Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-21
To II. Editor Of h. Richmond 7yms.:

To tbs Editor Of hs Richmond ISmes
In you. notice Of the proceedings OF the last meeting OF
The James River and k,nawha Company you refer the
resolution which | offered proposing terminate the
the Canal at Covine,on and construct Railroad from that
point Ohio and that you suppose Incorporation
s made 70. the bene6, Of the Central Railroad RI do not
give precise words because have not the paper before
me-
This strange mistake TO be made by gentleman who
heard the resolutions re,d hu, as am sure i; is mistake
and involves by implication least ohers the
possibility Of my conduct who have had connection
with it, beg your permission 10 IT, and that ond
herewith send you copy Of the resolution certified by
Mr. Munford which you will please publish with this note
You will from II that only 10 nothing proposed BY
for the Central Railroad company but my proposition is
that the James River and kanawha Company shall by a
committee its stockholders ask for the necessary aid
The railroad that the Central Railroad Conf
pany will iiuvo nothing TO do with H."
The fac. is that connected with the Central Rail.
road knew thCl intended 10 offer such resolution II
my movement after consultation with and tho ap.
probation Of Of the nduent, STOCKHOLDERS eitj
zens of this town. and of the Western country ns well az OF
Western gentlemen Of equal responsibility, who are not
stockholders OF tho J. r. & K Company.
MY motives for the these and wish them 10
be understood especially by tho people OF Richmond viz
l. consider that the Canal when 1t rcaches Coyiuglon will
have attained the highest practicable point and that Idea
Of crossing the Allegheny mountoias by water lie chnea
which would be objectionable eSpcnd the public money
upon and which deeply the interest Of the whole
State, and especially Of Richmond explode In order thai,
really useful and practicable mode Of getting TO the
West may be undertaken.
Richmond has been waiting and starving for ",hs
ter line Tor ~ yenre at great cuet and she has
very o more Western jrrde than she had 20 years
ago. and her foreign trade Is gone and If ehs much
longer the Northern and Southern cities will get the whole
trade from her her ruin, while debts which the Canal
has brought upon her will reman perpetual incubus dead
lose, and cause of taxation.
B. Because the Of travelling down the James River
Canal in little packet boat, in which white persona and ne
groes mao and female all and sleep in little cabin
separated from each other merely by curtain will not be
endured by any decent people longer than absolute
sy conpes then ard if thero ohs means of getting
Richmond from the West the travel will not come here
but take other route and people will if they can send
their produce 10 place which they can follow it,
Because ii it be practicable get rains and snow and
fogs enough upon the top of the Allegheny mounain 10 fill
reservoir 10 float canal boas Eas, and West will udg
ing from the past take twenty years complete the canal
and that delay Of twenty years will ruin Richmond and do
incaculable injury to Virginia. by dyerng forever The
Western trade am, therefore, in favor Of announcing
now that the canal Is not to be attempted beyond Coving
ton, and commencing forthwith Railroad from that point
TO the West. Very respectfully, JAMES LYONS.
Mr.. Lyons presented the following resolution:
Resolved That the canal should terminate at Covngton
and Railroad be constructed from that point to the Ohio and
that committee DO appointed 10 as Legislature such
appropriation may be necessary for the construction of
the said Railroad
On motion Of Mr. Lyons the above resolution was laid on
the table until the adjourned meeting tho 2sh inst.
Extracts from the Records
WM. p. MuNFoRD, Secretary.
IT, T. e.,