The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-27

RIVER OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES INTER
EST-THE LEGISLATION TO BE APPLIED
FOR AT oNCE-A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE
BILL--A SURVEY OF TIE LINE TO DE
MADE AS SOON AS TIE CHARTER IS
GRANTED, &C.. &C. =
A meeting OF the Board OF Public In.
tercsts was held in the Council chamber
yesterday afternoon at O'Clock. Present
Mcssrs. Christian (president), Stearns, Tai
bott, Skinker, Crenshaw, Courtney, Pal
mcr, and, by invitation, Messrs. w. Z.
Cutshaw and II. D. Whitcomb, engineers.
A communication from Mr.. James Lyons
(the same rs presented to the meeting OF
citizens at Exchange Hotel in the interest
OF the canaD was laid before the meeting by
the Chair and read by Secretary August.
A communication was also received from
Mr.. II. D. Whitcomb on the subject of lock-
and dam-nayigation.
Mr.. Lyons letter was, on motion Of Mr..
Straus, received and laid on the table,
When The Board adjourned on Wedncs-
day last it had under consideration the res
olutions OF Major Courtney fayorins the
construction OF the James-Ryer Valley
road and the subscription on the part of the
L
resolutions were again read.
MIR. STRAUSS PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Straus presented to the Beard the
following as substitute for Mr.. Courtney's
resolutions, which were read:
/. ReSolred, AS the opinion OF the Board
OF Public Interests, that it is ineNpedient to
appropriate at this time the sum Of S2,000,-
900 for the construction Of a railroad from
oh r. l,y, 80 T
burg.
.. Resolved, That it is desirable. in the
opinion Of the Board, that such 4 railroad
should be built as soon as practicable.
3. RESOLVED, That whenever a charter
shall have been granted by the General AS
scmbly for the construction OF such rail-
road, and company organized, the City
Council should proceed. in the mode pre-
scribed by the charter of the city Of Rich
mond, to ascertain the sense OF the citizens
OF Richmond upon the question OF SUBJ
scription therefor OF such sum as shall seem
reasonable and requisite in aid of the con-
struction of such railroad.
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WHOLE.
Mr.. Christian OR. Palmer being in the
chair) addressed the Board and presented
the following resolutions as substitute for
the whole:
The Board OF Public Interests Of the city
OF Richmond, having duly considered the
preamble and resolutions adopted and re-
ferrcd to it by the Common Council on the
Sd December, 1877, in relation to the James
River and kanawha canal and a railroad
along the line OF the James-River valley,
and also the resolutions OF the Board Of
Aldermen adopted On the 18th December,
1877, relating to the same subject, and haT-
ing obtained from the president Of the
james River and Kanawha Company, the
Engineer OF the James-River improvement,
and the City Engineer Gas directed by the
resolutions Of the Common CounciD, such
information as they could furnish on the
said subjects at this time, beg leave to SUBJ
init for the consideration of the Council the
following recommendations and report
viz:
l. That in the opinion OF this Board it is
most desirable to have 4 railroad running
along the line of the James-River valley
from Richmond to Clifton Forge, and as
soon US practicable; that the canal along
that portion OF the line Of said valley from
Richmond to Buchanan has shown itself to
be inadequate, unreliable, and undesirable
as permanent means Of transportation,
| totally misunderstanding, and should be
abandoned rs soon as a railway can be SUBJ
stituted therefor.
=. That we recommend to the Council the
adoption OF resolution requesting our rep
resentatives in the Legislature to cooperate
with the representatives OF the people OF the
cities and counties along the line OF said val
| ley, the James River and kanawha Com
| pany, and such others as may be interested
| legislation to build q railroad from Rich
mond to Clifton Forge, along the tow-path
OF the James River and Kanawha canal, or
adjacent thereto, and as far as practicable on
the property OF said James River and Ka-
nawha Company, and on the best terms pos
sible for the interests and the protection OF
this city.
3. That as soon as said legislation is OBJ
tanned iii granted upon terms acceptable to
the Council OF the city,, that then this Board
recommends that said Council shall at on ce
appropriate sum not exceeding $4,000, or so
much thereof as is necessary to be expended
in making proper survey for the best route
for said road-bed; and that said survey be
ordered to be made by the Council as soon
as the charter to said railroad is obtained.
4. That In the event that said charter for
the railroad is granted on terms acceptable
to the City Council, that then we recon-
mend to the Council to submit to the quail
|
section 81 of the city charter, at the general
election in May, 1873, the question Of making
such subscription to said railroad as the
Council shall deem necessary and proper
for the city to make, after having the sur
yey Of the route and a proper estimate oi
the construction OF said road made, and to
have such an amendment made to said 9th
section OF the city charter as will validate
such subscription in case the same is elected
to be made by the people. -...
MR.. CHRISTIANS VIEWS.
Mr.. Christian gave in detail his reasons
for Offering the substitute, and said he hao
| niyen the subject the most careful and Sc
rious consideration. He said that the in
terests of the city required that such roat
be built; that the canal did not afford the
proper facilities to the people along the
| line OF the canal for bringing their produce
to market, but he did not believe it would
be cxpedient for the city of Richmond tc
exnend s., ,OO0, 900 before we had gotten al
the light on the subject. He objected to
the resolutions presented to the Board OF
Aldermen because they set out by saying
that the canal had been subject to frequent
washes, and therefore could not be relied or
on account of the liability of its banks te
be destroyed by floods; while in the next
resolution it is declared that a railroad
should be built on the tow-path. He also
spoke OF the benefit that would result from
having the canal repaired, in the building
of the road, and the vast Importance ol
having survey OF the line made In order
| to ascertain the cost of the road. He thought
! the Board OF Aldermen had acted hastily in