The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-20
.RIcHnlNDEh'S CONSIDER
BUILDING DE[PSEA
CANAL TO WEST POINT
WILL. HAVE TO SECURE
LAND IN FOUR COUNTIES
Tract Of Land Desired Passes Through
Henrioo, Hanover and King William.
DR.. IAncrty Once Prophesied All
This.

O8lGE&L41 1E&hAAkA kAobESu Gha ~
p. Jones yesterday introduced In the
House a bill to permit the city OF
Aichmond to acquire strip Of land
three hundred feet wide, all the way
70 deep water at West Point and
to acquire five hundred acres OF
wharfage in that section as a terminal
for the city.
That the project is intended a. the
xorerunnar OF a plan to build or dig
. canal rom Richmond to West Point
II conceded TO be the object OF tho
bill. 1t will be recalled that Rev.
J. j. Laferty. d. D.. at that time
edito.. of The Richmond Christian Ad-
vocate, suggested such q canal many
years ago, and prophesied that 1t
w uld eventually be constructed.
The patrons of this bill admit that
while 1t was offered for the purpose
Of opening the way for. project that
In probably one OF the greatest Of its
kind in the history of commedcial
Richmond, that the plans for this
movement are yet only in the embryo.
In fact the project has been con-
sidered by business men Of Richmond
tor several years and has been talk
ed OF in business circles. though this
Is the first step indicating that definite
movement VIII be taken In the mat
ter.
For Ocean Trafffc.
Realizing that a deep water port 10
absolutely necessary for the future
development OF this city and that yes
sells larger than those which now
come up James River to this city are
absolutely necessary to take care OF
the remarkable growth of the city. the
bill was offered. 1t is said that the
bin Is intended to protect the city
In the event that the project should
materiaiize between now and the next
Legislature, which certainly indicates
that those behind the movement ara
expecting TO begin operations at no
very late date.
Ia discussing the bill. Mr.. Jones. one
OF the patrons. said that he did not
care TO say Just who was behind the
bill. II was, he said. a precautionary
measure to save time in the event the
city decided to reach out toward the
Yves. Point terminal. The, bill viii
mean as much to West Point as to
Richmond. for II will make that i've
ly virginia community one OF the most
in,nortant OF the smaller ports Of the
nation.
An Ideal Harbor.
1t has long been recognized that
west Point Is one OF the best porta
for deep water vessels IN the country
1t 10 ideally situated with a harpor
that cannot be surpassed.
Confess Of the Bill
Here Is the blii:
.sro authorize the city Of Richmond
20 acquire by purchase. gift or con-
demnhtion, strip OF land not exceed
ting three hundred feet In width ex-
tending from the present city limits
through the counties of Henrico. Han
over. New Kent and King William TO
west Point, and also 10 acquire by
purchase. gift or condemnation. a
tract OF land not TO exceed Ave hum
dred acres having deep water 'front.'
age on the Pamunkey. York. or Mat
taporli rivers, in order to increase and
enlarge transportation facilities
''Bu II enacted by the General As
semhly OF Virginia, That the CITY
Of Richmond is hereby authorized. Tor
the purpose Of increasing and enlarg-
ing its harbor port or transporta-
ton facilities, TO acquire by purchase,
riff or condemnation. q strip OF land
NOT exceeding three hundred feet In
width extending from the present city
limits. through the counties Of Hem
rico. Hanover. New Kent and KING
william. to some point at or near the
town Of West Point. ana the said
city IL further authorized to acquire
by purchase. gift or condemnation.
4 tract OF land having a deep winter
frontage on th& Pamunkey. York or
Mattapont rivers not exceeding five
hundred acres: with the privilege.
however, OF leasing the properties
when acquired for transportation or
transmission purposes until such time
az tho city OF Richmond may con-
tract for the construction and open
ing Of the proposed waterway from
Richmond to the town OF Wet Point,
or until the construction and OPEN
INK OF the same may be otherwise pro-
vfded for ~.