Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-05
co
Making an aggregate o!


For a single track railroad from Coving-
ton 10 l.oup creek shoals ,i.o,!oO OO
For equipments Tor the
same. IL 900 90
- 1909 go %
For steamboat navigation on the Kama !.
wI. river, loS,o95 90
S3,l25,9l3 90
To which ought 10 be added the difference
between the cost Of the light super
structure intended 10 be used AZ the
openinp OF the road, and one of more
permanent character by which 1t was -
soon to be superseded, making 4ll,9oo U.
Making an aoprera:e of S3,l25 9lS 90
For further information upon the subject Of Tie pro-
posed change, beg leave to refer TO Mr. Gil report
which las Just been communicated
From the foregoing statement, appears That The pro-
posed change in The improvement Will subject the stock
holders TO no additional burdens, and that II cannot be
OBJECTED 10 on the ground oil increased cost
Bn, the plan now recommended, coGInends itseli TO
the favor OF the stockholders and the Legislature on Ia
rous other grounds.
i. The proposed Improvement would be free high
way in all its parts upon the aynent oil tolls, whist
railroad would necessarily be close monopoly
, Ii is not the interest Of the James River and IA
nawla Company to charge Itself with the dul'es ana
responsibilities Of a carrier II should merely provide
the highway and keep il IN order.
) a canal company would lind greater cnbarrass
mcnt and difficulty in the management OF long line
If railroad with It's train OF equipments ngehls
dcpols shops and arcers, all Of them foreign 10 The
principal objects Of the company's attention, and To-
Gated necessarily, at considerable distance from Inc
principal seat Of its ordinary administration.
4 more careful examination oil the ravine oil New
River seems give just ground Tor the apprehension
that railroad in that situation, won!d be liable 10 Ire
ouent damage and arrangement from avolanches IN
winter and from the fall Of rocks from the cliffs at all
seasons Of the year.
) The plan Of Improvement now recommended can
no, be objected to on the ground that il will be more
costly channel of transportation than The railroad
since If the experience OF the railroads III this and Inc
ncinhboring States may be relied on criterion, The
reduction Of freight on the water parts OF The suostu
ted line will compensate ii not more than compensate
Tor the increased charges on the snort poltloh OIL Ii
Adamzed road.
For these reasons | respectfully recommend 10 the
ckholders application TO the Legislature Tor au
thorty
/. So to modify their Improvement on the kanawhu
river as provide depth of water equal TO that re-
CURED by law for The James river and kanawha canal
and of breadth sufficient TO admit the owage OF cana
boats.
= TO substitute for that portion Of their proposed
railroad which is situated West Of Greenbrler bridge
m extension Of their waller line from The kanawha RI
yer upward, through the wales OF New river and
GIecnbrer river said bridge; such extensions as far
IN the line as the month Of The Grecnbrcr river, OF
such point below the the company may select
10 consist Of lock and dam navigation for steamboats,
Of al least one hundred tons burden, with the same
depth o. and breadth Of channel as are to be re
required in the kanawla river below; and from the
mouth Of Grcenbrier river or from snch other point as
may be selected for the upper limit Of steamboat nav
CATION To Greenbrier bridge, To consist oil canal ma
viga;ion similar in character and dimensions to that IN
progress between Richmond and Covineton.
D. To substitute Tor that part OF the proposed railroad
pi,, nipd If
McAdamZet surface laid upon the line Of the company
turnpike road between said bridge and Covlngton, with
such changes i'll the location of the the compa-
ny may deem advisable; further extension ol either
both the Eastern and Western divisions Of the water
line towards The dividing ridge, and McAdamlzed road
rs aforesaid as connecting portage for the residue OF
land part Of the route.
T. TO levy on the Western water line from the East
ern termination thereof to the mouth Of kanawha river
tolls exceeding those allowed by law the James
river and kanawha canal, and on the McAdam'2ed
portage the tolls allowed b. law The Kanawha turn
pike
The amended plan Of Western improvement now
proposed has thus FAR been placed before the stock
holders upon the ground OF us own intrinsic merits
But il assumes more imposing aspect from the con.
sderalon that it will form part Of enlarged
and perfect system of wafer communication, which
wall doubtless hereafter be provided by the State We
here ask ourselves the question, If be the object
OF the State adopt the most efficient and, nj the
same time. the most economical system Of transport,
for the purpose Of bringing 10 her markets in the
East the products of her Western Territorv and of a
large portion of the States adjacent TO her Western
boardes what should be the plan proposed for the
compshmcnt oil these important Objects reply, that
it must be an enlarged water line, which, commencing
from the head Of the tide the falls Of James river
shall pass directly through The heart Of the Stale 10
central point in trans Allegheny Virginia. and shall
branch thence 10 her South western and North western
borders: aud that this channel should be unbroken
by porlagrs, 50 that there should he no necessary
,ranS.spment of cargccs between the head Of the tide
and the utmost limits of the State. The ronte for such
a channel has already been provided by bount,ful
Providence in the vallies Of the James Jacksons s,
Greenbricr. New, and kanawha rivers, interrupted
only at a single point by the chain Of the Allegheny
mountain In order to accomplish such line ofcom-
mpnca,ion, have only 10 break down this barrier,
throughout these vaes That the State will ultimate
ly profit by the great natural advantages Of her posi-
ton in this respect, cannot for moment entertain
doubt
Were such channel provided, We NAV be well as.
sured from the great Of evidence upon the sub.
ect which was laid before the stockholders in the
fourth annual report, that the necessary charges Of
transportation inclusive of the Of maintenance of
the works would not exceed The rate of cent per
per mile al which rate combined with tariff of tolls
iudiciouslv framed, with view 10 favor The distant
trade heavy products coming from the borders Of Ten
nessee or the banks of The Ohio would reach the head
of the tide nj aggregate charge of about $40 ton
To persons well informed upon The subject an argu-