Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-08-18
y,rn.,,?. .iu.u:, il, ISL
II. X EL,Yyr.. Ed

anil i,,rrrn,inr weight al ihr"?F''H VI -" y" ouj
'"u ~ r;-l the future dcstlnlcS at "nr Sia''' anu
l'ci'H''".' 'n.rr, ,m,-i, hv n reflex influence. con-
, ~ H. j. ,i,,,rr commercial and nT-TlcUI'"r"' r"l.r! vi
, rn of ,I,. south cstcrn ana western H'"'r'-
| Waiyin- al prclim.nnri's. l VIII III ""'' nv "i'"
.La ,rn,,,rui subjects in view.
NV Wv .,,.rwnat careful ana lah"rinuS ihEcSiI-h-
,.n ~ the legislative action "i ' Ir-ii'iH ~ 'i'S r'"-
;n., ,,rn,,r,rl with tho concurrent ana a,'r""nS
history Of collateral subjects, have hl"n''n NV va
",n.;,n,:, ,,,rn,i,iunS ~ being ln".; satisfactorily c@'ho-
li~hci. 10 them l ''''' 10 '"' '''' i"
ton 90, ,;,,c
| with II very few exceptions, enrh successive i"2astJb
,ur,, in some form, has passed important Hc'S WIN
tho view Of connecting the waters oi the James ana
Ohio rivers. III. ;,u
card TO this object, evidences rt pcrseNerihG anu IN
hnrious research, moi surpassed by those OF any STATE
81. The act o! Mnrch lG,h, 1872, Incorporating the
james River and KanGwha Company Vs. 'c'S'')
and the action ri the first meeting "i u" lrcStirh
and directors uf tbs company, i!r!h Mnrch, lo'o,j
aInr:cd the railroad line between iii" western tcrnl-
nus Of the canal and below The falls "iIlc Grca; Ma
uawia. ,;o ,ou
lIh. Since the commencement q! The LOUISA rail-
rnrI in 1886. with q very few exceptions, II has been!
,hn uniform policy of ita peculiar friends, ana the
State, to extend that road 10 some point on the Ohio
river. 49, r
5,h. Recent legislation t,hc Blue Ridge railroad net
md thc t'oyinL;on and Ohio rnilroGd aci,) have
nL,,i,,,d the SkG:c - the successful prosecution and
Speedy completion Of a continuous ra"r0dd me JfVm
R,riRonI 10 he OhtO r9r6r.
9TH. The spirit and letter ot al these various Legs
larry, nets. since. 1910 Ia the Present time, have not
uulv committed the faith Of the State 10 the success
ful prosecution oi this linz of Improvement, bu; the
investment Of private nHd corporation funds, III inns
! improvcncnt. iIas been on the virtual pledge of the
STATE: thus creating vested riEhi- III the Stockholders,
6o<,f on NrSc Shttc rwGr6hi''S.
9Th. The successful prosecution Of the cana! sys-
tenn, ~ wate. connection, dcrci'!S on me SPECIFY ana
| successful completion Of ID" IrNIn1'Gi ami ONO rail
road, on It's adopted line, ahI rs n" tortI"RUC' u tie
TGftr HHr.
s,h The failure Of this enterprise will seriously
leopard, if not utterly lros!rair, the political and
commercial influence of Nir-lhia, While lis speedy
completion will as certainly rcsusritate her weakened
energies, and crown her efforts, IN this behalf, with
unmcusurcd power and Influence.
As Ia the lsl, 2nd, Bird, 18th ami 9TH propositions, IA
above stated, | am sure tits unncccssarytn for me, in this
communication, 10 give, i'll detail, III" different acts
ut legislation, or 10 refer III particular 10 the various
co,lcurrcu; and aitcl:iinE historical iuridcnts. This
would occupy too much space in illustrating what Is
Mere matter oil recorded history and equally ncccssi-
bic 10 every one CurinUS 10 ascertain III" fact-. 1t II
proper, however. fnr me 10 say. ihnt upon a very
careful examination nj the acts 81 ;hc Legislature and
some of lie concurrent; REPORTS. %c., al The Board oi
! Public Works, Surveyors. Commissions. &r., &c, l
can -ay. without the fear Of contradiction, that each
! and all ofthc above fv" propositions nr" distinctly and
posit,vel~ established. Ii any on" IL credulou,, his
Judge mert iHav BE- easily informed by IN Inspection
81 IT, rcOrJS u N" STATE.
, II being then Il nla;:cr OF Legislative" history, that II
has ever been the settled policy OF the State 10 COM
plcte this line OF Improvement. either by the Canal
or water connection, or by the Canal and Railroad
system, | need only remark. before passing ~ the con-
sidcra,ion Of the 9TH proposition, thar since 1899 it
his been tn" uniform policy Of the STATE, by The Dock
improvement; AZ Richmond, 10 connect this water line
with tide water.
Pnssin. then 10 the sixth proposition, ! may conf.
IDENTIFY urro that ita truth j. equally nconies;iblc.-
Blu, ~ the proofs. Indrr th"s" various Legislative
net. and bv virtu" 81 In" uniform policy Of III" State,
. ih, ann OF j.OJJ.DDD has been ac!ugllv expended on
the work. OF the JAMES River and kmawIa Compn-
ny, Of which tie Bank "t Virginia holds %:iG0,UHn.
iL.. curpurntiun ui the city If R!Chm"n! J7@.-0O, Inc
citizens of Richmond 80 eco. the STATE 3,u0u. uUl, AMI
j67 100 by individuals moi residing III the city "f Rich
mond.
Richmond. through her corporation subscription
and ,hu, Of her citizens, has nlrrHiy contributed ~
this work the enormous sum o! S333,OOO, nearly one
fifth Of the "ntir" capital, and inclading III" very
! large comparative number IF thGrus which her clti-
zers hold IN the stock "f III" Bank ri Nir-inin, she
la, actually paid towards this great work MIR" thar
onr.EttR 0f he chtIrr $i2cE.
Iin, AGAIN. Tic city OF Richmond, in her curpur-
ate capar;tv. has subscribed in the Louisa an! Cen
trrl Etiiroa,l %s3O1,r00. while l"r citizens have sub
scrih,d To- the >ana Improvement '",Vth-Su"9,Ouo
The State ui Virginia subscribed Il" The Blu" R"Igc
Enilrou,l. as n continuation -! thu route. $lUU.4cu Mt
nu;lly until The work should hc completed. and has
actually paid 81 ,lUG,o00, uni will have; 20 lay about
$500, GUO more IT. complete II.
The STATE has sub-rribcd to "a" thSingipn Rud
Ohio Railroad 81 ,"pu.GrO, and hnt actually expended
SOIL ,1Gl on II.
Now. ! ask, were thc-c larg" suuIs pnI! bYfbc STATE
10 the Ilur Riis.. and C~ov!mgt'-I Road. and I" the
Central Railroad By Richmond ana her citizens, with
| nuv other understanding. nr on any other conditions,
than thai these rondS were 10 be extended Ia the ONO
River ; and thus complete ih" I"ng contemplate! con-
n.ction of the Eastern and Western waters! ], H"r
THE FAITH OF INF STATE PLEDGED TO The PROMPT
,xp rxYiELuI&G PROSECUTIONS % THIS WORN
h.,.I. f,r nj, :li- mimi before dismiss H.
Considering The water line and this railroad lin" n
united in hrs.iny--thr OF" depending on the o;li"r-
icimuI!d III her c"rr":ni" ca!'acltE ana 'iiE"h-ii me
private subscriptions al her citizens, hhs actually
| mid 70 Il the ,noruiuI4 sum Of - .3EI,NOO. Ha~ Ste
no claims OF IT," friends Of the t"vin-'"n and ONO
Railroad and Ii" state, :" urr" i&' 'iI"-: speedy hlla
energetic prosecution vi Tbs, work j. her voice 10
hc umhccIcl or drowned III The confusion OF !"cAl
icuInrsirs AMI sectional iucGs
Nav | not. in view OF these tac:s. Umt"IIGb!c, and
of potent weight III this matter. nsS i"HmphamtlT, II
not the sixth proposition satisfactorily rs'gDlishcd
If then, thisp ruposiiioni is established beyond caril,
| what argument cnl! be wllucc,l TO change this nX'd
policy OF til" Stat, 10 r~cpuIiatr her Solemn engage
! inrnis. {" d.~aunul hey crmpactS ~ often rcaiiirIn'd'
and l." divcEt or render nu-atnry the rights ana iif'-
rr.;- Of the Irivh;" and c"rl"rni" s!trki"'dcrs' III
these lines al Improvement MI 1t b" irgcd ihat
her future interests require 81 chime "i her past I"i!-
cv, ami dcn,nml u deviation from i!d !'r "'ih select
I'd and cherished I'm" ri improvement iii!s "ilrc-
uo.i, 50 icrbiv ur.rl, nader III" a'IIaar"' i rival IN
! ltt1-Ar tlN Ea'!as II - s~''''' - .SH
urs.cs, Is EASILY met al! Is call! pr".Ii',t.
This brings inc to the consideration! q! the 'uI AM
Stu propositions, 20 which | how address myself.
That the successful prosecution al The water line 81
Improvement depends on tie completion OF The Cow
incton and Olin Railroad, must be- obvious 10 every
| unbiased mind fairly informed on The subject. Should
both the Canal aud this Road be completed, no one
can doubt the electric ef!ect their successful operation
must have on the future dcstiDies Of IlrsIlin and a
crca. part of the West and Southwest.
The Bnll nf Science il. in rapid motion each cv"lu-
ton s;arilcs Tho world with some new discovery "rthe
great Improvement 81 some art TT !neciianIc operation.
Time is more than money. il involves, III This enter
prise, Il glorious ,ritj.npI! nr the most ingio!Icns defeat.
! ifihc deliberations Of the cusIIIng CONVENTION hc
wisely regulated, leading /" prudent action ana n can
tinus cnc:..v, Virginia will "! "qnai, IN the future, III"
! high hope. and py"ui aniiria;i"n' "i her inu!ldcr'.-
Should however, local Gn!lIH:.I'- and scc.!ona! l"'i'is
lcstroy the harmony nf Tpnr deliberations nnd mar
the consistency ii established policy, all may he lost
and We mnv i've to feel the hlirhtmg effects OF divi-
dcl counci!rin ih" yet further political and commercial
vaSsnia-r nj our State.
Should the Convention adjourn without such action
II. Ia secure III: prompt and energetic prosecution "l
! this work, the rival routes. the New Rivcr Inc, me
! Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston lines
al Improvement, nirendy penetrating fer into the
West, Will sap III" sources al our commercial great
ncss: while tn" south Carolina. Alabama. and New
| Orleans Iinc- al cXi'uird !IDpr1, "rnc!t will TAX" from
Us all that IL irf: uants1rhctt ny !hc Northern lines.
The C"vinSton and Ohio iiai:oaI defeated. or too
lem. delayed, az III" New River line adopted, the
trade unL travri will have been :" lar ana 50 Success
iillv divcr;rr, Us ~ G,!rai, IN ms OPINION, III" success.
fuI prosccu;!ui at lie james River and kauHw!a
Canal. Whoever carefully STITCHES the geographical
anu Typographical lGcrIis Of those rival lines, throw
inr OF, uf >Icw the liicltcd iaiih a! the State, must
readily discern the great natural advantages OF this
! route 10 ;hc New River route. Brsidcs. this road,
when compir:ri. vii! T." the practical ~cui.sl!mmation
ui " the Eastern and Western waters" Ii will be
the Iron Shaft penetrating the rich mines OF the West,
whose produce ~ j hereafter In laden Tie hoGl- Of III"
Canal. y" <irrr will water sc,k lis level, or thunder
succeed the lightning fash. than will the canal follow
Oh the track "i Ill" tnvIIgtnu md Ohio Railroad.
\ h-Igh; iu,ur, waits us, il. W. will bu; stand true