The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1873-10-02


,ras. With that Of the stock brokers cen.
ire.
Prepared Expressly for the Rcgisicr.l
HISTORY OF THE VIRGINIA wa
TER LINE.
An act clearing and improving the nav.
igalion Of the James river was passed by
the Legislature Of Virginia on the 9th Of
January, 1856. BY this act the GrsL or
old james river company was incorporated.
They we're required to make The river
uavigable for vessels drawing one foot wa
ter at least, from The highest place practI'
cable to the great falls beginning at West
ham, aud from said falls to make such ca.
nal or canals with sufficient locks, as would
open navigation to tide.water. This org
anization continued until the 18th day Of
February, 1920, 90 which day the legis-
Iature passed an act to amend the "AcI
for clearing and improving The navigation
Of Jmucs river, aud for uniting the east
ern and western waters, by the James and
Kanawha rivers" By this act the rights
and interest OF the james river company
were transferred to the commonwealth, and
by an act passed February 9th. 1923, all
the rights, powers, duties aud privileges Of
the president and directors were conferred
on The board Of public works, whose tran.
sactions we're to be still in the name Of the
James River Company" This organi'
cation continued until the year 1885,
The old James river company construct
ed canal around the falls Of James river,
extending from the city Of Richmond to
Westham, distance of about seven miles
and improved the bed Of the river BY sFa''
ces as high up as Buchanan.
The second James river Company, on
State account enlarged and reconstructed
the former canal from Richmond to West
ham, aud extended the same to MaidGn's
Adventure, in GOochlaud county, a dist
ance Of 27 miles; constructed canal
through the Blue Ridge seven aud a half
miles long; constructed q turnpike road
from Coviugou to the mouth of Big San
dy river, $50 miles long. and improved
the KanaWha river by wing dams and slut
ces from Charleston to its mouth, dis
lance Of So miles.
The James River and Kanawha Com
pnuy was Incorporated March 10th, 1882
and organized May 25th, 1885. By the
charter the whole interest Of the common.
wealth 10 the works and property Of the
then existing james river company was
transferred to the James river aud Kama.
wha company; the State being interested
in the latter to the extent Of threc.6fIhs Of
its capital stock, and individuals aud cor,
porations to the exteut Of the remaining
two.efhs
The works Of the James river Company
we're valued at 100000. the state re-
ceiviug credit for that amount 10 part of
Der subscription to the capital stock Of the
James river aud Kanawha company. The
Dew company, moreover, was charged With
The payment Of the annuity Of s2l 900
forever to the stockholders Of the old James
river company; and as the SUN is equiVa.
lent to principal Of $3.50 OOo at six per
cent. interest, it will be seen tbatthe pres.
cut company took the old works at the
price Of 81, $4,000.
The construction Of the new canal from
Richmond to Lynchburg was commenced
in 1886, aud the work was completed in
December, 1910 10 that time the work
Of construction Of the second division Of the
canal above Lyucbburg, was commenced,
and prosecuted up to tue year 1912, when
for want of funds it was abandoned. On
the LIST Of March, 1917, an appropriation
Of 81, $4,000 was made by the legisla-
ture for the purpose Of completing the