Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-12

FOR THE EyNp CIREP.

FOR THE Eve CIRER
JASrEs and KANAwiIA ,RIyERs.--No. ,.
Pursuant 10 the resolution of the Legislature of
Feb. 1919, (see No. } the II. of Public Works D.
poin cd additional Ene;roer, and several assist
ants, TO aid the Princ3al Engineer of The State, in
ice examination of those iive.s, aud the formation
OF plans for their improv en-nt. The Principal
Engineer, (since deceased was universally ad-
yned, by his acquaintance, FOR bis virtues, udg-
nlent and intelligence, and ne h1d long stool pre-
eminent in his profession, in Tie northern and mid
die states In the al lilioral Engineer, there was
united an excellent natural judgment, with de-
gree Of practical information realized by few and
he had long been justly regarded a. of the first
geomericars in our country" They assist
I'll in their duties by two young entiemen OF Rich
Inond ard one from Maryland, of superior intel
licence and mathematical qualifications: and by
,yvo practical gentlemen from Rockbridse-the high
standing of of these in the eye OF the govern
nent ard of his friends, had been well evnced bS
his having led public life than twenty years;
the other united with good natural mind, a de.
gree Of practical intelligence surpassed by few of
his age--he had been several employed ia
the Typographical Engineering department of the
state--and was justly considered a" pre- eminent
practical mathematician
Those Engineers proceeded TO examine, survey
and level the James River, and some of lis upper
tributaries, together with parts of Geenbrier and
Ne, Rivers, and the intermediate country, and the
who of Kanawha Notwithstanding by accurate
me auremen,s their intrinsic horizontal meanders
and their respective lengths and positions, with
ga-d to each olher, and 10 the country generally;
,ore,ber v it'll the fall in each mile of the several
waters evelled; aud the vertical altitude Of each
,riyen point above Idle water, with The relative che
walton or depression of any point, with regard
10 every other the surveys. They also surveyed
and graduated several OF the ordinary travelling
fhe rtS nF tha al'o Of
James River, and that Of Kanawha together with
several exploring lines across that section of coun-
try preparatory the final location of The James
and Kanawha Turnpike, which was done by one of
the above Engineers, IN 1921. The whole of this
was done with that degree OF care, dcliberaion ard
attention, which will authorize % believe, that
it p0int of accuracy and precision, ii tciH bear
the most rigid mathematical scrutiny. An evil
tience OF which is, that the levels in a circuit of
more than four hundred miles, Came within five in
ches OF meeting, when reduced &c profile.
Hence, it viii readily appear, that they became
possessed OF Typographical know ledge OF the
country and local ard general acquaintance with
the subject, highly satisfactory, and much to be
relied ueon. After careful view Of the lninu,:a
and general view of the whole of this subject,
they tl not hesitate TO express an entire concur
rene, with she Commissioners of 1912, and the En-
gineer OF 1873 in the opinion OF the utility and i'm
portance OF uniting the eastern and western inter,
course OF ITnlDia. ana Oh uie pructtcUUlfry oil
consummating that object, through the James and
Kanawha Riners, within The Convenient means of
The state - Nay, Mr.. Moore, the Principal Eng-
neer goes farther, and, in his Repoy, the sub
isct Ito be found in the 81 AUDITORS Office 1890,
demonstrates 20 any rejecting and unprecedented
mind, from daa founded on arithmetic and measure
nen, which cannot err, that i, is practicable, and
within the means of the present trade on the James
and R4nrtcha Rivers aione, without calling for
the real aid of dollar from the state, or from any
other
They recommended sluice navigation in Kama
Seha River, from its mouth the great falls TO be
IA feet wide, 3 1-2 feet deep, at lowest water; and
graduated so not TO exceed in any place about 4
inches fall to 100 feet distance. a large share of
this part of the work has since been completed: and
will admit of convenient navigation by he largest
kinds of boats which generally used in Ohio Ri
yer between Lewisve and Pittsburg. The distance
on Ksnawha is 81 miles and The whole fall 1902
feet Tney then proposed Turnpike Road,
from the falls oil Ranawha, 10 Coyington on james
River, 22 feet width in carriage way, and graduated
so as not to exceed IN any place divergence Of
five deftrees from he horizon; IFS length beng 90
miles, this part of re work has since been entirely
comple ed; and is now" in the full tide of success.
ful prosperity" On road of this graduation, a
team OF four horses can convey from 3 10 ! tons.
They then proposed an artificial canal entirely in
dependent of James River, from Covington 10
the bottom, and three vertical feet deep; the whole
fall in the canal and consequently, the whole depth
Of locklge was ascertaned 10 he 1873 feet, and
the whole length 2i7 miles =
They proceeded to survey and locate the precise
site of the whole canal, along the margin of James
River, dividing il into sections OF few yards each
and carefully a.certaining by measurement and cal
rua,ion, the ent quantity Of materials o be exca-
waited from each section; together with the various
other items necessary TO complete The whole work
and after estimating liberal price. for the execu-
lion of each item, according to its quantity and
qIslty and adding ~ per cent. to that amount, for
coming encies, the estimate Of the probable cost OF
the whole work amounted to aggregate Of
Kanawha River, $4,000
Tie Road, 100000
Canal, (aOou,) 100000
Total ~ ,g97, 600
The Legislature, however, pursuant TO Che sug
gesiions Of the Board OF Public Works, Supple
mental Report, jan 1920 and with a degree Of
..,,tfo, 0bich marked .heir wisdom ssef,uo,d ol