The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-06
raa f,entra, water-Line.

The Central water-I Line. i
r.,s i tho name given what we baye
...arrn az the James River and Ksnawha
a.nal nv the bin introduced Into Congress
far HE completion Of the water.line from the 1
chesapeake bay to the Ohio river. How
we,, we remember the beginning Of this
great work, and the high hopes Of the PEG.
ole Of Virginia Of its early completion, and
the immense good that it would confer upon
Virginia.
The James River and Kanawha Canal
Company has just held Its annual meeting.
The main posus in its proceedings Is sign OF
life and hope that must be gratifying 70 OH
i:s friends. The presidents report brought
to the consideration Of the stockholders Q
pro position for the undertaking OF. the WORK
OF extending the canal from Bucnanan 70
Clifton Ferge By the company itself, OF
means of It's own resources, together with
the sale Of bonds for construction account.
The President further suggests that the
State should be asked 10 permit the compa.
nv to employ convict labor upon their work,
paving nothing to the State for their labor,
and only being bound for their safe.keeping.
A committee upon the presidents report
presented paper approving Of the presi'
dents proposition, which was adopted.
Under the resolutions of the report the
Legislature is to be asked for such legisls-
ton as may be necessary to carry out the
plan.
The resolution of the stockholders shows
a noble zeal in the very test Internal inn
proyenent cause Of Virginia. Were their
means equal to their will the work would
soon be finished. But in the strait IN when
they are placed for the want OF means they
propose the best thing they can no" posi-
bly, do.
The canal is near the halfway house OF its
proposed line, and every mile that is added
TO it lightens the labor Of completing it, and
80 brightens the hopes of its friends that the
prospeets of the further extension increase
at a :geometrical rate compared with the dis
ia nee from Richmond.
we trust that the expedient hit upon Will
at least be tried. 1t can involve the State In
no way, and il it succee DIS the resources OF
the State will be immensely increased
through the development of the mineral
wealth in the region along the route OF the
canal and by the facilitating and cheapening
of transportation, especially in the ponder
Gus articles that will be thrown upon it.
Such is the eagerness of the large body OF
n entlemen who own mineral lands along the
James river between Buchanan and Clifton
Forge, and beyond the latter point, for the
extension of the canal at once to Clifton
Forge, that we are sure there will be con.
centration of force and effort upon it that
will leave no doubt of its accomplishment.
We said above that we remembered the
b eginning of the great enterprise and the
nthusissm that stirred our people in its be-
half The whole James River and kanawha
valleys were canvassed by the late JOSEPH G.
C. AsElL and his colleagues in the labor. He
ap pealed to the people with the greatest
earnestness, and subscriptions to the STOCK
of the.company were made with wonderful
liberality considering the then condition OF
the country and the views then prevalent
alb out improvements. Mr.. CABELL showed
almost the spirit of fanaticism in his crusade,
as It were. PETER the Hermit could have
felt no deeper impulse in bis appeal to the
Christian world to capture the holy Land.
MIR. CABELL was too earnest and too con-
yincing in bis arguments not to animate
the people with zeal like his and with entire
faith in bis glowing predictions; predictions
that will be more than realized whenever the
work is finished.
Mr.. CABELL had the warm support Of the
press. Mr.. R1TcBIE, with his remarkable
nergy. added his forcible appeals in favor
OF the great project. He applauded Mr..
CABELL, and implored bis friends to give
him their earnest cooperation. He borrowed
the inspiring phrases of the "Lady OF the
Lake, Shouting out, as it were, at the top
of his voice, be urged that the fiery cross he
liz hted on every hill, and hurried the mes
Sc myers with "Speed, MALlsE, speed"
1t was great day for great enterprise
an enterprise which is now really the great
est project of this Union.
How long this great canal has rested just
beyond the Blue Ridge it is painful to think.
It's original ardent and hopeful friends are
nearly all dead, and amongst the generations
that succeeded them the faith they fl 1t has not
been manifest. Still even these generations
know the great benefits that must certainly
come to this State through the central water
line, and will be delighted to see that the
James River and Kanawha Company itself
is about to put its hands to the work once
more. Those who remember the scenes OF
other days we describe will feel new inspi-
rat inn from what ia now proposed.