The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-24
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LOCAL MATTERS.

| Commoatcedtfh's Laads.-The General As.
| semDiy, IN May, 1850, passed an act which
may be found in Henning's Statutes at Large,
| en- z, page 20, Tor the purpose of secu ring
Ito the public certain lands held as common. :
Ihe lands referred to Were unappropriatet,
| lands on the bay, sea and river shores in the
@ @ras TERN parts OF this Commonwealth 1t is
| further STATED, that in the " act ESTABLISHING
| land office, and ascertaining the terms and
! manner or granting waste and unappropriated
iands, no reservation thereof s.lnade but the
same 'is now subject to be en- tered for and n.
| propriated by any person or persons whereby
| the benefits formerly derived to the public
| therefrom will be monopolzed by a few ind-
| yiduals, and the poor laid under contribution
Tor exercising the accu,s toned privilege of fish
ing
For the reason stated, the lands soareferred
to which remained ungranted by the former
covenant Qneaning that of the English }
We're excepted out of said act, and it was de-
clared that no grant issued by the Register of
the Land Office for the same thereafter should
pc valid TO pass any es tate or interest therein
A similar law Was made on the 18th January
iooZ In reference to the banks, shores and beds
of the rivers and creeks in the western part Of
the state. The 1st section of chapter 81 of the
code OF Virginia, In alluding to the above re-
cited acts, declares that "ali the lands which
remained ungranted ny the former govern
ment, and which have been used as common
ny-way to all the people of the State, shall
continue to be sueh' These repeated md EN-.
phatic prohibitions have estopped the passage
IN the East since 1850, and in the West since
lcos. Wnicn rfliail4ed uaisranted by the Colo,
nial Government.
The Auditor of Public Accounts aIludes to
the subject in his recent communication to the
General Assembly, and we insert his con-
Guiding remarks, as they possess local interest
He says:
- In 1875 Governor Berkeley granteltk William
byrd 1,S5l acres of land ON the norfass,de of the
James River, beginning at the mouth of ShOckoe
Cfeek, and running up said river; and in 1857
Wliilam Byrd obtained grant of $50 acres on the
north SIDE OF said river beginning at the mouth of
ShocAoe creek, and running down said river
Neither grant appears to include either the banks
or beds OF the said James River or Shockoe Creek
nor the Islands in James River opposite and near
the city OF Richmond. The channel Of Shockoa
Creek within the city of Richmond has been
hanSed by artificial means for necessary Improve
meutS. 1hat which was at Il former aay me bed
Of Shockoe Creek no longer remains so and auite
extensive encr0achmepts the bed and banks of
James River opposite Richmond. appear to have
been made. Those banks and islands have he
come very valuable and | would most respect
fully suggest the proprety of an Investigation
INTO the Commonwealt tn right to them, aud the
passage OF an act authorizing their sale If no
other good were accomplished than legislative
report ON the subject affirming or disclaiIninr the
commonwealth right to such beds and banks the
subject IL worthy Of such report. 1t is also worthy
OF It because of the great value of the beds and
banks, and because of the insecurity which tho
claimants must feel under circumstances which
induce many of them to seek q grant from tho
Commonwealth. Those beds and banks are NOT
alone at the city of Richmond, but elsewhere Of
almost equal value"