The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-13
Where is the FoOl-Nllser?
NEAR GLMORE'S MILLS, VIRGINIA,


January 3, 1879.
To the Editors Of the Richmond Dispatch:
Like every one else living and owning
property in the James-Riyer Valley above
LynchUurg, l feel deep interest in the
success OF the scheme now before the Lee
cislature OF Virginia looking to transfer OF
the franchises OF the canal to the Richmond
and Allegheny railroad, and we owe the
Dispatch our thanks for the earnest and in
telIi!,ent zeal with which it has been advo-
Gated in your columns.
had fondly hoped that the last man was
dead who would be found willing to risk
his character for sanity by advocating the
canal az public Improvement worthy OF
any consideration at the present day. But
IS we live to learn" and it appears from a
Richmond letter published in the Lynch
burg VirJiRian OF the 1st Of January that
General Walter Gwynn. who was known
half century ago as chief engineer OF the
James River and Kanawha Company, and
said to be ninety years old. has lately walked
M after a sleep good deal longer than that
OF Rip Van Wrinkle, and is now in Rich
mond 50 giving his whole attention to de-
yisiDs means to defect the canal bill when
it comes before the Legislature" Can this
be true? And, if so, can it be possible that
any number OF legislators will be found lis
tening to the resurrection cry OF this relic
of antiquity? II any are so inclined, let
me beg them to look at the subject not as it
was viewed by General Washington and
other men OF a former age, before railroads
were even dreamed of, but in the light OF
facts as they now eXist-Stubborn facts that
speak more loudly than all the fancitul
| schemes Of such dreamers as General
| Gwynn, who does not seem TO have found
out that, while he has been asleep for these
| thirty years Or more, all OF the ''old land
marks" that he speaks OF with such fond
| interest and affection, and which he now
seeks to perpetuatc, have been swept away
as by the bosom OF destruction. Amongst
many OF these stubborn facts the following
may be stated: That for more than eighteen
months past. covering the period Of market
ting two crops, the James-Riyer canal has
been utterly useless to the farmers OF Bote-
tourt and Rockbridge living on and near
James river, who have been COM
peIled to haul their products to market
in wagons at cost perfectly ruinous. In
the same way they have been compelled to
get their salt and other heavy groceries at
equally ruincus rates, Before the great
freshet of November, 1877, a farmer could
sell his wheat in Buchanan at about S1,25
per bushel, and get his salt at 81 go per sack.
Now he cannot get more than 70 cents for
his wheat, and has TO pay 50 for 4 sack Of
i salt Under the most favorable circum.
stances this state OF things must continue al
least six months longer, making two years
I;during which the Janes-Riyer canal will bt
Il rof no more use to us here in Rotetourt anC
I Rockbridge than the Suez canal OF, q drJ
ditch. But even II navigation is ever re-
istored to Us, it must be or more aueer
/ tain character than formerly; and this ha:
been uncertain enough, IN all conscience
owing, among other things, to the tre4ucn
freezes in winter, by which trade and traVe
are necessarily suspended Tor weeks at
time. Instances have occurred more thar
Ionce within the last few years OF the cana
| having been utterly useless Tor nine success
! siye ueeks-neariy the whole OF the white
montbst
There is another important faes that mus
: not be overlooked. The great treshet Q
! 1870 was destructive to she canal beyond a
!. former precedent, aud the repairs then cos
about 100000. But that OF November
tls17, which was seven or eight feet higher
) was even more destructive than that OF 1871
: destroying some OF the wing-dans an
Esnard-banks, and damagip gothers to an es
ftent that renders the work OF repair il
a fcreasingly difficult and precarious. Til
) twas shown by the serious effects
tthe freshet Of September, 1875, whi.ss
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