Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-19
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Tho Petition &C the undersigned, citizens oil
Rchmond, nort respectfully REPRESENTATIVES.,
among lhc various aud Important rropositions rnr
opening new and extending and improving Cst,.
blishcd channels of communication .hror,rl,uu. ,h,
State, To which the deep aud pcrvadin,, interest
now cvccy wh"rc manifested ON the .ul,crt of In
tcrnal Improvement has given rise there is o,,c
which, although heretofore ottcm alluded to- and
sometimes iuadc the object of Legislative attention
is inferior il Importance la few upon which mil
lac patronage has been bestowed, and for which
your petitioners now earnestly ask the deliberate
consideration OF the General Assembly
Tho distractions 10 the navigation OF the Iowcr
James River, has hccu for wears matter of deem re-
greet and constitute almost iusurnnuu' able harri
ers 10 successful commercial operations.
MhI'e In every pursuit i'll life The motive to OK.
cr;ion mainly depends perfect protection To
the individual from all restraint in the proper an
pitcat'on OF his energies; there is rome. on which
restrictions, 'ranmcs. delays and heavy chnrncs
operate moro impccionsly than on commcrcc-
These bring, however tardiy, vet surely, in their
train, absolute destruction. The trade may. for y
time, lingCc Oh; individuals of capital and cncruy
Intelligence and enterprise, may overcome many
difficulties, and press on for period but, all expc
Renee has proved, and will continue to prove THAI
capital, intelligence and cLtcrprzc, will seek that
theatre inr action, in commercial pursuits where
IL" risk and danger, and charge, is the least, and
''lc profit The greatest.
ic; these truths be applied TO the present cord
ton Of tn" trade and commerce of Lower James
iNvcr; aud the b,indcst must perceive that, f Vir
ginit docs net intend 60 make her merchants one
and al, the mere retail traders for Northern capt
tahStS and importers, suh,c succtly and eftcctu,l
measure should DC adopted for the removal Of the
oh>lruc'Ions Ia The navigation of this Riycr
"cH consist, principally, OF two Bars, ono less
IMAM i"ur miles below the CITY OF Richmond, and
near /" Warwick: the other about six or seven miles
below City Point, and known as Iitrrsnn's Bar
lhc prlnci al articles OF 'orciCn commerce shipncd
rom Richmond are, tobacco, flour, aud cotton
NC TWO i!rat arc, by far the most important in
i"AAtity ana value IL is a circunl st nee for
81 asset bound Co foreign port to fill up Ter
N"".H cargo in the port OF Recommendation such
yc..2', iherc Is not an adrGnnc draft of water TO
rear t'H out oil the port, fully laden. The consc-
CNonrH Is, that they under the necessity of Ia
King u their c0rgocS below Warwick Bur and ma
- "t 'hcm below iiurrisom's Bar In the former
e'@l Icy arc laden about four miles, and in the
"'er ABOUT fifty miles, below the port from whence
to@ produce Is taken. The like condition of things
exists in relation TO the iuword cargocs Goods
of tho finest and most delicate character imported
from abrond, are trumsshippcd into lighters, and
"''cn exposed to the most Indictment weather. and
transported Tor distance of sixty miles to their
conSIgnccs. But for the distractions referred to-
the imported cargo would be delivered, and the OK
ported cargo received, in the port of Richmond
mere would be nothing to prevent skip taking
III her cargo at Rockets, and sailing directly,
with all her crew, s'"rcs, and euupments to any
the most distant port.
1t is due, however, to tho General Assembly.
'Hll inc evils, cinNtrraSSneniS, and difficult
srliing to the commerce OF city, from the cause
alluded 10, should be more infinitely detailed, tho
more clearly TO demonstrate the heavy, md almost
intolerab!r, hardsh?s to which our merchants arc
subject.
Trade pursued as that the lower James Ri
Ver' must necessarily be-, is tardy in its course, and
cannot be hastcncd. Dispatch and speed in com.
mercla operations, is often of the first inheritance
week or month lost, frequently defeats the
most judicious plans and efforts in a commercial
nc
chant-at least one fortnight would be saved j,
loading q ship, ny having her lying at the por
whence her cargo is taken. The charges upon the
trade liz the form OF craitage and insurance. are
enormous. In the year ending Octobcr LIST, 1881
thc cra!iagc on foreign exports of Tobacco, Four
and Cotton, and Imports of Merchand to, TO an,
IRON the Port OF Richmond, amounted to The snm
OF So2S.3Io. This result is asccrtaiu"d from TN.
Custom House Books and is constituted OF the fol
lowing items
Tobacco s, S,cms-2l ,O0O bids at 75c $4,000 O:
Flour, O7,GC7 bills ; asa 2.
Cotton, l4u0 ollcS 81 1920 gt
ia