Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-01
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
FOX TIE F-VRUIHFK
Tie Navigation IF UVts's Rirer, and tie Wiais!
CD,uDgHy

The Navigation ~ UHtss Rtrer, dm Tie Hhtts
Company.
The Agricultursts ask fewer favors Of The Govern
meni than any ether class of the community. WITH
coed roads and good navigation which they are willing
pay for, they content These, IT is the bound
en- duty Of Government TO afford; for the farmer aoorS
vain, when, addition ID ether burdens 'henvy
and grevous 10 be borne, lie has to pay an excessive
tax on his produce TO get 10 market. Such Is the
hard condition of the farmers who are dependant upon
The navigation of Willrs's river.
Ii is not my purpose TO allege aught against The
members of the Wss Company individually for
they oil worthy and highly respectable gentlemen
1t is with their negligence and wret:hed management
as a corporation, that have 10 do.
large section OF country is dependant upon The ma
vigation Of Wss river for the transPor.tt on OF lis
produce market. This section embraces portion
Of Cumberland, buckingham and Prince Edward;
and tobacco equal 10 any made in the State, both
in quality and quantity, is its staple commodity
But, in consequence OF The neglect and bad man
ngement Of the Willss Company, the people OF this
section subjected u very great inconvenience ana
expense in getting their produce TO market Some
dozen years ago, the navigation of Willis river was
equal TO that Of any stream Of tJ size within the State
Fortunately for the people, about that tune, Colonel
! John Gannaway Il member OF the Company. tie
was vigant in The discharge of his duty, and permit
ted obstructlons to the navigation. lie cared Tor
the welfare of those WHO used the navigation, rs much
as he did for the tolls levied their produce. Since
|
and Wrllis's has become worthless as a public high
way. IL now takes double the time 10 make trip 70
Bcutnr1rH ~ Hid: we
mer rates Indeed such s the del,y and unce / nty
attending The navigation, that many have abandoned
the use of it, and they compelled to pay heavy
and distant land carriage other points of Ira
ton. For this, the Ws's Company are blameable
and they are without excuse. With iudcious manage
men,, and probably with less expense than they now
incur the Company might keep he navigation in good
order II ls understood that the Company employs by
the year, sufficient force 10 keep the works repair
but the force consists of negroes without overseer,
and we all know, where this is the case negroes
sui! their rather than the interest Of their
employers
But is believed that majority of his Company
are influenced by local pref ces Their conduct
shows that they do not wish the aviga,on eatend
higher than the once hourshng, but decnyed and
dapdatcd town of Cara; for some how or other the
navigation is kept repair, after fashion, beioc that
place, and out Of repair above it. Clowns were made
Tor the country-not the country for the towns" But
the conduct of many IN be Ike that of The de-
vout Monk, who "tbaaked God for his Provide tal
wisdom IN placing rivers near to large towns"
Yes, the navigation OF Win SIS river above the town
of Cara, is suffered IL remain in the possible
condition Th' locks are never in condition 10 admit
the passage Of bout, Boats their passage here have
to unload BE- dragged considerable distance put into
the river again, and then reloaded. Why is this per-
mi,led? challenge an answer. The Company have
no excuse for it-literaly none. meeting was held
in Curdsvills last winter, which made this proposition
to the Company That if they would pledge the tolls
on all produce passing ADORE Cara for the payment of
the cost, the meeting would have these locks put in
complete repair. But, to the establishment Of the
meeting, and the modification OF portion Of the
Company some of whom presen, ct The Curds-
vile meeting, and warmly favored the proposition IS
n most just and liberal one-ths proposition re-
jeetfd by the ruling majority of the Company Thus,
II is, that this Company will neither put the locks in
order themselves, permit others to do it. Their
conduct in the premises, is much abstraction Of
the navigation, it would be were they put che
nau1-dtris the river at Cara Yet this soul.
less coTpo:ation, in defiance Of law, demand and re.
ceve toll on produce passing up and down the
is the duty of the Legislature TO look 10 this matter
and redress the wrongs Of the aggrieved and the
ention of the delegates from Bucking CHAM, Cumber-
land md Prince Eda ard, earnestly called TO the sub
ject The conduct Of the Company will not bear tie
scrutiny of investigation. The Legislature of Viz
ginia when it declared Williss river pul;c high
way, and incorporated Company TO open, and keep
open the navigation, never intended that that Com
pany should thus abuse the trust confded 10 them 1t
would be well thot some general law passed, sub
Jecing corporations to heavy penalties 10 be enforced
IN the most summary manner for the gross neglect of
their duty. The slow process of the acr Of quo
ranto does not meet the emergency
If The Williss Company would keep the ma vigation
in order, nobody would interfere with them. The tolls
would be cheerfuly paid But the people have borne
with their uni ust exactons, until "forbearance
Of distress, 10 pay tolls their produce, when
in consequence Of the neglect Of the Company, they
have 10 pay increased freight t. the boatmen.-
Ws's river is susceptible Of being made gnod ma
vgation This the Legislature intended, and the pco-
Pile interested have right 10 demand and do demand
that it be done JUSTICE.
u The Wing will please copy