Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-15


dom seen to flow into the river where there is .
fall of much magnitude. For the lateral streams
as they approach the river, constantly seeking 4
low ieve, will make their way into il below th,
TAILS; or If they forced into it, opposite TO III,
iaIs, they are precipitated over the same bel Of
rocks which causes the f.ll in the river and con.
sequently there is seldom any danger that the wae,
VIII How back into them, to an extent sufficient 10
annoy the health OF the Inhabitants of the adioin
ing country On the contrary,where they fall into
the river between one ripple and another, there
being nothing impenetrable to diver,1heir passage
the soft low grounds yield to their excavation, iii
thelr beds become almost low as the surface oil
me water in the river. In addition TO which ac-
cideat commonly leads them through meantlerine
course which would increase the amount of stag
nant wafer that would be forced into them by rails
ing The river above the usual height
The objections urged agsins, sluce navigation
are the difhculty of overcoming the current in
a-cen ling. and the danger in descending. But
these objections canno, apply to The mode of i'm
provemen' nov suggested For the example cited
oy The Engineer, (Page 454) supposes steam
boat stemming current of FIVE miles per hour:
and again, IN page 46I four feet IN quarter of a
mile, or sixteen fee, per mile, is taken for an ex
ample, where il is stated that the current is four
miles an hour, from which we may presume tha,
where he current is five miles an hour the fall
undertaking TO calculate The difference between
ste"mins current produced by a fall of twenty
fee to the mile; and one produced by fall of
Two fset 10 the mile, ii will be perceived that The
result woald be widely different The fall in the
river. from Miaiden's Adventure 10 Lynchburg is
stated to be at the rate of three feet 10 the mile
Let one-thlrd OF that be overcome by locks and
dams ard the balance would be reduced TO an ave
rage OF two feet to the mile But as in making
i'm thate ~ nj
ces exceeding the average derlivity, let one hun
dred and sixty feet be overcome by dams and lock.
and the balance of two hundred feet distributed
upon all the geotle portions of the stream: And
these portions would far exceed in distance tn.
proportion OF two hundred to one hundred and .ix-
ty; because the one hundred and sixty feet would
he overcome at the rapids, where a great deal of
TALL would be inundated in a short distance And
again, these dams being ocatedat the rapids, where
the tall is considerable and little or no mischief to
be apprehended from them, may be raised 10
height of not less han seven feet average; SO that
IN The whole distance from Lynchburg TO Maiden's
Adventure there would not be more than TWENTY
two dams by adopting the mode suggested a.
Dove, we should avail ourselves of all the adyan-
tages which the natural stream Affords, and we
should apply our aid only where it is necessary.
we should save the expense of fifty locks and
dams, and of fifty lock Keepers we should re-
apprehension OF losing heir health and perhaps
their lives. And let 1t be supposed that the i'm
provement OF the intermediate spaces between dam
and dam will cost as much upon this plan as an
entirely slack-water navigation, Gan opinion which
your committee canno, entertain } yet the saving
OF expenses in rePa.n and bookkeeping, without
adverting to other considerations, should decide
the Judgment in favor of this mixed mode of i'm
p'ovement. This mode, easily changesble, if
found less convenient, into The plan by locks and
dams alone, and the probable economy and adyan
tage IN the use of steam boats upon those ryess.
ought TO claim our investigation.
Resolced, therefore. AS the opinion of this
committee, that II Is expedIent to direct the Engi-
heer' during the ensuing season, TO make an accu-
rate survey OF the channel oil the James and Jack
sons rivers with view to the mode of improve
ment suggested above, beginning at Maiden's AID
venture tails, and proceeding far up as the sea
sou VIII permit. designating the site of each dam
necessary, stating the length and fall of the inter
mediate spaces. and suggesting the best mode of
improving them; and TO report in detail the es,i-
mated cost of the whole.
RESOLVED. That the ex-oficio members of the
Board oil Public Works, be requested to collect
all 'hs information within their reach, in regard 10
the application OF steam power to rivers impro ed
by locks aud dams, and to report thereon TO the
next Legislature.