by 1772, washington had identified the potomac and james rivers as the most promising locations for canals to be built to join with the western rivers. his preference was the james, as the potomac led to rivers in land disputed with pennsylvania and would be equally helpful to maryland. the james could be aligned with the kanawha river (in what is now west virginia), and would best serve only virginia, which was his priority. in 1785, the james river company was formed, with former revolutionary war commander in chief george washington as honorary president, to build locks around the falls at richmond. by then, washington was quite busy with the affairs of the new nation, in 1789 being elected its first president.