The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-21
rFro11 the Isl chidsfs ,v1rgfnisal.I
James Rtyer Railroad Tine Conven--
- ton At Buehhnnns

frrolu the Isyancnsasf virgiaisp.I
James lsfyer Railroaa The Conve!I-.
tion at Buehansris
. The Courention called reconsider the pro-
posed railroad from Clifton Forge 70 Blu.
chanar,- met al Buehanan on the 1TtB, ana,
sor, motion. Colonel John Z. Anderson was
cIled to the chair, and fali editors present
were requested to act as secretaries.
Colonel PendIeton briefly stated the object
OF the meeting, and jon his motion the cna 1r-
men of the several elegatioDs were request
ed TO furnish the secretaries with lists OF Inc
Delegates responded from Norfolk, Rich.
mond. Lyncflburg, Rockbrid ge, Fincastie.
craig. Upper James River, Lower james
River. Mill Greek, Back Greek, Jackson XIV
81. buchanan. Pattonsburg, and several
other points. The Lynchburg Delegation
consisted Of Captain b. FL. Nowiin, Coionei
James A. Hammer, j. p Bell, james i rank
hin. Jr.. DR.. W. b. Robertson, DR.. b. d.
MurreB: Joseph NJ. Shafer, and j. tr.iW1f.
+ liams. Norfolk was represented BY Colonei
waiter 81. Taylor, and Richmond by ColoDel
q. IS. Carringtou,; General Joseph H.. Ander-
SON. General Bradley Z. Johnson, and Ma)or
James 81. Dooley. The delegations from sue
other points named ore omitted for want OF
space,sl They were very full, and composed
| of the leading representative men iof 6ote'
tourt. Rockbridge, and Craig. i1ts1f 80 KS ;. 4
ON, motion of Judge Houston, commit
tee Of five on permanent organization was
appointed. as follows: Judge aHouston,
Major James II. Dooley, Colonel w alter IL.
Taylor, DR.. E. 81. Christian, and WA. An an
|lderson, Esq. -, :. 80.
The committee RETIRED and after a brief
absence returned with the following report
Captain B. II. NowIin, of Lynchbnrg. presi'
dent; General Bradley Il. johnson, OF Rich
mond. and Colonel Ed. Dillon, of 'Botetourt,
yice-presidents;- M. ". Camper, Of Flncas-
tie, and. j. P. Bell, of Lynchburg, secreta-
ries.
J The President was escorted to the chair,
and at bis request Colonel Pendleton. stated
the object Of the meeting, setting forth IN
strong terms the Importance of the proposed
road 10 the material interests OF Virginia,
and advocated the construction OF this short
link as the best means to unite the coal'helds
of West Virginia with the ineXhaustlble
supplies of iron ore in our midst, and OF
supplying our eastern cities with this lndls-
pensable element of wealth. The enterprise
was distinctly Yirginian, and would form
the connecting link of great trunk. line be-
tween the East and West. The proposed
line was not in conflict with the interest OF
any other Improvement, but was q feeder TO
some OF them.
AT the suggestion of Colonel Pendleton,
survey of the route made by Colonel William
Jolliffe, at the instance OF a committee OF Cit
liens of Buchanan, was read, synopsis OF
which is here given. =
Colonel Jolliffe indicated two general
routes: One termed the inland route, and
the other the river route: The first being
263 miles in length and the latter being 30
miles. The comparative cost of the TWO
routes is about-as follows:
Inland Rotte.-Total cost to build the
road, 1888, 2S0 to which may be added for
land damages, depot sites, repair shops, en-.
oipe.bouse, station-houses, tanks, DC, S7O,-
720. Total equipments, 100000; making
grand total of 81, 900 for the inland
route.
Riuer Route.-Total cost TO build the road,
SI,2S6, GOO to which add equipments, making
a grand total of Sl,47S,0O0. HI
On motion of General Joseph &. Ander-
son, committee of five was appointed TO
take charge of all reports and papers and re-
port business for the Convention.
CoshfAiatee General j. Z. Anderson, Col
onel Z. B.Rowland, Judge j. }. Allen, Col
onel EdwarG Dillon, aud Major Z. Green.
On Hotion,a recess was taken to allow the
committee tmeslo make their report.
After recess eaCOnyentiop was called to
order by the Presiden, and the committee
on business reported as follows:
s.Ycur committee of business regrets that
n II A. 1nl
report. 1t has examined the report Of Will
liam Jollite, civil engineer, and draftof
charter for the proposed James River COM
pany, which were referred to it, and beg
leave to report that it is most fayorably i'm
pressed with the practicability and cheapness
of the proposed road, and the provisions
contained in the draft of the charter. t'ts.
"Your committee begs to offer draft Of
the charter for the James River railroad for
the consideration of its friends, and it also
submits the following resolutions:
"Resolued, That il the opinion of the
committee the importance of this road can
not be over.estimated.
"ReSoloed, That its object is to connect the
James River and Kanawba canal at Buchanan
with the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad at
Clifton Forge, upon which connection, it is
believed, the prosperity of both are greatly
dependent. -
"Resolued. That such connection will
nure to the benefit of every interest in the
James and Kanawha rivers, as well as to the
cities of Petersburg and Danville, and to
the people of nearly every. section of Vir-
ginia.
"Resolued, That it should be part OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, upon the
condition that that road shall work it equally
and solely in the interest of all Virginia
cities and all Virginia people.
ssReS0lued, That committee be appointed
by the president of this meeting 10 confer
with the authorities of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad, looking to the formation of q
lease and eventual sale of the effects of the
James River railroad to the said Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad. .lis.i
"Resolued, That the object Of this pro-
posed road is by no means intended to SUI
persede the necessity for the enlargement
and extension of the James River and Ia,
naWha canal, but it is rather intended to
demonstrate the necessity for its compile
tiep."
General Anderson, in reference to the
charter mentioned in the report, spoke OF
the possibility of some conflict of interest
with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad COM
pany, but hoped that nothing would occur
to prevent the accomplishment of the object
of the Convention. He gave the scheme his
warmest appreciation, and saw nothing in
the charter that he did not warmly approve.
Colonel Taylor, of Norfolk, stated that his
city had long looked with anxious eye to the
construction of this missing link in the rail-
road system of the State. Capitalists desired
accurate statistical information sufficient to