The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-27
canal. as the clause stood in his resolution
when he first read ii.
THE PROPOSED BILL.

THE PROPOSED BILL.
Judge Meredith, being invited, addressed
| the Board In reference to the bill the COM
mittee OF the James River and Kanawha
Company were asked to propose as to
the charter they should ask the Legis-
lature for. The committee bad agreed that
it would be cXpedient not to form new
company, but to amend the charter OF the
James River and Kanawha Company so as to
authorize the construction Of the railroad
In lieu Of the canal. The idea was that the
company should issue its bonds for two and
and half million OF dollars and mortgage
its whole line for that amount. Then the
city OF Richmond could subscribe half a
million and the city of Lynchburg quar-
ter OF million, and with these amounts
the road could be given such an impetus
that the bonds OF the company would be
readily sold. The contribution on the part
OF the James River and Kanwha Company
of the road-bed and the money from the
the cities OF Richmond and Lvnchburg
would establish the scheme beyond per-
adventure. He thought the establishment
of new company would be the widest
scheme imaginable.
He next spoke OF the early sale of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and the prob
ability OF its early extension west to the
great marts Of the world; and when the
road is once more on its feet, il the canal
was sold that company woald be q bidder
for it and probably buy it. The idea that
we could buy the canal at small figure was
great fallacy. Now is the golden oppor-
tunity, said he, to get great stem-a great
railroad to Clifton Forge. Let us get the
charter for the railroad, if possible, on terms
acceptable to Lynchburg and Richmond; ;
then survey can be made, and when that
is done it will be time enough to say how
much Richmond shall subscribe. He was
opposed to putting any sum in the charter.
THE STRENGTH OF MR.. ToDD's PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Stearns said the strength OF Mr..
Todd's proposition is that it gives absolute
control Of the money Richmond loans. The
S., 900, 900 will ensure a perpetual control
Of the work. Richmond is to have five di-
rectors, the State three, and private stock
holders one. The last four will always be
conservative. We put up the money; we
make q dead work live, and we should have
the benefit OF it. When it is ascertained
that Richmond is determined to build the
road it will improve our credit, because
moncy-lenders will see that it is to make us
rich. Let us have one Richmond road. He
thought Judge Meredith's plan ruinous, be-
cause it was best to give enough money to
do the work. We will perpctuate the ca
nal, and make it worth millions to the State
and city.
In few years we will be able to have
double track to the James-Riyer road. IL
Lynchburg wants to go in give her 4 repre-
sentation proportionate to her subscription.
He regarded Mr.. Todd's scheme as broad,
equitable. and honest.
Mr.. Talbot asked the engineers ii the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad concluded to
| build straight shoot to Charlottesville, thus
giving q line seventy miles shorter to Cliff
| ton Forge than the proposed James-Rivcr
| line, what effect would that have on the lat
ter scheme. He then proceeded, without
waiting q reply, to state that that would in
the case Of mail-trains give the Chesapeake
and Ohio two hours advantage. He be-
lieved the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
would build the short line.
WHEN Low GRADES ARE PROFITABLE.
| Mr.. Whitcomb, in response, said that
low grades are profitable in cases of large
tonnage. II the Chesapeake and Ohio
should make the short line it would reduce
the distance between Richmond and Clifton
Forge to 167 miles-by the tow-path the
road would be 230. The grade does not
affect passenger trains. The James-River.
route is desirable for freight. The time
will come when the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, in competing with other great
roads, will find it to its advantage to build
this road. The canal will be very useful in
transporting cross-ties and other material
for the road. .-r....
| In reply to Mr.. Skinker, he said be
thought in this way the full benefit OF the
0,000 would be reaped.
Mr.. Talbot said he understood the dam
age to the upper end OF the canal amounted
to S150,000. .,s......
COLONEL PALMER's VIEWS.
! Colonel Palmer said unless we intend to
recommend the giving OF money TO the
railroad we are wasting time. He spoke in
favor Of the charter which the canal COM
pany had mapped out through its commit
/ tee, but said that it would be highly desira-
BILE for Richmond to control the road. He
thought the opportunity had now pre-
sented itself for the construction OF road
of vast interest to Richmond, and he
thought the opportunity ought not to be
thrown away.
Major Courtney agreed with all that Col
onel Palmer had said. lie thought the road
ought to be built. and that quickly; and if
the canal was to be repaired it ought to be
done simply as auxiliary to building the
road.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. Chris
tian's substitute Seriatim, and the rcsolu-
tions adopted unanimously-ayes,9 8; noes,
none.
Adjourned at 9:3O P. n.
THE CALICO CHARITY BALL gotten up by
some of the ladies of the different churches
came eff last night, and was brilliantly at
tended by about three hundred people. The
ingenuity displayed by the young ladies or
their modiSteS was wonderful, and calico,
cambria and slesia did not know them
selves. .s ."" r.
Among the dresses that attracted most at
tention was an unhleached canton flannel
trimmed with fringed quilting of the same.
Another OF soft, unbleached cotton, made
Princesse was also much admired. A Gre
tonne costume covered with brilliant flow
ers became one Of the lovely debutantes,
while another rosebud peeped out from an
unwonted robe Of blue silesia !! J! ! In some
cases the young ladies Of frugal minds ap-
peared in common-sense calicos, recon-
mending themselves as wise damsels to
wait for description OF all the toilets. 1t
may be worthy of remark that the gentle
men-or at least almost all-were conspicu-
ously devoid of calico in their costumes.
The ladies hope to reap quite harvest
for their poor, as everything was contri-
buted. Mr. Levy was foremost in giving
his hall. The city fathers gave the light $50
they had plenty OF it,. Mr.. Jacob Rein
hardt, DR.. Bartowski, Mr.. LorenZen, j..
Beier, A. Leiss, William Adams, ind Mr..
John Reinhardt gave their brilliant services
in furnishing music, and John Dabney