Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-25

/. Mr.. MoEgiS II @0uld observe, IN reply [
d the gentleman, tnat actual surveys and est
mates have already been made by competen
st engineers Tie only question Of doubt wi
c. be- with reference 70 the land damages, lv
1, which they have made an approximate estimate
!. It being of course impossible 10 tell exac,!
of what these will be.
C Nj: MACFAELASp.-l CO no! propose 10 arpu
a against the public accommodation which il !;
r iHttIded 10 secure by this ORDINANCES, bn: a
II the same time desire 10 make few cbscrra
II tons in regard to the 4 dtiicultiCs which liz il
!; the way Of the Undertaking \ road con
It siIucied for the transportation Of troops
b munitions Ct war, and other purposes, during
r the continuance Of the war, will siiyrd 10 ID,
public all the accommodation and all the facll
0 tiles in which it is at all Interested 10 oppose
i tie resolution would, under existing circum
{ staEces, be inaiscreet ard unpatriolic sine,
@ tho necessity frr the read resis upon Tie high
! authority of tho co'nlnandcr.:n chiei Iii.
public, however, have no interest in the con
strnc.lons Of these connections beyond the ex
, steucc Of the war. Why then should there
be Il disposition tv build ROAD upon anr basis
looking 10 its continuance sfer peace So f.:
MS Regards land damages, apprehcrG there is
no lahG owner upon the line vi these conncc
tons who will charge any damages, provided
the existence Of lho road lie restricted 10 the
Continuance cf the war, whereas if these con.
Itectiuns are intendgd to remain for longer
time, the value Of the land 10 lis fullest extent
must be claimed, and i'll justice allowed Lei
gentlemen, then, for moment look at this
question in personal and private aspect,
would it be CIir or reasonable 20 value land in
our cities according TO its presen; estimated
price! In general this property is held by in
dviiua!s who have no disposition to sell it,,
who regard 1t aS an invest nent and are looking
forward u the time when the restoration OF
peace with lis accompanying blessings will
ugain give sc;iv:ty to business and success TO
personal enterprise, and enable them 10 realize
iro.n their Investments. Is there a member
!:"re pho would consent that tho value Of his
land should be estimated in accordance with
present prices? | think not. Ard If they are
estimated according to their prospective value
it will be d flicult 10 say what will be the cost
Of these connections. 1t seems TO me, there.
fore, that justice to individuals alone !orces
ppon us the conviction that these connections
ought 10 bc built upon the cheapest possible
terms cunsis:en: 9ih the necessary sccommo
| dst;on winch they are designed TO aG3rGi. Let
us, therefore, provide for temporary roads to be
continued during The existence Of the war,
with further provision that upon its ternina-
lion the lands over which they run shall revert
! 10 the original holders. With a view 10 bring
this matter directly befors the Convention,
propusc the following resolution:
Resolved, That the ordinance be re com.
iuitied, with instructions, 10 tue committee, to
report an ordinance providing for connections
for, and during the war, and not longer.
Mr.. JunSsToS.-l hope it will nos DO tho
pleasure Of the Convention 10 re commit this |
report AS one of the members of the Com
nittcc, will state TINT all The roads which |
are referred 10 in the ordinance were represent !
ed either b. their Presidents or Eagnscrs. at
one Of our meetings and it was Eot without
the full consideration Of tCe subject, rs regards
tito hest mode IL which these connections
could be made, SO as u facilitate the tlanspor.
tation of the necessarcs Ct war, and after the
actual survey Of the premises, that the com
nlttee made the unanimous report which is
noH; under consideration. The objection oil
my lriend and colleague Mr. MAcFAkLAND is.
that the ordinance has in contemplation the
existence Of this connection, aiier the termina
tpE q: tho wdr That objection is at once
answered, when the C0nvenUoc ~ iotJr'ned 81
the fact thar tho State receives the original
=
ton How, tbrn, can il be an injury TO obey
State?
The State las already paid for tho transpor-
taton ii troops lDUre than the cost Gt these
connections, snd as thev are such pressing
necessity, and the Stale cannot do without
them, the rrsor.ion ought TO be passed. We
have the statement Ct Gen. Lee, tha. the irans.
pcrtation Of these soldiers, with their equip
rncnts, has teell delayed and obsuucred hom
the lick Of these connections; and "hen thr
cxigcncy is pressing 80 strong : upon us
whom victory or defeat may be determined by
the failure to eG'=ct this ohjtct-when the State
is reimbursed ivr its outlay, and, in the mean.
time, charged nothing for transportation, it is
obviously important Ne should adopt tr,S Or
tlinance, ami rot delay i!s aciicn 10 any shape
Or form.
Mr. GcdGIS-I merely w;sE, 10 Gail the at.
tentinn OF gentlemen 10 The fact. that, upon
the face Of this report, it appears that the
iaonrs oi lie committee have not been com
ple.cd; and cannot myself see the necessity
Of ac:lrg upon partial report, in connectiu;
with OF : TWO ra.l reads, when three ought
properly rG he embraced. These are the Dan
Vile and Ioik River rail roads.
Mr MoKKls IL you will refer 10 the reso
!
especially directed TO enquire concerning con-
Dections between the r chruona, fredericks
burg and Potomac, and Richmond and Peters
burg rail roads through Rchn,pnl, and between
the Richmond and Petersburg aid Petersburg
and Weldon rail roads through OF near Peters.
burg. This they have done, because it vas
natlcr which required Immediate action. The
ether roads will be the subject of consideration
-Sur I'm tnr
Mr. GGGGS.-Thut does not nlter tho cnurEe
Of ny observations. Before the Convention
commits the State to this enormous outlay, in
hn.lling connection Of half :ui!e or therea
bouts, we ought to take into consideration the
subject Of connecting all the roads concsntra
ting in this city, as means o. transportation
for troops. Without therefore desiring to in,
dicate any hostility 10 the Obj f the reso!u.
iion, shall vote for Il rcCctu :ment ns the
report. In addition to this II. ak there ought
10 ne provision in that ordl"ance that the
expenditure of money shall n"; exceed GER.
tain sum. As now reported. Il Governor mas
without airy limitation The !"ic treasury at
his command, out Of which i4o may make these
improvements through the city Of Richmond
Mr. Co.. Of Chestc, field - ha.1 but
word to ssy On this subject. The objection
raised by the gentleman frc'a BED! I'd (Ar.
GonGIN) is very easily ansTc1"i. THE rcsolu
ton Under which the eom;niIs sce acted required
them to inquire in regard ~ the cxpedency
Of building tie connections, the terms upon
which they could he built AID tiio military
necessity that existed ,herti:r.
They were, however not able TO confer with
the Presidents Of the other roads, ard conse.
1nently, could not obtain the terms upon which
complete connections could be made Though |
the resolution did not require the committee lo
know the estimates Of The other roads, they en-.
dcavorcd 10 ascertain what they would be, and,
as has been stated, will have meeting this
evening" at which tie Presidents have been
summoned to be present and give their inlor.
nation. As regards the military necessity for
ko.n cnnnnniinn, The stafLtnnnf Of The inn,.