Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-25
Fea TIE ARGUS.
On The utility Of the Locks nozu
erecting in Richm.nd.

re S'SS HIfSIIV " INC LOCKS UO1U
erecting in Richmcnd.
AS large sums of money are about to be
expended in forming commune alton be-.
tween the Basin OF the James River Canal
and tide water. it may not be improper to
state the incoBveniencies which that mode
Oh conveyance may be liable to, when ex..
ecuteo, and to ascertain as nearly as pos.
sibie, what advantages may be expected
from II, compared to it's cost, and to the
expectations which have been generally
formed Of il.
The first Inconvenience to be met with,
will be, from the length of time which boats
coming down the river mus. experience in
passing tue Locks, which from the number
OF them (viz. III will require upwards OF
one hosr, when no impeachment intervenes.
to pass them--but ifit should happen, an it
very often will, that boats had entered be.
low, only few minutes before those wish
ed TO pass from above, the latter would
De compelled to wait an additional hour
before they could be allowed to enter them,
SO that from the length of time it would
take I. pass the locks in going down and up,
the hlndrance to be met with by other boats
interfering and preventing an immediate
passage, and the increase of the distance
IN delivering their loads at Rockets, it may
De stated that the passing the Locks, would
seldom be attended with the sacrifice of
less than half a day, and would consequent.
~ reduce the Saving of the water conveyance
to almost nothing. Itweuld also Frequently
happen that conveying Tobacco from
the public warehouse, or aour from Gale.
co. or Ruths riord's mills. h / swells of the
river, or high winds. so frequent in the
spring OF the year. would compel the dray-
age OF II. II this should be the case when
vessels are supposed to be waiting to re-
ceive their cargoes, additional impediments
occur In respect to the aeposiring of pro-
ouce, either on the Basin or at Rockets :;
tue latter place is so situated, that no de-
posit could be formed, which woald &C
commodaie more than one fourth part of
the produce of Richmond, without going
below the Powhatan Warehouse, in which
Case the drayage up considerable rise oil
the oank, and back again in shipping u.
aoued to the storage, and to the loss Of
time IN the water Conveyance, would be
more than any saving which would be oh.
taiheo oy this arrangement, especially as
the most considerable Merchants have their
private Warehouses. where they have the, r
tobacco and flour, immediately under their
eyes (Which since the custom OF re-iuspec :.
ting has prevailed, IS of very material con.
sequence TO them) and where they would
have scarcely any inducements to send it
! in the other direction. The same cause
would operate in preventing the storage
On the basin, all ho' perhaps not quite in
the same degree there area sufficient
number Of private deposits already erected ,
and the back merchants would seperajlv
prefer their property being in the Imme.
diaie care OF their friends, where IT would
always be convenient to a REORGANIZATION,
than to be placed in more distant aud Sc :.
GUIDED situations, especially as the saving
OF expense IN the latter case would be too
iDcoDsiderable 10 attract notice, while the
additional trouble aud inconvenience would
be greatly encressed--eyen of the tobacco
stored IN the publ warehouse, considera-
Die quantities would still be conveyed by
drays. The shipments from Rockets are
generally made IN vessels OF between fifty
and one hundred hogsheads burthen-the
merchants have their cargoes to collect
from different warehouses, VIZ. three m
Manchester, and FIVE in Richmond, besides
wbat may be stored by individuals, so that
IN Shipping SIXTY or seventy, or even ons
hundred hogsneSds, II would seldom hap.
pea that more than ten OF twelve ogsheads
would be IN the public warehouse, which
as drays would be employed, trouble saw.
ed, and no danger of delay to be appre.
heoded, " would be far more convenien
10 forward by drays, than by wafer, wher
the difference, u there should be any at all
would te 100 inconsiderabie TO deserve tn,
smallest consideration.
IL the tobacco inspected and stored II
the public Warehouse, with the -four lodg
ed on the Basin, should amount 10 one
fourth of the whole winch comes down tn
Canal, (and It is less than in that proper
tion) and a considerable part OF that wi
be drayed, IL will follow OF course that NJ
more than one fifth, or one sixth Of tn
, produce Of the back country, would re
ceise any advantage whatever from oh
water conveyance through the Locks.