The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-12-19
THE GREAT WATER LINE IMPROVE
NENT

- o"So iti'oi auu lAaudHua Oanai, CdiiSd
upon President GRAFT, to express thanks for
the interest he had manifested 10 the con-
struction Of the Caual, in formally bringing
1t to tie attention Of Congress in his annual
message. La response to the remarks of Col.
Darlington. Gen. Grant said he was much
interested in seeing the great work success,
and that he would exercise all the influence
he properly could to urge the subject upon
the attention of@Congresa. If success was
not secured at this tire, he had no doubt but
that the work would be carried through ia
the near future. The delegation IVES assured
they would have his active cooperation.
There are delegations in Washington at
this time from several States, all of which
are Interested in the Improvement and who
say their Legislatures will take favorable ac-
tion at the earliest practicable moment.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Negly, of Penn
sglvania, eomprehcnds the general idea of
the friends of the Improvement. It provides
for the construction, under the direction Of
the Secretary Of War and engineer corps, of
canal not less than seventy feet wide and
seven feet deep, capable of admitting the free
passage Of vessels not more than 290 tons
burden. For the necessary funds to carry
out the proposed work, the Secretary of the
Treasury is authorized to issue eight millions
of ten fifty bends, bearing A per cent. into
rest payable semi-annually. The work is,
however,u cot to be commenced until the States
of Virginia and West Virginia shall have
conveyed to the United States .ll their right
title and interest in the present works, with
the condition that if the work is not compile
ted In fifteen years such conve janice shall be
null and void. The private stock held in The
present work to be purchased at price not
exceeding s25 per share, aud provision is
made for condemnation in case of disagree.
snent as to price. On the passage of the act
and conveyance, the Secretary of War is to
pay of the debts of the James River and Ca
nal Company
The Secretary of the Interior, who is ex-
oficio, to be its president, with member to
be chosen by the Legislature of each of the
following States, to wit: Pennsylvania, Wis
sonsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, are
to constitute board, to be known as the
Board of Commissioners of the Atlantic and
Ohio Canal" who are authorized to equip,
maintain, operate, manage and control the
water way The amount of expenditures after
completion are to be limited to the receipts.
except by authority and on the warrant Of
the Secretary of-War, the surplus earnings to
go to a fund fer the redemption of the bonds
until all such bonds are paid
The matter is also receiving the attention
of the Senate, and Hon j T. Lewis, ofVir-
GINA, is pressing it with energy, cnisting il
its support the representatives from the " es.
tern and Southern States.
From what We. have learned the great en-
tcrprsc will be warmly supported by its I'M
mediate friends, who will bring such in auen
ces to bear as to secure tangible recognition
by Congress. The President takes verv
broad and comprehensive view of it, and will
lend the aid Of his approval to ali legitimate
means that may be employed to further its iu-
terest.
1t is hardly necessary to enlarge upon the
great advantages the recognition of the claims
of this improvement by the President aud
Congress-, will have. 1t is conceded to be
one Of the graudest enterprises that ever at
tractcd the attention Of a people, and destined
to have marvellous affect upon tho destiny
Of the States through which it passes, and
those whose trade it will accommodate The
Developments thus far, already indicate that
the administration Of Gen. Grant is not to be
confined to narrow and contracted partisan
view OF great public questions, but that the
interests Of ali sections aad the whole couu-
try are to be fairly considered and an enight-
ened craftsmanship applied to their develop
ment.
lt.is not our purpose at this time to enter
into discussion of the comparative merits of
competing suggestions, as to the mode of Sc
curing government aid to the James River
and Kanawha Canal We are we'll satisfied
however, that the general idea conveyed 10
the bills new under consideration by the two
branches of Congress. is that which will be
adopted. IF the work Is taken uo at all by
the government, it will b; upon the broad
idea that ii is q national enterprise. to be
prosecuted under the auspices and direction
OF the controlling power itself. 1t will BE-
considered from plane above the influence
of individual rings, and carried on in man
ncr to insure its completion beyond the pos
sibility Of failure.
1t is not in eonsonance with the true ints-
res.s Of Virginia, that political HAS should
attach to proposition in which the futnre
prosperity Of the State is SO largely Involved
nor can We see upon what legitimate grounds
the sUcccss of the scheme eau excite partizan
prejudice. 1t is great undertaking, and if