DOC. No. VIII.
COMMUNICATION
FROxM
THE GOVERNOR
ENCLOSING
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
OF THE
JAMES RIVER & KANAWHA CO.
IN RELATION
TO A lEW ARMORY.
I
is, isss.
Doc. No. 8.
o
•j
BICHMOND, December 19, 1859.
To the Senate and House of Delegates
of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia :
Gentlemen,
I enclose herein, for your consideration, in connection with the estab¬
lishment of an armory for the manufacture of arms for the State, a proposition submitted
to me hy the President of the James river and Kanawha company.
Very respectfully, &c.,
HENRY A. WISE.
Doc. No. 8.
5
LETTER, &c.
OFFICE OF THE JAMES RIVER & KANAWHA CO.,
RiCHsroxD, December 17, 1859.
To His Excellency, Henry A. Wise.
Govp.rnnr of Virqinia :
' Sir,
Cordially approving the suggestion which I understand you have made for the
establishment of an arsenal in the interior of the State, I beg leave respectfully to sum¬
mit a proposition which I think suitable to the occasion.
The James river and Kanawha company, in the prosecution of their plans for the
improvement of the navigation of the North river, have purchased a valuable piece of
property, known as "Jordan's Point," adjacent to the town of Lexington, and nearly
contiguous to the property of the Virginia Military Institute. It is admirably adapted
to the establishment of forwarding and commission houses, stores, mills and manufac¬
tories ; and I think equally so, for an arsenal, armory or foundry.
The location is nearly central in the State, and therefore, so remote from the border,
as to be practically inaccessible to an enemy. It is at the head of tlie North river
improvement, a branch of the canal, which is expected to be completed in the course of
the next summer. Connecting thus in one direction with the central water line of the
State, and by it with the three important railroads which touch the canal at Lynchburg,
and the five similar roads which converge to it at Richmond, with free exit to the ocean,
and in another direction distant only about twenty miles from the central railroad line
of the State, it would seem to possess eminent advantages for the receipt of supplies and
the distribution of products. The metals, timbers and other materials requisite for the
casting of cannon and the manufacture of small arms, military machines, implements
and projectiles, are, as you are aware, found at the very door of the proposed establish¬
ment, and in such quanties and of such qualities as to have acquired already a reputa¬
tion in 'connection with the making of ordnance at private foundries for the United
States service.
Its proximity to the Institute I regard as a peculiar recommendation, not only because
of the protection thereby afforded, but also because it may be made a school of practice
for the cadets in the art of constructing, preserving and using all kinds of machines and
munitions of war. Without however dwelling upon considerations which I doubt not
will occur to your own mind, I submit to you this proposition ;
The James river and Kanawha company will sell to the State so much of the property
known as Jordan's Point, and its appurtenances, as shall not be necessary for the uses
of the company, at the price of $30,000, payable in State bonds ; the company reserving
the right to complete its improvement as at present proposed.
There is now upon the property a large and remarkably well built flour mill, the
machinery of which is propelled by water-power, a large building originally designed
for a cotton factory, a forge, and other houses, the materials of which, alone would be of
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Doc. No. 8.
considerable value in the erection of new structures. There is also appurtenant to the
property, a covered bridge across the North river, which being connected with the Junc¬
tion Valley turnpike road, a road belonging to the State, ought likewise to belong to the
State, and is of itself supposed to be worth about $ 6000.
The proposition then recommends itself—first, as furnishing the State a peculiarly
favorable site for the establishment of an arsenal ; secondly, as affording some relief to
the James river and Kanawha company, and thereby enabling it the better to prosecute
the improvement of the North river, in which the State is interested as a stockholder to
the extent of three-fifths of the capital stock ; and thirdly, as transferring to the State,
in good condition, a toll-bridge, valuable to a turnpike road of which the State is sole
owner.
I have the honor to be.
With great respect.
Your obedient servant.
THOMAS H.
ELTjIS, President.