SENATE DOC. No./'IlA
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COMMUNICATION
FROM
THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA,
TRANSMITTING
MEMORIAL OF JAMES RIVER AND KANAWHA COMPANY.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
Executive Chambers,
Richmond, December 11, 1871.
To the General Assembly:
I have the honor to transmit herewith for your consideration, a memorial of the
James river and Kanawha company, together with a note from the president of the com¬
pany, and an able letter in support of the memorial from Col. R. W. Hughes. The com¬
pany ask an extension of its charter, and that ample powers be conferred upon a com¬
mission, to be selected by you, to transfer the rights, property, and franchises of the
company, either to the United States government or to private parties, in such manner
and on such conditions as will secure the early completion of the canal. I know of no
way by which the now almost valueless interest in this company owned by the state can
be rendered valuable, or the objects sought to be accomplished by the investment re¬
alized, except by the completion of the work already begun. But the condition of our
state and the provisions of her constitution alike forbid any attempt in this behalf on her
part. Aid must be obtained elsewhere, and it is probable that this cannot be secured
except by a surrender on the part of the state of her interest therein. The vast benefits
which would accrue to the states of Virginia and West Virginia from the completion of
this great water line are almost incalculable, and to secure them it appears to me that
they would be amply justified not only in renewing the charter, but in donating the in¬
vestment already made. The plan proposed in the memorial of placing this property in
the hands of a commission to be disposed of upon such terms and conditions as will in¬
sure its early completion, and with suitable reservations and guarantees as to its future
use and management, under all the circumstances, I cordially commend.
Very respectfully,
G. C. WALKER.
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Senate Doc. No. 2.
Copy.
OFFICE OF THE JAMES RIVER AND KANAWHA COMPANY,
Riohmond, December 4th, 1871.
To His Excellency, Gilbert C. Walker,
Governor of Virginia:
Dear Sir:
The enclosed memorial to the legislature of Virginia has been prepared
in accordance with instructions from the stockholders of this company, adopted at their
last annual meeting.
I have the honor to request that you will present it to the legislature of Virginia at an
early day of its session.
Yours, very respectfully,
Signed, . CHAS. S. CARRINGTON, PresH,
Senate Doc. No. %,
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MEMORIAL.
A
The memorial of the James river and Kanawha company, to the general assembly of
Virginia, respectfully represents:
That memorials from the legislatures of Virginia and West Virginia were duly present¬
ed to congress, asking for such aid from the general government as will secure the early
completion of the line of water communication between the valley of the Mississippi and
the Atlantic ocean, through the states of Virginia and West Virginia; that there are en¬
couragements to hope that congress will take such action as will result in the completion
of this water line, and that every proper effort should be made to secure such favorable
action.
These memorials, setting forth the facts upon which this water line is recommended to
congress, and the favorable reports of the United States engineers as to the practica¬
bility and advantages of this route, have attracted the attention of the country, and in¬
formal representations have been made to this company, by parties professing to be in
the confidence of large capitalists, that if satisfactory concessions were made by the
states of Virginia and West Virginia in regard to their interests in this company, pri¬
vate capital might be obtained to complete the improvement to the Ohio river. In view,
then, of the impossibility of anticipating the action of congress; of the vast importance
to these states and to the stockholders of the company that this line of water communi¬
cation should be pushed forward to completion as rapidly as possible, and of the fact
that the concurrence of the legislatures of Virginia and West Virginia will be necessary
to complete any contract that might be made by this company for the sale or transfer of
its property and franchises, and to avoid the necessity at any time of-convening these
bodies, it is most respectfully asked that three persons shall be appointed by the legisla¬
ture of Virginia, who, with a like number to be appointed by the state of West Virginia,
shall act as a board of commissioners, and shall be duly authorized to say at any time
whether these memorials shall be withdrawn, and to negotiate with other parties for the
partial or entire completion of the canal. And it is most respectfully suggested that the
more complete the powers with which this board of commissioners shall be invested, the
more effective for good will be their services.
And further represents: That under an act of the legislature of Virginia, passed Feb¬
ruary 21st, 1866, the charter of the James river and Kanawha company will expire on
the 31st March, 1872; that in the event of the completion of this water line through the
legislation of congress or by capitalists, the private stock of this company will become
more valuable than it is now, and therefore, in the interests of the private stockholders
of the company, that they may be enabled to avail themselves of the benefits that will
be likely to accrue from the transfer of their stock, either to the government of the
United States or to private capitalists, the James river and Kanawha company respect-
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Senate Doc. No. 2.
fully request the legislature of Virginia to extend the charter of the company for a pe¬
riod of ten years from the 31st day of March, 1872, or for such other time as it shall
deem best.
And further represents: That under an act of the legislature of Virginia, approved
March 28th, 1871, the interest of the state in the James river and Kanawha company has
been advertised to be sold at public auction; that in view of the fact that this interest
had been previously conceded upon the conditions mentioned in the memorial of the
states of Virginia and West Virginia to the congress of the United States, and that the
great value of this interest to the state is in its use as a concession to secure the comple¬
tion of this water lino; it is respectfully asked that the state's interest in this company
shall be excepted from the provisions of this act.
By order of the board of directors.
CHAS. S. CARRINGTON, Pres't,
December 4; 1871.
Senate Doc. No. 2.
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LETTER OF ROBERT W. HUGHES.
RICHMOND, December 9th, 1871.
Governor Walker:
Dear Sir :
Major Carrington has embodied your suggestion, and the memorial now
sent embraces in brief terms the propositions submitted by the James river and Kana¬
wha company to the general assembly. The policy of granting the prayers of the me¬
morial seems so obvious as to render argument needless.
The construction of this canal has been a fondly-cherished object with Virginia from
the time of Washington until now. Its popularity has prevailed over all the rivalries of
other enterprises, and all conflicts between sections of the commonwealth. It has sur¬
vived every vicissitude of politics and war. To-day, if the announcement could be made
that means had been devised for securing, beyond peradventure, the completion of the
canal, the popular heart would be thrilled with joy throughout the borders of the two
states of Virginia. Our confidence in, and affection for. this measure is traditional as
well as actual. Our fathers cherished it, and our zeal for it descends to us by inheri¬
tance, and belongs to us by intrinsic conviction. If the interest of the people for it has
seemed to flag of late years, it is only because hope often deferred, and still deferred, hath
made the heart sick. During a period when internal improvements were powerfully op¬
posed by a most talented and a controlling party in Virginia, this work carried every
appropriation that was asked for by its hold upon the popular favor. Virginia appropri¬
ated three millions more of money to it than New York voted for the construction of the
Erie canal. That New York completed her canal, and Virginia failed, is due to the fact
that the Erie canal lay along a route almost absolutely level, while our work encountered
physical difficulties at every step, and finally has to penetrate some of the tallest moun¬
tains of#the Appelachian chain.
The two commonwealths of Virginia have proffered the canal to the United States,
upon the condition that it shall be completed. The present time may not be auspicious
; for the favorable consideration of the proffer by the national government, yet the large
interest which the central west has and feels in the work, bids fair soon to coerce its ac¬
ceptance. The question of the cheap transportation of its products to the seaboard, is
vital with the west, and that of cheapness is only another form of the question of adequate
means of transportation. The means of transportation now Existing do not stimulate a
maximum production at the west, and do not tempt and draw forth to market the pro¬
ducts that are raised. A central water line over the shortest route from the great west¬
ern trade centres to the seaboard is an exigent desideratum, if not already an absolute
necessity. Canal transportation for heavy cheap products is a necessary complement to
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Senate Doc. No. 2.
the existing system of railroad transportation. The railroads need relief from the bur¬
den of freights that are heavy and profitless.
The necessity, more and more felt, for enlarged facilities of cheap transportation, espe¬
cially such as would be afforded by a capacious canal across our two states, bids fair
soon to induce favorable action from congress; and the memorial prays for1 the appoint¬
ment of commissioners clothed with powers to make satisfactory arrangements with the
government.
But, even though congress should fail to take the action which we so much desire, yet
there is no longer doubt that other means exist for insuring the final completion of this
important work. In the event that capitalists should be found willing to undertake it,
the memorial prays that an act similar to that which was passed in regard to the Chesa¬
peake and Ohio company shall be enacted, by the two states, appointing three commis¬
sioners from each, who shall be citizens of eminent character, and clothing them with
plenipotentiary powers to arrange with the national government or, if that declines our
proffer, with others, for the completion of the canal.
Among intelligent minds of either continent, it has now come to pass that no enter¬
prise is more highly considered or earnestly favored than the union of the vast system
of internal navigation in the interior basin of our continent with the debouchure of
Chesapeake bay. Seventeen thousand miles of steamboat navigation, and double that
extent of batteau navigation, in the Mississippi basin, may be connected with the harbors
of the Chesapeake, along the line of the James and Kanawha rivers explored by George
Washington, by the construction of an artificial canal less than eighty miles long. What
is such an undertaking to the commerce of the North American continent, in this age of
mammoth achievements 7 If capital shall be found in Europe or America willing and
ready to add this achievement to those which distinguish our times, it is eminently pro¬
per that appropriate and adequate legislation should be granted by our two states, as
solicited by the memorial of the James river and Kanawha company.
Having had much personal connection with this subject of prime interest to Virginia,
in late years, I have complied with the friendly request of Major Carringtonln address¬
ing you this letter, and am,
Most sincerely and respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
RO. W. HUGHES.