Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-03-12

JAMES RIVER AND KANAwHA COMPANY.
Rssosr ~ fAs Jsiaf Comfss, esnssfins Of Mesrs Ro
sssr c. srAsAsp. Josx McCArLrY. Joux GrnHRAsr
ssS Jons THesrsos in. Of hs Senate, and Mesvs
sAsr Q. AnrNscS, JA~Is r. srRorHEK. EDMUND
baoApcR Wa, B. Passros, and Dawn Z. Mooar. Of
sAs Hssss Dsiesses. appointed 70 inrssf'este the
V9Woes9 Wsnsssnsxf Of fAe James River KsHs-
sAs cs~Ssav. n tThH Ifiraf
The joint appointed and charged with the du.
ofexaminng the books end pspefs in the Office and ct
tBvesg stire the Affairs aud management OF the James
river and kansuha company from the commencement OF
operations to the present time nave, according To order
lad ihs under consideration and beg leave to
posti
That aior their organization and for the purpose
Of enabling hen The better proceed In their nvcsga
ton ef The Of the company, they
thsk chairman TO give written invitations several gentle
spp<sr before them who IL understood could
fuuA vaissble information in the form OF objections
sbs gins plan Of the improvement the construction
ef she works. and TO the general administration of the
company.
Under tina, invitation which was intended to be genera
several highly rvspectsbc gentlemen from time
sssdsd The committee. and stated in detail their OBJ
scoas under the foregoing general heads; all Of which,
except such were Of general and indefinite
precludo valuable enquiry, committee
pr.essded Investigate after hearing all the witnesses
s,ther side. whose attendance could be procured The
president Of the company then heard in reply upon
the vso hesds above referred and the office. books
and papers and the compsny's officers, all placed
In the power Of the committee and the ecst and fullest
scrutiny invited ~ their hands Your committee availcd
themselves Of oil the aids rendered them any quar-
sef and alter investigation oi much lsbour, will
proceed to give the legislature the conclusions which
they have arrived.
will be recolec;cd that ut the session OF the Leeisla-
turc OF 1898, similar investigation into the affairs OF
this company authorized by the several resolutions
its two branches that under these resolutions the
zee o each house. acting together visited and Inspected
the line OF improvement from the City of Richmond the
mouth Of the North river md the result of that
sancs and investigation reported the respective
houses and is referred TO- because present
OF Of
lection covered by the labouu OF that committee and il
therefore deemed convenient rc.exnnnc tho
heads OF objection aud then 10 take the add-
nona heads which your committee will proceed do
PLAN AND DIMENSIONS OF THE CANAL.
On this point, committee in addition the views
presented by the former conttec deem necessary only
that the objections and taken the
plan and dimensions Of the canal may be briefly stated
follows: That lie unnecessarily large and costly is
insisted that canal Of the dimensions Of tho New York.
Pennsylvania and Ohio canals, all that required
for the trade and travel likely upon line. IL
appears that the dimensions of canal fixed by the
stockholders of the company pursuant the recommen-
daon Of the late Judge Wright, and in by
Prcsdent) at general meeting in May 1895, and
the general plan that il should be fifty feet the top
wafer ne thirty feet at the bottom aud five feet deep
whilst the average OF the canals in New York. Pennsvl
mia ana Ohio with which is sought Compare it, would
be about ~ feet At the water line @cniyeght feet
bottom and four feet deep, which would give great
section, and without pretending
increase the about 25 per After the ratification
OF the siockhodsr and after great lapse of time with
time the public Judgment appears have acquIesccd
correctness OF Its dimensions, would be
TOO late to urge seriously objection But
mittee opinion when recolected that the line
OF this work when undertaken designed compete
land IL hoped successfully with FIVE other lines for
the trade and travel o the great west" which
had the advantage Of being located in n more level
country, it Of the first importance as may be sccn by
information continued in the appendix the former
port to give 10 our line in greater dimensions,
tervailing advantage. Your committee do not admit
that om comparison of the dimensions of with the
average dimensions OF the New York Pennsylvania and
Ohio Canals before referred 10, II By esiab-
lished that canal OF less dimensions than present
would conveniently purposes. If ts
minus should be at Buchanan Coyngon because with
It's present dimensions complaints occasionally heard
OF deficiency Of wntcr for boats with full freghs. What
would be the increase OF and travel and what The
necessity OF canal OF large dimensions will be well un
detood by ali the least conSersaGt with such subec; il
the line shall be extended originally designed TO
the waters Of the Ohio river They of opinion furth
ermore that the comparison especially relied upon with
wit, the Erie canal in New York. land The same
remark applies 10 OF the canals in Pennsylvania and
oho Is Of hide fierce. 1t is known that the Emo canal
beginning at Butialoe. through the interior Of
western part OF New YORK. through champaign country
until strikes the valley oil Mohawk whose cliffs and
dehes ore less PERCEPTIONS than the valley Of James fv.
through which canal in its whole construct
ed Hence Is apparent that the greater liability of
work continual WISHES OF EARTH and the consequent de-
post in the canal (heFeby essenng the eT.h Of water and
It's usefulness Tor oi nayiat0n) rendered
cessary here to have canal Of enlarged dimensions. IT,
however, We mistaken in this view, still when u is re-
tnenoeIeu tnat oil designed
non only oil continuous line OF improvement penetrating
10 the great west and that If completed begun IL youd
not be ON too large scale 10 accommodate trade and
travel on Its boCe.s and likely H. yonr commit
tee cannot admit the justice Of conforming pnn whose
only fault would be that been executed
La adopting toe present dimensions Of the canal the pro-
Jecors oil that improvement appear committee
have acted as those bound who charged
with the great work OF connecting the and
waters through the soil OF this State thereby of pouring
into Virginia the trade OF empire
LOWER LEVEL AT RICHMOND
Ia addition 10 what the former said on this
subject, committee would add that looking to the pro-
spectve increase of trade and on the line and the
increased demand for power and the necessity where
there is considerable withdrawal Of water from .uch e
vel to increase the volume that fluid prevent
current IN opposition TO the ascending boats combined
with other considerations OF public convenience il was pr
per give the canal this point the dimensions il now
The public were subjected great Inconvenience by with
drawing the water TO make this enlargement md il wond
seem To your committee TO have been the part OF wisdom
provide possible against the any future ell
Isemeni Win the lower level OF its present dimensionz
no such necessity in the opinion OF your committee will
arise Your committee therefore OF opinion with the
former committee that this enlargement was proper.
MIXED SYSTEM OF CANAL AND SLACKWATER
On this head we have nothing add what has been
said by the icTmer committee, except concurrence 10
the proprey oi its application the referred TO-
CONNEXIoN WITH TIDE WATER THROUGH
THE RICHMOND DOCK
On this subject have little add to what has beer
said by the former committee, further than state on
with them. Some objections are made 10 III,
repairs Of the dock afieriis acquisition which will be no
tced hereafter. The purchase the dock was admitted
by every gentleman who has been before and has refer
red 10 this subject. to have been mOst Judieious.
LOCATION OF THE CANAL.
On this subject we have nothing add what is sail
by the former committee and shall merely express our con
IN the expressed by them Ii is ryb, mo-
ever TO say that two highly respectable gentlemen who
Urged before objections other things both expressl,
cJncurodi in the proprey Of the location Of the canal
NEW WORKS or THE COMPANY
On this head your committee can add nothing TO III,
former report except 10 say, that Of their body were
members OF the former committee and cuncurred in he
report; and others who well acquainted with the cana
from frequent travel the line from Richmond TO Lynch
burg OF some other part Of the line, in the genefa
statements made by former committees.
COST OF THE CANAL
After careful investigation OF this subject the commit
fully with former committee in the belle
that the work has been executed upon good terms # mo-
better. than other smlsr lines Staes executed