Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-08
REPORT MADE BY
nj X. ALFR z ID PAUL.


-41uirs ef France. Under Instructions ,fir0m
his Government, Relatire to the JONES Rirer
and Eana,oAa Canal, June 5, 1860
By JOINT ORDER OF TIE COMMITTEES OF
ROADS AND INTERNAL NAVIGATION OF THE
SENATE AND HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND, June 9th, 1850.
MONSIEUR LIE MlNlsTRE:-By dispatch dated
the o6th of April last your EXcellency did Inc
the honor to inform me that petition had
been presented to his Majesty the Emperor, by
the Messrs Belot des Mineres, concerning
o project for junction of the James river
with the kanawha Canal, in order to obtain
from the French Government, in favor Of their
company, an evidence Of sympathy, the nature
of which, however, they do not precisely ex-
plain.
Your Exccllcncy desires to be informed as well
upon the organization ofthis company as upon
the object of tbs enterprise and the advantages
which might result from il for the commerce
Of France.
I at once set to work, Monsieur le Mnistre,
to collect from the best sources and the most
approved documents the necessary information
for an elucidation Of this question, which,
moreover, ! had already studied. will en-
deavor to give as exact an idea as possible OF
the nature Of the project in question and Of
the consequences which may result from Its
execution in favor Of commercial relations be-
tween France and this country.
commence by re affirming all that | have
previously said in my correspondence upon
the situation of the State Of Virginia, partcu-
larly in my reports concerning the premature
projects for direct trade and direct lines OF
navigation with Europe.
In nv dispatches relative to the public works
of Virginia, while indicating the natural ad-
vantages possessed by this State on account Of
its geographical position, its mineral wealth,
the resources Of its agriculture and the adVan-
tages Of its climate, have still been opinion,
Monsieur le Ministre, that there could be little
done in this part OF the Union as long as the
great routes Of communication in course oil
construction were not completely finished, es-
pecially those from cast TO west.
But while remembering what have written
and advanced during many years, without to-
day retracting a single word, declare that, ac-
cording to my conviction, based on know
ledge Of the country and the opinion of com
petent men who have studied all these great
questions, when the works above mentioned
shall be finished, and the James River and
Kanawha canal, which constitutes the object
Of this report must be placed in the first rank,
Virginia will become the point Of the United
States which must attract seriously the atten-
ton of France.
1t is with view to commercial advantages
and even interests Of higher order, that
shall endcavor to present the question OF the
complctiOn Of the canal
FOUNDATION AND DIFFERENT APPROXIMATIONS
OF THE COMPANY.
I think, Monsieur le Ministre, should give
An insight into the different phases through
which the affair has passed, from its origin up
to the present time.
The first company, "James River Company"
called now the "Old james River Company"
was established in 17S5, with capital OF
81 .225, 900, divided into shares Of 800 each.
This company did not accomplish great
DEAL After long time, the necessity was felt
for reviving the work upon other bases.
The 18th Of February, 1920, the first com'
pany was dissolved, and the affairs placed in
the hands of the State.
The 10th Of March, 1882, after twelve years
Of experience, proving that the State could
neither administer nor construct, it was found
necessary to form another company.
According to the new system, the govern
ment and the people each had part in the
affair. The State became subscriber for
three fifths The capital was established at
five millions Of dollars, with the privilege oil
increasing this capital indefinitely. The COM
panv then took the name Of James River and
kanawha Company"
The old works we're accepted by this compa-
nv. at a valuation Of one million of dollars.
From 1882 to 1912 che works were pushed
forward with vigor, but, at the latter epoch,
the project for rail roads, in which numerous
personal interests were engaged, brought
about modification in the course Of ideas and
things. The progress Of the works Of the Gu
nal were paralyzed by the impulse given Ia
the construction of the pleXhs of rail roads,
and particularly to the great Central Rail Road,
line nearly parallel to the canal.
From this time the hopes Of the James river
and Kanawha company were limited to estab
fishing the canal as far as Covington only, 1t
being contemplated to run rail road from the
latter point to the Ohio river, distance o
1855 miles.
Lastly, Monsieur le Ministre, at the begin
ming of this year the company found ltseI
very much embarrassed, because Of the cir
cumstances above related, to which must be
added a natural Indifference OF the virginia
people for long-winded affairs, and want ol
impulse, of activity, in certain things.
Besides 100000 dollars Of floating deot, the
company owed the State more than seven NIL
lions of dollars. Three-seyenths OF tins sum
had been lent by capitalists, but being guaran-
teed by the State the State has paid It.
It was on the 23d of March last that the Legs
lature of Virginia released the canal IRON the
mortgages Of the State Besides tins the Com-
monw ealth assumed the payment OF 2oo, ,ooo ool-
lars Of the floating debt, and gave up the seven
millions due her, in consideration for the same
amount of the stock Of the canal.
The capital is then increased now from hVe
millions to twelve millions of dollars, likewise
divided into shares Of one hundred dollars.
This last transaction releases the company
from its debts, and relieves it Of all disabilities.
It is this event which enables it to treat with
a French company, whether with view TO
fusion or transfer Of this great undertaking INTO
the hands of capitalists having means to found
q new company competent to bring the WORKS
Of the canal to successful termination.
The sacrifices to which the State has sub
iected herself up to the present time, ana the
legislation of the General Assembly Of Flr-
ginia in favor of the enterprise, prove moreover,
in manner more than sufficient, that it is one
OF great Importance.
LENGTH AND DIVISION OF THE CANAL.
The route known by the name of the "Fir.
rinia Water Line" extends from the capes OF
Virginia to the Ohio river, covering distance
of 63G miles. :,
The length Of this route is divided us fol-
lows:
James river, from its mouth to the
city of Richmond, capital Of slr- -,
GINA, ...::.:.'..', io' A'''s''
TIE works called the Richmond
dock and Tide water connection,
that is to say, the line which con.
meets the river with the canal at.
Richmond ITSELF and which oc-
cupies distance of. ....... ......
F;rst division of the canal, from