The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-19

city of Richmond, by Judge Meredith and
Messrs. Higgins and Straus, proxies, having
1,449 votes; the city Of Lynchburg, by
Messrs. Nowlin and Luckado, proxies, hav-
ing 175 votes; individual stockholders by
proxy, having 800 votes; individual stock
holders in person, having SO votes; the
Commonwealth Of Virginia, by Messrs.
Graham, Nowlfn, and McCance, proxies,
having three ffths Of the whole vote. Of
Mr.. McCance resumed the chair. the Sec
retary OF the company attending as clerk.
The President presented the following
report
To the Stockholders Of The James River and
Kana,cha Company:
Gentlemen, n,-Since your last meeting a
disaster OF almost unprecedented extent has
befallcn this company. It's property has
been damaged upon almost every mile Of its
entire length. Careful estimates Of the dam
age have been made by the proper officers
OF the company, and, though necessarily
approximate, they are unquestionably suffi-
ciently exact to.enable you to consider and
determine upon the proper course now to
be pursued.
Between Richmond and Lynchburg the
damages are estimated to be $49,240; at and
near Lynchburg, $4,000; between Lynch
burg and the mouth OF North river, $685.
534; between mouth Of North river and
Buchanan. S34,S99; between mouth OF
North river and Lexington, 81, ,0s3. Total
damages west Of Lynchburg, S13S.51G.
! Total damages throughout the line, S197,-
756.
Immediately after the freshet which caused
this disaster your president repaired to
Lynchburg and arranged with that city for
the immediate repair, at the expense Of the
city, OF the local damages, estimated at S10,-
900. These repairs are now progressing
satisfactorily, and the company will have to
account to the city of Lynchburg for the
cost thereof.
Proceeding to Richmond, induced by the
earnest representations OF prominent citi-
zens that the city would give its aid to re-
pair the damages ut least rs far as Lynch
burg. he proceeded promptly and at
great expense to prosecute the work
of repairs from Richmond up. This
subject OF city aid was Immediately pre-
scnted to the City Council, and reso-
lutonS looking to an appropriation OF
$4,000 were adopted almost unanimous
ly by the popular branch OF the city gov
ernment. This action, together with the
continued and earnest representations OF
prominent and influential citizens OF Rich
mond, induced a continuation of the work
OF repair upon that portion OF the canal
nearest to Richmond, with the confident re-
lance upon city aid for the payment Of ex-
penses incurred and for the completion
thereof. -.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the ac-,
ton of the Board Of Aldermen within the
last twenty-four hours (of which you are
doubtless adyisedl has dispelled this delu-
sion.
| The work, commenced and prosecuted
with the utmost vigor, and which would
have resulted, IL continued as begun, in re-
storing navigation to Columbia by Decem-
ber 25th, to ScottsvilIe early in January, and
to Lynchburs before the 1st Of March,
could not have been justified except by the
confident expectation held out by the peo-
pie Of Richmond and by the action Of the
Common Council before referred to. The
expense already incurred by the company
is much greater than its unaided resources
warrant, and all hope Of assistance hereto
fore relied upon being now ended, the
policy to be pursued is respectfully pre-
sented to you for your consideration and
| instruction. ....
1t is proper to add that have not thought
it necessary to call your attention more par
ticularly to the action of the General AS
sembly OF Virginia in reference to convict
labor to be used by the canal company in
the reconstruction Of its works, as the pub
lie prints have given that information rs
fully as I could. .r.'
Submitted herewith are the reports OF
James NJ Harris, engineer and su2erin-
tendent OF c. +. Cosby, assistant superln-
tendent: and William Jollitfe, principal as
sistant engineer, rs to the damages. Also,
a copy Of the act of Assembly as to the use
of convict labor on canal repairs, together
4 with the contract for said labor and the
rules and regulations for its employment.
Respectfully, JOHN W. JOHNSTON,
/ President.
Richmond, Va., December 1S, 1877.
Colonel William W. Gordon submitted
the following resolutions:
RcSolued, /. That the recent disaster to
this company is such as to preclude all expcc-
tation Of restoring the canal west OF Lynch
burg. and the president Of this company is
therefore instructed to devote all the means
and resources which he has or may be able
to command to the restoration Of the prop
erty between Lynchburg and Richmond;
such convict labor as be may be able to use,
with the means available foc that purpose,
to be retained upon the line OF the work,
and the balance to be returned to the peni-
tentiary. .-..": .-s ~#.as. 'l.A s..
9. That the president Of the company be
instructed to apply for. such amendments to
the charter OF the Buchanan and Clifton
Forge Railway Company as shall authorize
the extension OF that railroad to Lynch
Jurg, and from that point to Richmond, II
such extension to Richmond shall be deter
mined on by the stockholders in general
meeting; but that no additional stock shall
be authorized to be taken in said Buchanan
and Clifton-Forge Railway Company eX-
cept by the consent OF the present stock
holders. r.......
Judge Meredith moved to amend the sec
ond resolution by emitting the words IN
italics, as follows: "Lynchburg and from
that point to-"
On motion Of Colonel Cabell,
RESOLVED, That the resolutions. with the
proposed amendment, be referred to COM
mittee OF seven.
The Chairman appointed the following
gentlemen to compose said committee !:
Messrs. II. C. Cabell, John A. Meredith
Isaac H. Darlington, James n. Dooley, WI,
liam H. Haxall, Benjamin Il. Nowlln, ana
DR.. A. Graham.
Major Johnston requested an expression
of opinion as to the policy pursued ana TO
be pursued by him rs to repairs between
Richmond and Lynchburg.
The President stated that ne orlslnaly
proposed to ask the city OF Richmond ior
S5O,OOO-one half toward the repairs be-
tween Richmond and Lynchburg, and the
other half toward the repairs west OF Lynch
burg; but that. yielding to suggestions
made in the meeting Of directors, he asked
! only for $25, 1000, for repairs as far as Lynch
burg, leaving open the question OF repairs
/ west OF Lynchburg for consideration and
4 determination when the extent OF the DAM