Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-30
James River Tolls.

IgEAlN6ION, DCL. lOIU, 1901.
Att meeting of Mckhridge citizens on
the subject Of the reduction Of tolls on the
James River Canal. DR.. Il. II. Barton
was appointed Chairman, and J. 7. Pat
ION, Secretary.
On motion of DR.. A. Graham, a COM
rnittee was appointed to report business
for the action of the meeting.
DIR. A. Graham. Hugh Barclay and DR..
J. w. Paine were appointed by the Chair
man on said Committee.
During the retirement ofthe commit
tee, J. u. Dorman, Esq, addressed the
meeting on the subject of the reduction
of the James River tolls. Mr.. Dorman
said, that whilst this matter of the reduc-
ton oftols, on the James River Canal,
was no new thing and whilst there seem
ed to be disposition on the part of the
Company, at its last meeting, TO make
such a reduction when the Canal should
reach the mountains, yet it was by no
means certain that this would be done,
and it was therefore time for the people
TO speak out upon the subject. The re
port of the company itself, furnished abun-
dant evidence Of the propriety of such a
step. Some of them Contained state
menis ofthc effect ola reduction upon the
canals Of New York, which struck his
mind as conclusive of the question. 1t
would be found too, that on the James
River Canal itself, when the toll on corn
and meal was cents per ton per mile, for
period Of five years, the amount ofthese
articles carried on sie canal did not ex-
coed an annual average of 5000 bushels.
The toll was reduced TO two cents, and
the average amount since had been near
" 100 900, and now the toll has been
further reduced to one cent He had
been greatly astonished at certain statisti-
cal tables furnished him by friend, from
which it appeared that the tolls paid by
Virginia people on -four and wheat carried
On the James Rixer Canal IN 1850. ex-
ceeded the amount paid by the people of
New York onthc same quantity Of flour,
&C. carried the same distance on the
Erie Canal, by the sum of foyfy thousand
dollars So with iron, tobacco, forest
products. groceries. sc , and the lynch
burg Virginian had recently stated that
the excess thus paid by the people Of Va.
over what was paid on the Erie Canal,
for the transportation of articles of prime
importance, was Sl63, 000in one year
This was an onercus tax and should be
removed. 1t repressed instead ofstimu-
lating production-it drove off trade in
stead Of inviting it. 1t excited popular
Twill instead of popular favor, and this
last, his observation had convinced him
was considerati on of great magnitude
in the prosecution and conduct of public
works
The above is but brief and condensed
sketch of the forcible remarks Of Mr.. d.
on this important subject.
The committee then reported the fol
lowing resolutions which were unanimous
ly adopted by the meeting.
WHEREAS, The James River and ka-
nawha Company have at last completed
their Canal to the mouth of North River
in the County of Rockbridge, we, a por.
ton of the citizens of said county, deem
this is suitable uccasion to give utter
ance 10 our opinions on the subject of the
taxes imposed on the producers of ton
mage in Tie shape oftolls by this Com
| pany.
Therefore, Resolved,
l. That we consider the tolls exacted
by the J. r. s X. Company, on the ton
mage carried on their improvement, las ex
brilliant, onerous, oppressive and unpre
ccdented in the management of any othel
Canal in the United States, and we pledge
ourselves to use all lawful measures with
in our reach to obtain their reduction t'
the rates charged on Canals in the otbel
States.
2. That the Proxies representing thi'
States interest in that Company, and ex
ercising controlling influence over 1T
proceedings, ought to be appointed a
they are in all other Internal improve
ment Companies. from that portion of th'
State most deeply interested in the work
and that be appointe'
a Committccto correspond with the Boar
of Public Works. and request them +
carry out thewishes ofthe meeting befor,
the next Annual Meeting of the j. X.
X. Company.
! 81. That we recommend 70 The peoPl'