The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-04

| KASAWIIA CANAL COMPANY FOR 925,OOl
TO AID IN REPAIRING THE CANL-AN
| INTERESTING DIsCUssIoN-THE WHOLE
| SUBJECT REFERRED TO THE FINANCE
COMafITTEE-RESIGEA OF PRESI.
DENT ANDERSON AND ELECTION OF Mr.
| GEORGE l.. CHRIsTIAN-FRAMED BUILD
INGs-REsIGNATION OF MR.. PULLTAM-
Mr.. sKINKER ELECTED A MEMBER OF
THE BODY FROM CLAY WARD.
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the
Common Council was held yesterday after
noon. President Anderson in the chair.
Presentat roll-call Messrs. Adams, Chris
tian. Curtis, Davis, Elicit, Foster, Guy.
Hargrove, Haxail, Hayes, Higgins. John
son, King, Manson, A1etzger, Oliver,
Stokes, Straus, Talbot, Taylor, Timber
lake, Vandervall, Whitlock, and Wood.
THE DAMAGE TO THE CANAL BY THE FLOOD.
Mr.. Guy moved that the regular order OF
business be suspended in order that petit
ton from the James River and kanawha
Company, and citizens generally, might be
considered. Agreed to.
Mr. Guy then presented petition from
the president Of the James River and
Kanawha Company, Major J. W. Johnston,
aud large number OF citizens, asking that
the city aid the company in the sum of
SO, 600, to be expended in repairing the
canal between Richmond and Lynchburg.
Mr.. Guy moved that Major Johnston be
heard in regard to the damage to the canal.
Agreed to-ayes, 1G; noes, 6.
Mr.. Vandervall asked the Chair to re-
quest Major Johnston in the outset to tell
the Council how much money the company
now owes the city. [Laughter.]
| Major Johnston addressed the Council,
and said the damage was not as great as at
first believed. From this city to Lynch
burg the damage amounted to $4,000; ut
Lynchburg, $4,000; and west OF Lynch
burg, S50,000. .....
Major Johnston said that in 1870 the dam
age amounted to S210,000, and that Rich
mond furnished 100000 OF that amount;
that the interest on that sum, amounting to
about $4,000 had not been paid and that
that sum and $4,000 OF stock constituted
the debt Of the company to the city OF Rich
mond.
AIr. Vanderval inquired what the compa-
ny did with the money that was made on
the canal.
Major Johnston replied that he would
furnish the honorable gentleman, or any
other member, with the reports Of the ccm-
pany showing how the money had been en-
pended.
Mr. Guy asked where the company cx-
pectcd to get the other $4,000 from if the
city OF Richmond should furnish $4,000.
He replied that he had hoped to get $780,
900 from the Legislature, but he did not
know that the money Gould be gotten.
Mr.. Pulliam said he was at the meeting Of
the directors of the James River Company
when it was decided to ask the city for this
sum. He went there feeling that the city
could not give any relief to the company,
but from information received rs to the
benefit of the canal to the city, he was will
ing to offer resolution appropriatlng $685.
900 for the purpose named, contingent upon
aid to be furnished by the State. He then
presented resolution appropriating SO, 900
out OF the resources OF 1873.
Mr.. Curtis asked Major Johnston what
guarantee the company would give for the
payment of the interest; whether the COM
pany would pledge the receipts Of the
dock
Major Johnston said that the company
would give in exchange the bonds OF the
company to secure the payment OF the mo-
ney so expended.
Mr.. Christian moved that Mr.. W. II.
Palmer, citizen OF Richmond, be allowed
to address the Council in opposition to the
appropriation. Agreed to.
Colonel Palmer addressed the Council as
a taxpayer in opposition to the scheme. He
said he was tired of spending money to aid
the canal without any security being given
for the payment OF the money. He deemed
the question asked by Mr.. Curtis as very
uo fhan m rotor RI thn
James-River valley, its fertility and value,
and the Importance OF railway line up the
James-River valley connecting at Clifton
Forge with the outlet to the great West.
But for the canal such 4 line would
long ago have been built. When the
water rose thirty feet he prayed to God that
it might rise to fifty feet and wipe out the
canal-locks and everything else connected
with the canal. Laughter.l The canal
had always been curse to the city Of Rich
mond, and he sincerely hoped that no more
money would be expended in such fruit
less enterprise. He appeared as n tax
payer, and as large taxpayer rs any in the
city, to oppose the appropriation Of any
more money for this purpose.
Mr.. Pulliam pressed his resolution to ap-
propriate $4,000, provided the State OF Vir-
ginia will furnish the necessary conVicts
and aid in other ways to repair the canal.
He said he believed it was the wish Of the
businessmen generally that this sum
should be appropriated. II there was any
doubt about it he thought it might be re.
ferred to the City Attorney for his opinion
as to the right Of the City Council to ex-
pend this money.
Mr.. Whitlock presented resolution as q
substitute for Mr.. Pulliam's, declaring il
ineXpedcnt to appropriate any money at
this time for the purpose named. Hc said
that all OF our citizens regretted the disas-
ter to the canal, but he did not think the
city could afford to give the canal any more
aid. Whenever the canal is in trouble the
company comes to the city OF Richmond and
asks aid. He was greatly impressed with
Major JQnston's ability rs president OF the
company, but he did not believe the canal
could be repaired for the sum asked for.
He thought it might be best to put the ca,
nal in the hands Of 4 receiver.
Mr.. Guy said that if the canal was to &c
down for want OF this money it might be
well for Richmond to furnish the $4,000;
| it might be to the interest OF the city to give
the aid asked for. He thought that it might
be well for committee to inquire into the
matter and report whether the markets OF
Richmond could afford to be deprived OF
the wheat, tobacco, corn, and ether articles
that came to the city by the canal. He
moved that the whole subject be referred
to the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Anderson (Mr. Taylor being in tht
chair addressed the Council. He remem
| bered when the canal was commenced un
der the advice OF some OF the wisest mer
in the State. He did not think the Council
was ready to vote upon the question. III
was not at present prepared to express ar
opinion; but it behooyed the Council tt