The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-03
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hon. JAMES IL PLATT.

If We are to judge the tree by its fruit,
there should be no hesitation in reelecting
Mr.. Plat to Congress. No Representative
in that body from Virginia has, from the
foundation of the government to the pre-
sent hour, done more for her, practically
and benefcially, than Mr.. Plat.
At the second session of the Forty
first Congress, by his energy and
influence, he procured the following appro-
priations:
For improvement of the James River, $4,000
For the Appor1attox 10000
For Petersburg eustom-h house. 5000
For buildings at navy-yard at Cos
port, in addition 10 the usual appro
pria ions. ......... 70,ueo
A total at one session of his first year in
Congress of $4,000, which indicates that
he was very busy and successful Repre-
sentative.
At the third session of the Forty-first
Congress, he succeeded in obtaining other
appropriations, as follows:
For the Rappahannock River......... $751; 900
For I.ambert's Point Lighthouses. $4,000
For Wolf Shoals and other Lighthouses
in Second District. sc, 0o0
M liking total f................". .S60, 600
At the same session, he rendered to the
State a service which it is not easy fully to
value, in having an item put in the proper
appropriation bill, for the survey of the
James River and Kanawha Canal. This
survey will be the groundwork and basis
of whatever may hereafter be done by the
Federal government towards the compile
ton Of this great national, and almost con-
tnental. avenue of trade. In all such cases,
the starting point is the survey; appropria-
tiohs follow, if the survey BIO satisfactory,
and the proper effort made.
In procuring the insertion of this item OF
appropriation making this first move
towards the consummation of this magnif-
ficent enterprise Platt has rendered
the State service which cannot well be
oyerestimated for all concede that this
great water line Of hers is far the most
valuable Of all her lines Of improvement,
and more promotiye of internal develope-
ment and Of recuperation than all her other
Improvements together.
No one better knows than Col. Charles
Darlington, the President of the James
River and kanawha Company, that this
particular item was inserted in the appro-
priation bill by the special agency of Mr..
Platt. Another, it is true, has set up
claim to this great merit, but the claim is
groundless, for it is indisputably true that
the chairman of The Committee on Rivers
and Harbors, Mr.. Sawyer, of Michigan,
has stated that Mr.. Plat could have, if he
desired it, certificate from his committee,
that it was owing TO the personal exertions
of Mr.. Platt that the survey of the James
River and Kanawha Canal was ordered by
Congress.
At the second session Of the Forty second
Congress. Mr.. Platt procured an appropria-
ton of $4,000 for the Appomattox river,
the Nansemond river, the Black Water river
and the Elizabeth river, the latter in con-
nection with the Chesapeake canal and
Norfolk harbor.
lie also introduced bills for the improve
ment oil the Dismal swamp canal Tor the
establishment of signal stations on the
Hatteras coast, to be connected with
Norfolk by telegraph; and for removing the
powder magazine from its present location
and giving the land it now occupies to the
city Of Norfolk, free Of rent for five years,
for the establishment of an emigrant depot
in connection with the Allan line of steam
ers. Judging from his success in other
cases, there can be little doubt that, if he
has the opportunity he will carry through
all these important bills.
Mr.. Platt also procured an increase of
appropriation of more than sl00, 900 for the
Gssport nayy-yard, and sac, 900 for the re-
pairs Of the Norfolk custom house.