Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15

we nave been doing, for am not content to tax
my answer from tho past. But | will ask wha
snail we do2 Let us adopt the Northern route
; have mentioned, and push it with energy and yea
TO Its completion. will protect us against the flu
,urc intrusion OF Northern enterprise-securo tn
business and attachments of four Northwestern coun
ties-give us wealth-arrest depopulaton, and sus
tam, strengthen and elevate the name of which W,
BOAST Shall we be deferred from undertaking the
TASK oil securing these great results by the phantom
apprehension of physical difficulties difficulties S,
unworthy of regard, and inconsiderable i'm amount
That they can be subdued at expense of $50, COG
mile-a sum not one half the cost per mile OF Sc
veral Northern roads?
have, gentlemen, deemed it my imperative
duty to present these views for your consideration
and To urgently recommend them for adoption II
have one master passion, it is love Of my native
State but in this case, the promp,ngs of patriotic
devotion are. humbly hope, happily blended with
the conclusions of enlightened wisdom.
! cannot pass over in silence the great question
which L discussed somewhat at large in my last
message mean the project of n railroad from the
! town OF buchanan, through the Southwestern por.
ton of our State to the Tennessee line Ii is diff
cult 10 estimate the internal wealth which this i'm
provement will dcyelope. Penetrating, as it does,
from It's start country rich in ali agricultural pro
! ducts, with almost every contiguous mountain \
bank OF minerals, uniting with these local and in
estimable advantages most important connection
with other States, it will be difficult to estimate lis
real and Intrinsic value. repeat the confident o.
Pinlon that the first miles of this road will sup
port itself, and, apart from great public consdcra-
tons, this enterprise will be fully justified as
mere pecunlary Investment.
In selecting Buchanan as the point ofcommencc-
ment ofthis work, look to the character of the
country through which it passes, affording as it
pre- emlncntly does, all the elements of support SD
important and essential to the James River and
kanawha Company. In this Company the State
hn. MI ,l,- IL, la, Al
Olo,22f 90, 10 which will be added in the course
OF the next two years, under act passed at YOUR
last session. the of S!)SS, 900, making a sum
total Of S6603, 224 60. Nor is it to be overlooked.
that the State has had TO advance, since the LIST of
January, lS43, the sum of S23S,43 SO, to com
plete the payment of the current interest due upon
bonds endorsed by her for said Company and that
there can be but little doubt that we shall have
similar claims upon us, unless promptly adopt n
wise and vigorous policy. 1t is then clearly our
duty to foster and sustain this important work. and
to make productive the very heavy capital we have
embarked IN 1t. Nothing can accomplish this i'm
portant work so ecctually as the proposed i'm
provemen This great road will cost less money
II commenced at the point proposed than at any O.
ther that can be selected and thus profit and econ
omy combine to commend ii to your favorable con
sideratOn, especially as it will descend the valley
to its intersection with the extension of the Lousa
railroad on the line | have recommended and
which, hope, will receive Your early and favora-
BILE action therefore earnestly recommend the
construction of a railroad from Buchanan, through
Southwestern Virginia, TO the Tennessee line
am happy to inform you that the James River
and kanawha Company will complete its canal to
Its terminus At Buchanan within the estimates |
deem 1t unnecessary to comment upon this report,
which will be laid before you, it is merely spec
ulative and asks no new legislaton.-T See Doc
No. Is.
On the 9Th of March, 1917, the legislature pass
IL - II
the first section whereof authorizes said company to
increase its capital stock the sum of $50 900 dol
lars, for the purposes therein expressed. Under
standing that the said Company claimed the roht
ofadoptng any route it might prefer, and that it
was probably intended to adopt the route by Char
louisville, the Board OF Public Works deemed it
their duty TO Intimate strongly and clearly their o.
pinion against the right of said company to take
that direction This step was taken, not only to
carry out the supposed policy and intentions of the
General Assembly, but also to operate as notice TO
said Company and to private stockholders that they
need not expect the cooperation OF the Board of
Public Works. ard that they might truly under
stand their relation to this question, the Board aud
the Legislature.
On the 23i of September last, the stockholders
in general meeting assembled at Louisa Court.
house, and, as was feared, adopted the route by
Charlottesville. On the day Of November
the President of said Company submitted an an
scTpion TO the stock offs Company, which, after
due consideration, was declined, upon the ground
that they had no authority of law to make such
subscription, appraised officially as they were of the
route which had been selected for the extension of
said work. There had been previous advertise
ment of said Company, that fourteen miles of said
extension would be let the 23d of November,
and bids were invited accordingly. Notwithstand-
ing the refusal Of the Board to subscribe TO said
Company notwithstanding the President thereof
was informed that the difficulty should be referred
to the General Assembly, he proceeded not only to
let out the part advertised, but five miles, as am
informed, IN addition thereto. This extraordinary
haste under the circumstances, followed by an i'm
mediate commencement of the work, was designed
to acquire, as learn, vested right to the State
subscription To cap the climax of this marvel
lous conduct, notice duly served on the
Board OF Public Works, calling upon that body to
show cause, on the 3Oth ult., why Il nnandamus
should not be awarded against them, which is still
| pending and undetermined, and in relation to which
| it may be requisite for you to take some action
! This proceeding is the highest moral evidence that
this Company is conscious, that in their selection
OF the route they have departed from the spirit and
intention of the law, well the true intent and
meaning of tho General Assembly that they have
nothing 10 hope from your favor, and that their on
Iy chance of obtaining the cooperation Of the State
| is through the judgment Of court Of law
The Board of Public Works, throughout this
whole difficulty, have had no other desire than to
perform their duty and to execute the Law. They
gave this subject an early, and, they believed, a
thorough examination: some OF their members pa
tionty listened TO the views Of distinguished men
and the Board finally called for the assistance Of
the Attorney General To all the views and in
formation thus collected, they gave the most care
fu consideration, and their conclusion was that
they had no authority of law to make the required
subscription.
Without, however, dwelling upon this subject
respectfully refer you to the report Of the Board