Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-28
JAMES RIVER AND kANAwnA CANAL


u from noticing essept very briefly, the aal proceedings
the House OF Delegates the bill FOR the continuation
this work TO the Valley presented 10 the bill Il Mr.
Lyons flew days saee. We reprint, from the Times
sketch OF the action of the House, Wednesday, las.
flames RIVER AND KANAwHA IMPROVEMENT
The bill providing for the continuing the James Ri
Canal 10 the North River aud for completing south
de oi kNanna and tide water connections, came up
A Is second reading
: Mcssrs SVuruALL and LYoSs proposed amondm ent,
which were adopted without opposition.
Viz. TOLKK he:e offered Substitute for the t providing
The ssug Of the bonds OF the James River aud Kama
aha Company, guaranteed by the State. the
S5NOOO e. be appropriated tbs Tecunstrucbn uf the
Blue Ridge CSnsl and the south sid. Rissnna aud Tide
Water connections. The bill provided for the addition at
SS2I25o TO the capita. stock the cimpsnv, of which
SINS To be appropriated by the State, aud Shs be
borrowed by the company on the pledge OF It's surplus
ol; to be appropriated the of the o.
mouth OF North River, and the completion OF the
raj connections between Lynehburg aud tide water.
Mr.. PArsIcE moved amendment t. the substitute,
p:oviGig that the compsny should by locks and dams
the navigation Of the Kanawha river, xiv,
fnve feet Of water up 10 Chsrl, sion. at all times
Mr.. LYON, opposed this ndment, improper
be made To the bi, which provided tor the raising uf
ptcihed sum- which the completion OF
he canal u the N"rh and the connections With td
water. &c. Mr.. l.. sld that the amendment therefore
would be improper, unless the increased The
uends Of the bill looked ultimately the Improvement Of
the navigation ct the kana~ ha. but the amendmen could
at at tins me be otherwise than penOus the bill
Ms. PATsicK reluctantly withdrew his amendment sta
that the people Ui kinawhs pad the James River
md 'nawha company Sl2 900 per annuIn. for IN,
ct improvements which rather disadvantage than
bcneh' IN their present cnndiion-tha upon the
oeuded 25 since l2s received by
The cmpany; and that justice demanded that
mould be done TO improve the navigation OF the Kana~hs
Sver. He contended the duty for the protection
the people "i Kinswha the greater this
they perceived that the further the work
had When It passed the duors OF eu.
Icmen they became the enemies OF Its prosecution.
The question REQUIRED upon Mr. ToLEEs substitute.
Mr.. roLES. after explaining the provisions Of the
a-. proceeded 10 sustain his subs ituie. The
nn oi the Blue Riogo Canal. he commended would be NJ
bsidce the OF canal future day
lie did think the work should be prosecuted any further
this time The bill committed the State the continual
SuOn the Canal. lie did b-cve wise 10 con
nue the Canal He had confidence the estimate OF
tolls TO be derived from Continuing the Canal Buchanan
lo had he any confidence IN the estimates OF the
the canal. From Richmond Lynchbu'g the cast was up
wards OF $4,000 per mile, while II estimated tia,
above Lynehbug the Cost would only be $4,000 per mile.
lie knew there had been upwards OF S!UUUJO expended
above Lynclburs but there portion OF that w.:k
which 1t would cost more reInsiae than would cana.
made entirely anow-the rocks and rubbish being swep
from mountains into the canal; aud so low
was the location Of The canal, that in the great fresh
ei3 It feet under Mr.. 7. argued too
hat were the Cana continued to Buchanan, l: would
distant day be supplanied by Railroad lie entered into
an ur2umsn 10 show that railroads were superior and
had mlny important advantages over, canals In view OF
these facts would be inJudcuus continued the canal
SGch IN effect the Of the Canal Company At it.
ate annual meeting; they decided that the ra should
completed by road; and they \ corr
lunuance Of the canal 81 miles iurher lie could see NJ
florence IN principle m reslrtng railroad Blu chan
an aud adopting the railroad al Lynchbufg. Mr. ToLER
continued IN yndIc1On OF the mpuiaons OF his motives
s5ecause O. hs being citizen OF Lyucnburg lie alleged
that ne hat voted on ut every appropriation
continue the canal, and it, advocate unul
led by COMPARISON of canals with railroads. that the former
could not compete with the later and that canal ccud
never compete with rival INES hopeless enter
prise But Mr. ToLES cunenid that the position Of ohe.
tD he
puaUn OF se.shness-iur canal were continued Il,
Buchanan there would be iranshpment IT freight ano
ither advantageous circumstances which would make u
favorable 10 the local Interests OF that place stop
mai there. Reaiive - the complaints touching the drs
tTucuon u the B.ne Ridge Cana Mr. ToLES contendec
nat he cmplanans might thank their representa-
uves for the trueon vt thaeans He had underworld
- top the roHTsets which made PAID in d.
,preelattd serF; and member from Rckbrcge Gen ~.
mani had succeeded IN PREF ID eng the House
inoon because u MS position, snd u Jailed and the
WIS destroyed. He entered into that
the great increase Vi tonnage Anticipated by Continuing the
canal 10 buchanan, would not be realised
Mr. 1HlNEsoN " g. replied to M. T LER rrprese ntinp
1.-THE csacyIuvg Inch his labnred znu
lapPesus 10 the HUE 10 Do them justice and relieve the
neeesses, urging the Prospective Of tonnage
"a strong noucemeni 20 The continuation Of the canal.
Mr. u moved amend she bill 10 require thst
the sou'n ,de connections should be ee,ed before tho
other ~o'k' authorized 10y the bill
Mr.. LToS em,usJFerd submitted il 20 the sense II
justice and humanity - themselves and the House. whe
Ter tue dangerous mountain where property
'"d macy v.s base been -s, shyuII be 81 CEN
suGrteG.
Mr. CoexE persisted in his misunderstanding that n 5
constituents were cut oil Tom the advantages rs.r nav
ISsuon BY tue canal, hem that IEey shoul
be enabe the cansL
VII. L, cEE's Smt rcmt nj was REJECTED.
Mr. LIZ vs. opposed The substitute Of Mr. ToLEz Pc
Herring remark If r. TOer, that the adoption Of his
ubsttIe would not offer obstruction the Continuation
VI the canal M L. said he amend his substitute to
accomplish that purpose; for simply provided for
construction IT old canal, which one tor batteauS
navigation. The reconstruct OF the canal therefore.
would only be the Construction OF one Tor bielux
gauon and would not answer for portion the present
linz cana which larger ,ptIon OF boat;
land he submitted the member and House whether
IA view OF his own ayOweG opinion that canal would
n" and ought not 10 be continued, would not be moi
the canal Of dlmens1ns sufficiently accommJua.
the b'sts which Piled along he James River Canal
But Mr e"ntended the member from Campbell raised
the question: Whether " not the canal shou be abandon
ec; und he MI represented that question a. very So
cum and important one, involving cOnsdetafiUn5 m Imsn
tous ~ Virginia. lie regarded question whether We
should cut oil our brethren VI the Valley and drive them
commercial intercourse with foreign city vt fore IA
state, and ALLEVIATE their affections, or whether We by ma
AnR this improvement, should retain their and
Strengthen the affections between the East and West b,
causing their attachment low with the stream toward.
Enstrn yrglna. lie could hardly discuss It ss dollar
md cent question. Mr. L. proceeded discuss the e.t-
o. tue cust Of the work the North the ncfeas
ed Tonnage that mi1ht be eIpectd IT, the completion uf
be canal to BuchanIn IL ed ihsf present II Cos
q y odd GEMS perton transport from Bue'
Lyuchbufg ban It DID 10 ira sport il from Lynch
,urg 10 Richmond. lie c"nended that the o tran
'Lymsnt would be dollar per Lynchburg which
the 2OCCO tons Of iron from beyond mountains.
g"oud be uH Il $4,000 the people Of that region on
j hat article alone.
The occurred in the middle OF Mr. LYoss' re.
dmarks.
At the evening session he continued and concluded his
1remak' making srOng appeal behalf Of the improve
1ment.
Mr. HAErEK followed in brief argument in favor OF con
nung the cana 70 Buchanan. lie earnestly Invoked the
Legislature to do something for The and the ncce.i
u ZEE o." the people beyond the mountain lie declared that
II he canbl already hall finished 70 ROckbnd an,
nineteen twencths Of the people u that county we're u
= ayor u the canal n preference u Rail Road.
II Mr. TOLER replied briefly to Mr.. Lyons.
II Mr. HhRIE inumoed his great des to soe the cana
1conductsd INTO the Valley; but declared that he could no
vote FOR the b substitute. II the friends would eonsen
81 bl which would the m1untsin cansI and pro
'cus the mnin line ~ Re-l's creek where he understood
II mere difficulties not much inferior TO thJ.e Of tb
dnDunion pas and leave oil appropriation Tor tho VAR
"a us come :tiOBs, he would yOle for %.
II VIZ LYoNs indicated bis willingness 10 take old Tor TN
mpTO,cml ut 10 that shape which best calculated
No.