Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-15
public DOCUMENTS.

Inc commissioner and Engineer, the James,
ana Jackson's river canal, respectfully reports
hat the canal, from the city OF Richmond. 10 the
Malden's Adventure Falls, is so far completed as
to admit OF being in full operation throughout lis
whole eXtent. It's bank, howey err in number of
places, have become much depressed hy settling.
ana abraded by showers of rain, a. 10 re,isire con-
siderable labour and expense ia repairing them
here are also, several contracts for fencing upon
inc towing PATH which are Ia progress of execution
and not yet completed /; and one farm bridge ,o
be built Tor MIR. Richard Sampson's accommoJa-
ton. which has been lately awarded TO him Inv
the Superior Court of Law for Goochland county.
ms Improvement, i'll addition 10 a very large
proportion oil heavy stone walling, comprises the
following works OF art upon the first level ex-
tending the distance of three miles and twenty
chains, from the Basin in Ricliiaond there are 2
waste weirs, 2Culverts, sett OF flood gates farm
Bridge, foot Bridges, guard Gaze, and dam
across the river. Upon the second level. extend.
Ing the distance OF two miles and twenty chains.
there are lit locks, wastes, | guard lock- 3
farm bridges, guard gate, and dam across an
arm oil the river Upon the third Level, extend
ing the distance of nine and a half miles. to
the Western mouth OF Tuckahoe Creek, there are
litt1ock~, guard locks, guard gate, wastes,
2 culverts, o farm bridges, and dam across the
river Upon the I'h level, extending the distance
OF hve and halt miles, there three lift locks,
aqleduct, = culverts,3 wastes, road fridge md
farm bridges. Upon the fifth lie e. ey ending
the distance OF ten miles, TO the Maidea's Adventure
falls, there are guar, locks, lift lock, ! aoue
ducts, culver's, D wastes, road bridge, 8 farm
bridges, anda dam across the river making
IN ell, 4dms across river, lit locks includin.
those IN the dams, guard locks, 3 guard gates 3
aqueducis, cuiverts 3 waste wers sett of flood
gates, excusi,e of those in several of the waste eir
z loot bridges, BROAD bridges and 81 farm bridges.
% which may be added, fencing upon the great
er part OF the line, tow bridges over oil the wastes
and hand railing upon several OF the stone walls
a ireshet IN the river which happened in Janua
ry last, alter the former Commissioner had made
his report, occasoned considerable injury 10 the
works two high walls were thrown down. with
their embankments, and waste were attached
10 one oil them; one OF the chamber walls of the
guard lock in Mr.. NVickham's farm with the.
emoankment which it supported) was prostra-
ted, and the canal filled two feet deep with
tie ruins, for a considerable distance below.
II. Inc embankment about pair of flood
gates, which had been constructed in the lower
mouth of Tuckahoe Creek, was sweep, away. and
the canal much filled in at several other places.
These injuries, together with breach in the old
canal, which took place about the same time two
other breaches upon the second level which hap
pencil during the summer, several addii onal farm
bridges, and some extra damages. obtained by legal
process, have produced an accession to the expense
oil the work, beyond what ioreseen and estirna-
ted.
Inc Improvement tor passing i}eaverdam Creek
which had been devised and contracted for by 49,
former Engineer, 10 consist of two guar. ,a,es.
placed sixty feet apart, and connecici by a waste
dams over which, and b-':.een The gates the creek
vas intended to rcss in times oil high water and 10
be received into the canal at all other times, was
deemed very Objectionable IL many RESPECTS. and
OF course rejected. In lieu of il, aqaeduct one
hundred feet III length has been ilro.. across The
creek, and conneci ed with guard lock, for tie
protection oi the canal below. In this aoueduct
two cast iron cnlverIs inserted, for the passage
oil the seek water, at its ordinary height, but when
II rises considerably, the aqueduci will be inundat
ed without Injury 10 the canal or impeachment 10 its
navigation.
For the flood gates which had been constructed
IN the lower mouth OF fuckahoe Creek, { and round
not TO answer The purpose for which they were in
'enGed,) permanent waste dam has been suU-titu-
ted.
The dam at Maden's Adventure, from its ir.-
portance 10 That part of The Canal which is DEEPEN
dent upon IT, tor supply of wafer claimed the most
prompt attention; and accordingly as soon as
the water OF the river had sufficiently subsidized.
operations were commenced upon it by The public
hanhs, on the 3Olh day of May; and 1t was
completed on The 3ist day OF August, at an ex-
pense not exceeding the original estimate.
a part only OF the paving which was thought to
oe advisable by the former Commissioner, has been
executed; the balance was omitted, because il was
deemed Unnecessary, and if found TO be SO eteaf-
ter may be more cheaply executed, with the ad-
vantage OF wafer transportation for the materials
upon tile anal. Crawling the tow-paih has been,
omitted for the same reasons.
There has been expended and paid, upon the
whole work, from me first day of December, 1921
to he first day of December, 1925, the sum of
Sll5,sol 90; which will appear in detail, by the
table which accompanies this report
There will he wanted, to pay balances due upon
contracts, damages asceraned and to e ascertain
ed, Tor raising and repairing the banks to build
farm bridge for Mr. Simpsons accommodation
to complete the Loch-keeper's House al the los er
creek, and the fencing, about nine thousand dollars
The wooden locks which form a communication
by water, between the Basin in this City, and the
Dock, are in bad order, aud too much decayed to
admit OF being otherwise repaired, than by thorough
Reconstruction.
They are considered, however, az very useless
appendage to the Canal, aud the propriety of their
being discontinued by laws srespecifully suggested
The ground which they occupy, with the use of
as much water as IS necessary for their operation
to he applied to other purposes, would sell for a
considerable SUN, appcabeto other works OF much
greater public utility.
BY the dam at Alaiden's Adventure, the fall of
the river mas been completely overcome for about
ten miles above II, aifording excellent river naviga
ton Tor that distance; aud The result has been
produced by the completion OF he dam at Fore's
These facts exhibit aretnarkablo and very interest
ing contrast, between the expence Of improving
The navigation Of the river, upon It's own bed, BY
means Of dams and locks, aud that Ofmakng the in
dependent canal in the case, two dams, with
alock IN each, erected at expence of about forty
thousand dollars, furnish the perfect river
cation, Tor twenty miles in the other, twenty miles
oil independent canal, has been found 10 cost ten
times that amount
Some enactment By the Legislature, seems TO be