Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-13
Public Meeting.


Public Meeting.
In accordance with previous notice, d
public meeting was held at the Masonic
Hall. Monday, November 10Th, 1851, for
the purpose Of taking into consideration
the high rates Of toll. charged upon the
James River and knnawha Canal, and an
pointing delegates to a Convention, to be
held in Buchanan, Friday the lih inst
with the view of procuring a reduction Of
them.
On motion Col Maurice Langhornc was
appointed President and James MELON.
aid Secretary.
The inject Of the meeting having been
explained, Peter l.. Dudley moved the
appointment OF a committee of FIVE to re-
port business for its action: whercupon the
following gentlemen were appointed. Pc
Ter l.. Dudley, Jos. u. Nowlin. Geo. Bagby.
John /. Davis and Saml. w. Shelton
The committee withdrew and upon re-
turning reported the following preamble
and resolutions.
Whereas.lhe citizens Of Lynchbury have
been long s'ievously hurlcned by taxation
subscriptions to unrcinuneraiivc Internal
improvements, in their individual and cor.
porate CAPACITIES; hoping thereby TO facili-
tate and e1caPen the transportation Of pro.
duce and travel. and whereas, it hes been
the polio! of the James River and
kanawha Canal Company. to exact such
exorbitant tolls for the transportation
Of produce. over the line Of their work
a., instead of serving TO encourage enter
prize and hcrease production AMI tonnage
to divcst ipm it much produce and mcr-
chandisc tint would naturally have sought
that rout-forcing producers. consul
mcrs and merchants (of the West and
South Wel.) to seek other and cheaper
Though lo'ger.) routes for transportation;
thereby defiving the Company of large
amount Of rvcnuc: be it therefore, (by this
meeting; composed of Merchants, Manufac-
turcrs, Stockholders of the Company and
others.
RESOLVED That The extreme and unex-
smpled Lgi tolls. heretofore cxactcd by
that comply, are onerous, oppressive and
unreasonable TO the producers and shippers
OF tonnae, and altogether at war with the
interests { the company itself.
Resolvd. That all experience has shown
that low mrs, Hines of public transporta-
ton and tnFcl bring an increase OF business
and large aggregate receipts.
Resolvd, That the policy of the Canal
Companysiouli be to stimulate (by lib
eral sche,,le of tolls.) production and
manufactures rather than by contrary
policy to tnmmcl cntcrpizc, and paralyse
industry.
Resolved That VIC have borne patient
ly with thi heavy tax, until the company
could rcndr productive, the additional GO
miles, no' about completed but that
the incrcas of revenue which may Justly
be cxpccteAfrom thiscxtcnsion,in our opin-
ion, not onh justi6es but demand, liberal
reduction d present rates.
Resolvc> That this meeting appoint
-dclcgtcs from the Stockholders and
toll payersof our town, to represen, us in
the Convection to be held in Buchanan on
the l4th ist
Resolve, That our thanks are due and
are hercbyendcrcd to those newspapers,
land partiolarly the Lynchburg Virgin
iah,) that have investigated tins matter
and exposed to the public the I'M
reasonable ess. and the evil effects upon
inc commrce and prosperity ct this sec.
ton oil 'hestate, OF the cSaeiions OF said
company
Inc ioi'wing gentlemen were then aP
pointed blythe char and meeting deputies
20 the saidConven'ion.
f. Is. leanc. John G. Neon, Z. l..