Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-18

wcrc before them, but which in their view they
could NOT rcceire without being authorized 10
communicates them 10 the stockholders in gene
wi meaning. and rs many Of the letters were
~ nr;vafc nature, or else 80 connected with
C,o,. and circumstances that they could not be
san,-atsd from their connection, and the Off
c;al documents supporting them, without de-
tailed explanations, they deem 1t sufficient to
CIV briefly, tlla4 the impression produced BY
them was favorable to the scheme i'll hand
| Referring TO the exposition given by the presl'
dan, IN his opening address to the stockhold-
orc FIR The principal facts attending this ego-
t;o,ior tba committee submit herewith q transla-
t;an If mn official document from the French
Sons,l in Richmond, which has been placed at
thrir disposal, and which would seem to be
conclusive on the important point that the I'M
dcTt,kinp proposed by Messrs. Hellot DIES Mi.
n;cr,s, Brothers and Company, has the patron
noe and support Of the French Government.
r the EMPEROR Of the French should see
orrot advantages for his Empire in CONNECTION
WW;rL this scheme does not surprise your COM
mittcc: nor can they fail 10 recognize still
| greater advantages for our own State.
1t has long been apparent that many and
rreat advantages would result to The people Of
| Virginia, and I'LL others interested in her wei
fare, from the completion, upon a large and
comprehensive plan, of a work which has been
projected and thus fur carried on, by many OF
her most patriotic and distinguished citizens.
Some of these advantages would be found III
the connection by an unhrokcn line OF navlga.
ton Of many of her principal rivers; in the
devclopment Of her agricultural and mineral
wealth in the Improvement OF her wild lands
living west of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny
range oil mountains; i'll the increase IN the
value Of Ill her lands, whether lying imme.
diately ON the line Of the James River and
!, anuwhu Canal, or brought within reach OF
facilities afforded by it in the intimate ah!
friendly union between the western anu cast.
ern parts Of the State, which must he produced
hv such Il link Of communication in the enor-
NOUS tide Of products OF western industry
which will flow through her bosom and be dis
tributcd to her own people rs lar rs needed,
and to the people Of other States and countries
by transfer from her waters; in the great water
powcr which will he obtained, and which would
be sufficient to propcl machinery that would
give employment TO thousands in building
| up and establishing tile commercial lndepcn-
dence Of Virginia in cnlargins her cities and
making thcIn the tit cumpccrs Of the larger CT
tics of her sister States in promoting direct
trade between Virginia and France, which has
already so happily commenced, and which pro-
misses so much for the future; in establishing
in like manner, direct trade between Virginia
and other foreign countries; i'll increasing the
public revenues by increasing the wealth OF the
State; and in making Virginia what her geo.
| graphical position, her climate, soil, natural re-
sources and historic associations cntitlc her to
be-the leading State in the Union, anu the Ia
vored centre Of commerce, wealth and Intelli'
gcnce.
Deeply impressed themselves with these
views, the committee report herewith an
amended agreement which they respectfully re-
commend to the adoption Of the stockholders.
PROJECT of an Exccutory Agreement
! TO be entered into between Ernest tie Bcllot
dcs MlnicrcS, for himself and his associates,
under the firm and style of Bcllot dcs Mimic
res, Brothers and Company, of France. OF
the one part, and the James River and Ia
nawha Company Of the other part:
Whereas, it is 4 matter Of the highest lmpor-
lance to the State Of Virginia, that the water
line between the Chesapeake Bay anu the Ohio
river, which will open the great West and
/ Southwest and its immense trade to the mar
kcts of the world By the shortest, cheapest,
safest, and most certain route, and lead to an
incalculable increase Of the direct foreign trade
of Virginia, should be promptly completed, The
parties Of the first part desiring not only To Sc
cure to themselves and their associates, the
profits Of the line when completed, but to
France, the primary advantages OF Tie direct
trade Will her, which the line must establish,
have proposed to purchase the line from Rich
moIId to tie Ohio river, with the right and ub-
! LEGATION Ia complete the saline. and tf'e president
and directors Of the james River and kanawha
| COMPANY, and the Board Of Public Works OF
Virginia, co!currins in these views, and sym
patliiyinr strongly with the parties Of the first
nart. in their desire to establish direct trade
with FRANCE. the a%ncicn, ally of the United
States, tn. said President and directors Of the
Jatncs River and kana"ta Company have en-.
tered into negotiation with the parties Of the
| frs, part, and have. wiil! !hc appreciation! OF
the Board If Public Works, entered into Il
uroyisionai agreement with Them, as herein set
forth. And since it is necessary to procure
the approval Of the General Assembly to the
said agreement. therefore, subject 10 said ap-
proraI, the said james River and Kanawha
Company 10 contract and agree with the said
rartics of the first part as followS-lhat is 10
say:
/. \ ncw company shall he formed, 10y the
name and style OF The Virginia Canal Com
pany," with Il capital stock Of hot less than
twenty, nor more than thirty five millions of
dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each
to which shall be transferred all the property
and franchises of the James River and kanawha
Companv-;he stockholders in the James
River anil Kanawha Company, other than the
Commonwealth Of Virginia, TO have one share
| r o,e.I. -, ,t,n coil l,,nipin canal i'nynnnnv
for every two shares of stock they now hold
and the State to transfer to the said Virginia
Canal COMPANY, all her rights rs Il stakeholder
in the said james River and kanawha Compa.
nv, upon condition 'ha! the new company per-
form and fulfill the terms and conditions here
matter imposed.
J. The Virginia Canal Company shall DC
organized with n charter similar t" the original
charter of the James River and kanawta
Company, with such notifications and additions
as may be necessary and prCpc" Tor adapting
it TO the purposes of the nc% organization.
3. The Virginia Canal Company shall clear
out the d~cposiles in the present line from Rich
mond 10 Buchanan, and repair all tile present
works. that is, entertainments, aqurductS,
bridges, c~uivcrts, waste wrirS, locks, dams,
houses and structures Of every kind, repairing
those wanting rcnairs rsiy, and building anew
the works requiring 10 DC rebuilt, so that the
whole line from Richmond to Buchanan shall
be Of a depth of not less than five feet, at any
point, and IN all respects in Il perfect state of
repair.
i. They shall keep on all the line sufficient
number of drcdgc boats to keep the waterway
continually free from deposit and instructions
Of every Kind, and a sufficient number Of extra
| ,orL.- oofcS ard Vjrhr;s ready 10 he inserted in