The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-21
IJAMEs-R1vER VALLEY RAILROAD
nectinE OF Board Of. 1.publie Interests.


THE SCHEME DIsCUssED-vIETs OF PROM.
INENT ENGINEERS AND CITIZENSHIP
DPRoJEcTGRoWIEG IN FAVOR
NO FINAL ACTION-ANoTHER MEETING
TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY NEXT, &C.
A meeting Of ths.sBoasd of Public In.
terests Of the city washeM yesterday after
noon in the Council bamber-President
Christian in the chair; Ben. T. August
Secretary. Present: Messrs. Pickrell, Tai
bott, Skinker, Crenshaw, Courtney, Stearns,
Palmer, and Netting.
Messrs. Fl. D. Whitcomb, engineer OF the
James-River improvement, and W. E. Cut
shaw, City Engineer, to whom were referred
the resolutions OF General Joseph r. Ander-
son in reference to the construction Of O
railroad along the James-River valley to
Clifton Forge, were also present, together
with Messrs. Anderson, Pulliam, and
Henry, of the House OF Delegates Alr. r.
Fl. Maury; Major John W. Johnston, pre-
sident Of the James River and kanawha
Company; and Judge Meredith, president
Of the Board Of Aldermen.
MIR. Straus, a member of the Board, was
absent on account Of indisposition.
THE POWERS OF THE BOARD.
The ordinance defining the powers OF the
duty OF said Board to take into considera.
tion all works OF internal improvements in
existence, or which may be projected from
time to time; to look after the commercial,
industrial, and manufacturing interests OF
ho cif IN yufp nd toG ~ -
connections, means Of transportation, and
communication with the rest OF the coun.
try; and to make such reports and recon-.
mendations to the City Council as will in
their opinion best subserve the different in
terests of the city of Richmond
THE RESOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED BY TIE
BOARD.
The following resolutions, presented by
General Anderson to the Council before he
resigned, and which were referred to the
Board of Public Interests for their conside-
ration were read as follows: . ....
Whereas the experiment Of canal from
Richmond along the valley Of James river
has been tried for some forty years without
accomplishing such results as its friends an-
ticipated, which is not surprising, consider
ing that at the time Of beginning the canal
the benefits OF the railroad system were
comparatively unknown, while in the last
few years important progress has been made
in the economy OF construction and OF main
tenance OF railroads, notably in the intro
duction OF steel rails, which has greatly re-
duced the cost OF transportation and
whereas the minds Of many Of our most re-
fecting people have become greatly exer-
cised on the question whether it would not
be better even now to substitute for the
canal railroad on its banks, extending all
the way from Richmond to Clifton Forge,
seeing that it is really question OF doubt
whether the canal can do much more than
pay cost OF working it, il that much tits
debts to the State having been entirely
funded into stock in 1860, and yet now an
other debt Of some thirteen hundred thou
sand dollars has been sontracted); there
fore be it
RESOLVED blythe Common Council, That the
city OF Richmond, being the largest stock
holder in the James River and Kanawha
Company other than the State, and it is be-
lieved the largest creditor, and being also
largely interested as the terminus OF the
improvement, and always liable to be called
on in case OF disaster to advance the chief
part OF the money necessary to restore nayi-
CATION, it is the duty OF this body to take
measures for careful inquiry into the
question OF substituting a ruilroad for the
canal. ..r5.-.>.s-
RESOLVED, That the Board OF Public In
terests be requested to confer with the au-
thorities OF the canal company, and with
the City Engineer and the Engineer of the
James-River Improvement Colonel Whit
comb), of the proposed change, and report
their views thereon to this body, together
with such approximate estimate as may be
made for them by the Engineers referred
to of the cost OF railroad from Richmond
to Clifton Forge, on the bank Of the canal as
far as the same is practicable.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. -<.
The Chair stated that he had taken the
liberty of inviting the city members of the
General Assembly to be present, and he
took it to be the sense of the Board that any
gentleman present having anything to pre-.
sent on the subject would do so without
formal invitation. "-.
General Anderson explained briefly the
object he had in view in presenting the
resolutions. BE said he would do all he
could to secure charter for the road, as be
felt sure from what he had ascertained oil
the sentiment OF the people OF Richmond
that the general scheme contained in the
resolutions OF the Board of Aldermen mel
with their approval. -;s~s 3E rn
Major Johnston, president Of the james
River and Kanawha Company, spoke of the
action OF the committee Of the stakeholder;
OF the company, to whom was referred tht
resolutions OF the stock kholders az to the con
struction of railroad along the canal, OF
adjacent thereto. He said he was Mt thu
meeting OF the committee on Wednesday
whose sessions occupied nearly oil day
that it seemed to be the sense Of the com
mittee that a railroad should be constructed
from Richmond to Buchanan along ths
towing-path that as soon as practicable tht
Legislature should be applied to for q char
ter. 1t seemed to be the, idea Of the com
mittee that the city, OF Lynchburg. shoulc
take half O million dollars worth Of stock
the counties along the line half million
and the city Of Richmond 8 million and I
half. ~: ''-'- !
Major Johnston was OF opinion that j
would cost more than $500 per mile for th'
earth-work. -....a
Mr.. stearhs said he'd undertake the con
tract for $500 a mile from Richmond t
Lynchburg.
Major Johnston said, then he thought Mr
Stearns ought to have the contract it th
road was to be built. He then went on t.
say that it was the opinion Of many person.
that the damage done to the canal by th
food was very nearly overcome by the ben
eft of'the food, the bed Of the canal having
been deepened and widened. He though
that when the bank was restored the cana
would be in better condition than it hat
been for thirty years. .ss. J: ....., $50.
A rambling discussion followed as to TIL
Mr.. TALBoTT'S VIEWS. .fzsA >
DIR. Talbot was very much inclined t,