Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-02-09
II E.N0RIkL!.
INf FAVOR OF THE IMPRovEMEsF or THE
EKanawha R1ve1c.

TN FAVOR OF THE IMPRovENEsF or TIKI
|EKa7aaw1aa R1ve1c.
7oSItEs General assembly Of THyinia:
At convention Of friends Of the i'm.
provement OF the Kanawha river, held in
the city of Richmond onIthe 8th day oI
December, 1857, the undersigned were
appointed COMMITTEES TO address, me-
mortal to- your honorable body, asking
|sneh additional legislation as might be
deemed neeessaryto secure the speedy
Improvement Of The navigation Of the
Kanawha river. HI I#Hf|F
As the last session pf The General
Assembly, bill was passed il reference
to The improvement Of the Kanawha,
which at the time, ~ was believed would
effect the object desired The. expecta-
tons Of the friends Of the scheme have,
however, been sadly disappointed moth
| ing has been done towards the improve
|ment. 1t lis, unnecessary at this time to
detnl the various causes, which in our
opinion prevented the commencement and
speedy prosecution 81 the work. 1t is
| sufficient to state that nothing has been
done in the last two years, and that the
parties most deeply interested in the nav
igaSion, have abandoned all hopes of i'm
Eplosement IN any reasonable period, nm
derfthe act ofthe last session.
+ The act of tho last session suspended
| tile lien Of the State on the tolls Of ,the
KalaWha river in favor Of. such parties as
might loan money 10 the James River
ana Kanawha Company, for the purpose
of making the Improvement, and author.
lied said Companyfto borrow a sum moi
le.csrding S35O,OO0, at a rate of interes
| not exceeding seven per cent, and t.
pledge the tolls on The Kanawhariser fol
payment Of the principal and interest o
said loan, n I'll
r The citizens of the Kanawha* Valley
would now prefer that the James River
and; Kanawha Company should De dives
ted sof all Jurisdiction, and control ovel
Tile Kanawha river, and that 4 charter
should be granted ID an independent
company to make the Improvement
lIf the right to improve the Kaaawha .riy
en-, were conferred upon an independen
company, they wonld ask Ino Aid from
| the State, but would be able TO raise al
| the funds necessary for the purpose from
private sources. Its believed, however
! That die James River and Kanawha Com
pany would resist the effort to deprive
Them Iof the control ofthe Kahawha river
andthe parties desiring the improvement
Are now compelled to ask for such
change Il, the organization. Of said com
| pany as will secure an efficient suPersl
SION and management Of the interest 9
the iKanawha Valley, and. byIwbich alon'
the improvement of The Kanswha may b
tefedted without rely wing en all appropri
atioii from the State treasury. EN- \
The James Riverand Kanawha Com
pany are exceedingly unpopular it tn
lkanawha VALLEY. The people of tina
section believe that they have been un
Ejustlyl dealt with iG1being compelled i
pay exorbi,ant ratesof tollfor the use o
1.-The Kanawha river, The % called i'm
fproyemeats in WHICH might with NOR,
propriety be termed distractions, AMI
because the large amount of toll 'whicl
theyIhav annually paid, has ntilrecent
nv been expended ID the eastern part 0
1.-The State, instead ~ being applied to tn
improvement of the lKanawha. IA
The Beard Of Directors of the jane
River and Kanawha Company have no
for many years had 4 meeting on til,
kanaWha, and even the President Of til,
Company but rarely visits that portion
of the line The President Of the Com
parry in his lastsreport admits that feel
ings of hostiIity exist On The part Of som
lof the people Of Kanawllal, towards hi
! Company and that on this account th
Company have not been able to asecur
liustiee in proceedings at law. HI
| Your memoralists are satisfied thatth
| Company with its present organization
oan newer secure Gle good will 9th
nea,,l,. II, Tat section fine State. Il i
Ephygically impossiSSlle for the nresen
board 5of Directors. located IS they are
three or four hundred miles distant, !
Etgive that attention ID The interests Of til
| Kanawha Valley, which is indispensable
j to secure the Improvement Of the rive
| Id Il reasonable period, or that they ca
efficiently manage The Improvement whe
completed. III 5
i we believe that die bill now pendin
before your honorable body will effet
4 The desired object. 1T authorizes the AZ
pointn,snt Of five additional directors
4 three Iii whom to be selected BY the Boar
Il Of Public Works, and two byIthetStocl
4 holders, all of whom shall be resident
Il of ths Kanawha ValleF, and who. wit
4 the President Of the Company shall cor
i stitutea Board, z toll be charged with IL
entire control of the Kanawha Improve
ment, and that this Board shall elect
President pro tenn, who shall disehare
the duties of tile Presidential his absence
and further, that this Board shall be sui
:. iecl ID tlle instructions Of the Stockho
ders. The bill further porvides that Il
Company shall be, authorized to borro
i on the credit Of the tolls Of tile Kanawl
river. i sum sufficient to improve Il
river, from its mouth 70 Loup Cree
! fSboaIs, upon the terms prescribed by /
!. AL passed March 3, 1856. entitled "a
,lAct for the relief Of railroad and OF b
companies, and to regulate the terms
(which they may borrow money" q
! bill also suspends the States lien on Z
: ltolls until tie principal and interest
!. tie debt has been fully discharged.