, in hi, aconic way of the
! hi tyoff l.af E a. II
reduced, so far he had personal knowledge of the
subject. Daring III session of 1921 3, a large deb
having been contracted and money sought for 10
carry on the Improvements alluded to, the Board O.
Pu0Ic Works were required tOrepor to the Legislature
tariff OF tolls on the several sections of the line whsn-
ever they should be completed. That Board, after
iaborions investigation OF the subject reported the Ia
rift which will b.. found in the journals OF that sess H.
together WI detailed report OF their proceeding
thereon stating clearly anI explicitly the
which their conclusions founded. In the report
OF their proceedings referred to- they put down tobic
per hogsneaI at 81 90 being fair average rate
OF toll on that article, compared with all other articles
transported on jams River taking value, light and
bulk, as the criterion and however gentlemen may
dsparage that Board and their useun so, (o which
he, Mr.. White, was no advocate) whoever will exam
Inc that report, and the forth must be con-
WINGED Of The prOprety of the conclusion to which
they came, far relates to the subject under
discussion. The report aud schedule OF tolls were re.
lerTed TO large standing Committee of this House, and
atcr p,niul and iaborious examination OF the sub.
Ject the Committee agreed u reduce the toll
co, from s 80 TO 81; not the inlividua now adj
dressing you believes, tudt the 81 80 was not far
average that article but to meet, far possible
the wishes and views OF the NJ