The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-16
THE RAILWAY UP THE JAMES,

MEETING OF THE TWO COMMITTEES ON
/ ROADS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MAJOR JOHNSTON, OF THE CANAL COM
PANY, URGES SPEEDY. ACTION AND A
FINAL SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION
ANOTHER MEETING TUESDAY.
The Senate and the House Committees on
Roads and Internal Navigation met Satur-
day in the Office OF the Superintendent Of
Public Instruction-General Lee, chairman
OF the Senate committee, presiding.
Major Johnston, president Of the James
River and Kanawha Company, was present,
and addressed the committee, making full
and interesting statement in reference to
the former and present policy OF the canal
company. He also referred to the effect of
the recent fresbet7 upon the canal and its
policy, and said that even il it was fully re-
paired it would be impossible TO keep up
the canal at Buchanan and Lexington un-
less there are proper connections with it.
He spoke at length of the great difficulty
that bad attended the repairs to the canal;
of the great hardship to the officers,
guards, and convicts who were engaged
in the repairs upon it. II the canal
goes down again-and go down It must un-
less the Clifton Forge connection is made
the people between Lynchburg and Clifton
Forge would be left again without any
means Of transportation whatever. The
canal would probably never have been re-
paired after the freshet Of 1877 had it not
been for the great aid extended by the State
OF Virginia and the kindly aid OF friends in
Richmond, Lynchburg, and along its line.
They have now changed their views en-
tirely. The President next referred to the
work that had been done upon the Buchanan
and Clifton Forge railway, and Of the diff
culties that he and his company had met
with there. These difficulties and floods,
and the inefficlency Of the canal, finally pro-
duced the change in public sentiment and
the sentiment of the canal company, which
he now, represented. The people Of the
something be done for them, and that they
be put and kept in communication with the
other sections of the State.
The President next referred to the meet
ing of the stockholders, the proposition Of
the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad Com
pany to buy the canal, and tie action
which led to the present state OF affairs,
and the presentation OF the bill to the Gen.
eral Assembly by the unanimous vote OF the
stockholders. He alse spoke OF the uncer-
tainty of the feeling Of the people OF the
James River Valley, and the injury which
was being done to the canal business By the
agitation of the question, and the urgent inn
portance Of speedily settling the matter. He
urged that something be done, and that
quickly. He did not see that anything
could be done towards building the Bu-
chanan and Clifton Forge road II this bill
is defeated in the Legislature. The rail-
roads have been gradually encroaching upon
the business Of the canai-they get the
business-the people use the railroads,
taking advantage OF the low rates on the
canal in sending their freights over the rail-
roads AS to completing the canal to the
western waters, or finishing its railroad
connection with Clifton Forge, it seemed
impossible. There are no new friends to be
found who will furnish the money ncces-
sary to do the work. Old friends who
have time and again aided US have now
changed their policy, and from them we
eau expect nothing more.
In reply to question propounded by Mr.
Fulkerson as to what were the President
reasons in first opposing the change OF pol
icy, Major Johnston said he had cndcaVoret
to continue to hold the stockholders ant
friends along the line OF the canal to hl
view, but he found that influential peopl
had changed their minds, and the stock
holders now unanimously ask for rail
road. He saw no hope OF maintaining tn
canal as policy.
The committee then proceeded to the dis
cussion of tue bill proper.
Mr.. Fulkerson inquired whether th
debts OF the company would be paid by tn
new company if the bill passes.
Major Johnston said the property Of TIL
company was certainly bound for the debts
but the Richmond and Alleghany Railroa!
Company, though assuming to pay IN cas-
sum sufficient to discharge certain tioatln!
debts, expect to acquire the balance OF To
debts at price less than par.
There was considerable discussion on thi
point.
In reply to Mr.. Fulkerson as to why th
gentlemen Of the Richmond and Alleghan
! Railroad Company now desire to acquir
the canal, when last year, in getting th
railroad charter, they said they would bull
the road regardless OF the canal, Mr.. John
ston replied that he supposed they desire
to secure the low grades OF the canal. tn
rich traffic OF the Valley, and the road-beo
|
It would be good thing to have railroa
up the .James-Riycr Valley.
Mr., Fulkerson further inquired whethc
il was practicable to build q railroad Oh tn
tow-path. ....
| Major Johnston said he thought it wa:
but such had not originally been III
opinion.
This part OF the subject was also dlscusse
at length.
| Major Johnston saw no difficulty in bui!t
| ing the road il these people will put up I'll
money, and he supposed they were able an
that it was their intention to put up tn
money, AS to the road being washed ser
ously in case OF freshets, he thought tn;
| could be, in great measure at least, pr
vented. lie thought the local business an
the development OF the coal land iron interes
would alone support the road; that the
local business would support the road. an
make it entirely independent. or SO ind
nendent as to cause the laws OF traue to a.
sert themselves at the Clifton Forge term
nus.
MIR. Harrison, Of the House, inquire
whether, IL the canal is sold under toreclt
sure. the State would realize anythin
| from it? .
Major Johnston: Not one cent, in N
opinion. - 80,
In general terms he also said that sal
under a foreclosure would not bring tf
debts; that the bonds OF the company ha
been sold much below par. He again urge
that the matter be disposed OF at once, or
soon as it could be perfected.
Mr.. II. E. Ellyson, one Of the member
of the committee OF fifteen of the jaime
River and Kanawha Company, which pr
pared the report, gave history OF IL
whole transactions incident to the recer
proceedings Of the stockholders.
MIR. Robinson, Of Portsmouth, suggeste