Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-19

md IN conformity To the method heretofore pursuct
beg leave to present to the Stockholders n repol
of the operations of the pas, year. and of tic prcse
state and condition of the Company.
!. OF THE LINE OF OLD WORKS RECEIVED FROM TIL
STATE.
!. OF The Blu. Ridge Turnpike Road and the Blu
Ridge Canal
The Blue Ridge Turnpike Road has been keep
in its usual good condition throughout the present
year. When passed over it carly in November
on my return from the West the portion OF the road
on the north side OF the river Showed traces OF th,
heavy wagonase that had recently been employee
in transpp r,ing stone to the locks then in progress.
in the vicinity OF the toll house. But in point o.
BREADTH shape, surface and drainage it appeared Il
myself, well as to the chief engineer, 10y whom
j was accompanied, to be in good and satisfactory
condition. The necessary repair in the shape ~
walling rip rappins, had been made at the sup
porting wall which had fallen down, as stated in
the last annual report, at point the mountain
slope the south side OF the river and near the
lower dam. In some OF the stcepest places, from
the gradual mouldcring OF the supporting walls, tie
breadth Of surface is becoming contracted, aud viii
have to bc restored by rock blasted and throwr
over from the opposite hill side. At the places
where the road is beddcd in clay, there are drain
diichcs on the upper side o. sufficient capacity,
which kept well opensd. In turning around
the spurs oil the mountain the road way occasion
ally strikes the solid rock. Here no drain bitches
were made either IN the original construction of the
work. or had been made the time of its delivery
by the State; and none have since been provided ;
but no Inconvenience seems to result from their Mo
ssnce for the road al these places being composed
chiefly OF gravel or broken stone, the rain water
drains oil across 1t, aud passes through it's friabc
materials, without CAUSING any essential injury 10
its surface. The drain ,se OF this road is gen
orally effected by Of open, paved cutters,
which being judiciouEy located and constructed on
both sides, with gradually descending slopes cause
ic delay or inconvenience 10 carriages or paSsen'
gers. AT the heads OF some OF the mountain hcl-
lows. there several sharp turns IN the road
which might have been avoided in the original l0cl
ton l'y some addition to the prime cost but hav
ing been introduced into the work, they may &C
suffered TO remain unll an increase of revenue shall
Justify the expense OF i change. These small de-
fectS, however, detract very LITTLE from the general
Inert OF the work, which, although CONSTRUCTED
throughout its whole extent, the rugged spurs OF
the Blue Ridge mountain, at all original cost OF less
than one thousand dollars per mile, mas breath OF
- feet, and maximum grade Of three degrees with
the exception of few points only where It slightly
exceeds that amount.
The amount of travel this year on the Blue
Ridge Turnpike Road and Ferry, when complr,
with its amount for several previous years, has
somewha; diminished This has arisen in part from
an increase in tie amount of stage traveliing-ihe
stage passengers paying no tolls. There has been
more wagonage OF Tie turnpike than IN preceding
years, which compensdtes in part 10: the decrease
of the OTHER travel.
TIE Blue Ridge Cana! has been in course of
enlargement since early period IN the last spring.
In order 10 make way for the enlargement Of the
trunk OF tie canal the water was drawn off from
the portion located the north side Of the river in
the month OF February, and in March from the part
situated on the south side, anC subsequently, tho
upland boats, with theHd OF the river-aasll con-
slruced Tor The purpose, near the upper dam and
an improved slope IN the lower dam, have returned
the bed Of the river and have encountered oil the
great falls al the pass through the Blue Ridge. In
the course Of this difficult and dangerous naviea-
ton, several lives and some property have been lost;
and 10 prevent such sacrifices in future, 1t IS the
wish OF the directory TO hasten the completion OF this
part OF the line.
This change in the state OF the works at the 3 nc
Ridge, has been accompanied by corresponding
change IN the regulations relative that part o the
line. The Cana. having passed over to the OF
the engineer engaged ~ the reconstruction of the
work, the salary Of the superintendent was reduced
and the Office OF assistant superintendent was dis.
continued. The superintendent was also required
TO act as inspector Of cement at the m tnufIclory
established near the upper dam. For this purpose,
lie was authorized 10 have small office erected IN
n convenient situation on the companys ground,
which, after the completion Of Tie work, will be
useful in the future administration OF It's affairs.
From this point, he has managed the repairs Of the
road with the aid OF two white laOourers employed
by the year. and also the collection OF the turnpike
and ferry tolls, with the assistance of respectable
ferryman, stationed at the dollhouse Il few miles
below. The levying Of tolls on the canal was dis
continued IN January last, and viii not be resumed
until the completion Of shis part OF the line.
The Blue Ridge Canal no longer exists in its orr
Eina and separate state, one OF the old works OF
the company, anu is rapidly disappearing in the
new ard more ample canal OF which Il ia destined
20 constitute a part; but as It's enlargement, apper-
tains 10 tie line o active operations, now advancing
in the second division of the canal the state and
progress OF the work will be more appropriately
comprehended in q subsequent branch ofthe annual
report.
?. 0fhs Kanaioha Turnpike Road.
Upon the Kanawha turnpike the annual repairs
have been conducted upon The usual liberal and en-.
Jagged scale. An aggregate force of about &c la
bourers, with suitable number Of draft animals,
put into nc i've operation under FIVE oyersecrs
as early in the month of April as the nature OF the
season would permit. The road, as usual, was cut
up into subdivisions. In the first of the sections
which extended from Coving,on to the foot Of L,lc
Suel mountain, distance Of AZ miles, the company
ol hands after rebuilding the stone work Of bridge
the former place, proceeded to repair the road
and finished the section on the last of August. II
the second section, which extended from the foo, q
Little Sue TO A!derson's, a dist1ncc Of only %
miles. the company also completed their work a, hi
end OF the summer; but this section embraced Sue
valley and the two SIol mountains, the former o
which required a large amount Of paving, and TN
latter considerable use Of the shovel. I'm the tbir
setton which extended from Alderson's To the f,ll
nj kanawha. distance Of "a miles the repairs yyef,
finished by the 10th Juy when the party wa
transferred to strengthen that IN the first secior ir
consequence Of extraordinary damage from heay,
rains in the mountains Immediately west OF the toqI
of Lewisburg. In the fourth section which extend
cd from the falls Of Kannwha 10 the ton Of Goa
mountain distance Of 80 miles, besides the erectio,
Of Two small bridges, the necessary rond renal,
were completed on the 18th Angus; after whic
time, tie force employed in constructing cul
vert and embankmcnt in the Salioes, which It wa
found practicable TO Substitute fora bridge 50 fee
IN length, upon that part Of the line. And in In
fifth section, which extended from the TOP of Goa
mountain to the mouth Of Big Sandy river, and en-
hrgcsd also the Guyhndoite foid--in all n disrarc
oil 81 mes-the repairs were not completed unit
about tho middle Of The month Of September.
AS the parties finished the repairs with vhlcl
they were respectively charged, they pissed of IN
road and were finally dismissed. A large amour
Of work has been executed this season; Il bnyint
been the obiect Of the agent 10 render the r,p1if
bo'h permanent oni useful. The general appear.
rncc Of the road has been improved, and ts rerr,
ncncy not lille added ~. Bot from the yressi,
weincss Of the season. in tho latter p1rt Of sufnr,
and from frequent and heavy rains soon after Nh
surface Of The road was thrown up, j, became ytr
much cut 10y wagons and stages 10 the month nj q
tobot and so continued until tho return OF dr.
weather.
3. The Kanatrha Navigation.
The season for operations on tho river. which
limited 10 the low state ~ the water In tho SUNNI
and autumn, commenced this year on the t3.b Jnl
and terminated on The ooh September. Afterto.
ing buoys in tho positions where they were no
CURED, the river force resumed the work AT Iobn
toms shoals and finished il. Tho nuvi,oton r
iheso shoals appears now to be os rec from oIiee
tons as % IS possible 10 make J.. under sysfet1
,nice navigation. After completing the work d