Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-11
REPORT IF the PRLvc7p.aL E.vGLVEER.

Ensemble
REPORT IF the PRLVCIP.4L E.VGLWEER.
10 j. OAKLAND, Esq Chairman of the Sub Commit.
tee IF Roads and Liternnal .Napigation
SIR: have been delayed longer than [ expected In
answering the communication you did me the honor 10
anures: 10 me, on behalf OF the Committee of Road.
and Internal Navigation, by the necessity of reverting
h9moer OF reports and documents, in order to give
the subject tho deliberate consideration its vast mpor
lance claims will now proceed TO reply seriatm, 10
the enquiries OF the committee.
lst As regards the James riuer INN, op,ment could
eod out little TO the extensive view have oI
ms subject in my reports of 1926 and 1928 They con-
tam fu investigation OF the comparative rite of Tho
Two modes OF Improvement, by canal, or locks a,ld
ddms the preference being given the latter chiefly
On account Of It's greater economy and of its extending
It's Dement'S alike TO both sides of the river The cost
al the present prices, might be less than the estimate
made In lsS but 1t may not be safe assume such
TACT: extensive improvements might bore az in Ohio
raise the price of labor the locks however might hs
rendered cheaper, though more pershable by the in
uoducuon OF wood in their construction abundance
OF hydraulic lime be not obtained.
As regards the cost OF transportation recent .,o,
ries prove my estimate Of the and cost of boat, and
oil the daily expense OF engine. fuel, Sc TO be yerv
ample, and have no doubt, that between here and
Lynchburg, the conveyance will be made with less than
Two pounds OF coal per ton, per mile | saw in New
fo,k, high pressure engine of twenty horse power
building Tor the Connecticut river IL has two hor.
boilers, one on each side OF the boa cost of this en-
gne, with cas-ron shaft and water wheel hanges and
polls Ter wheel arms buckets, sc. complete S4OO0-
weight, with water in the boiler, bricks. wheels &c
19 tons, cwt.
ten horse power woull be half OF this. il can
be put boat 20 feet long and 10 feet wide with
wheels in the TO which objection is found IL
will consume IL bushels of Viginia coal per horse
power, in twelve hours.
I'll Ii ia enqu:red whether at short rapids canal
might not be benehcaily introduced, and at little or
less expense" This plan is occasionally recommend.
ed ia the report OF 1928; and in several notes. places
are designa ed where such canals might be MT
Others, not mentioned, might, probably, likewise be
deemed So This will more particularly BIO the case
whore water power may be collected, which NAV de-
for in ina,a 4
will be ounI the cheaper plan
3D. The next question is, "whether slopes, in some
places should not nso ad OF locks and tho com
,parative cost Of EACH
Slopes 10 transfer heavy boats from one level to the
other, have for long time csed the ingenuity of
engineers: II Is only OF late that the many practical
difficulties of this sort Of works, have think been
successfully overcome The inclined planes on The
Morris canal, which lately saw, are well contrived
and executed and pass boats with rapidy; still the slow
test OF time and experience is wanting TO confirm the
favorable impression produced by their appearance:
they are now in daily operation but do think them
applicable to small elevations particularly, account
OF their cost 1t being evident that the principal fix
lures, such as wheels, machinery cars, Sc are the
same. wheher for long short plane the difference
OF cost therefore, residing only in the additional length
OF graduation rails and chain by which the longer ex
eeeds the shorter plane.
know of no place below Lynchburg where Inc fall
would be sufficient for the application Of inclined planes
Above the Blue Ridge there might be an inclined plane
below the short tunnel. through Richie's neck al
Leips' falls Q2th Annual Report D. 295:) Another AZ
the head Of tho LIST Alum rock, below Covngton (IOtb
Annual Report, p. S69) if canal was made so far
would reduce the cost OF the same to very nearly that
OF the lock and dam improvement, save above three
miles OF distance, and be every wise preferable Tbose
planes would cost about half of ostana locks to over
come the same height.
4th As to the enquiry, "whether the n,~;g,uor ~
James river probably be extended beyond the Blue
Ridge for steam boats Of light burthen."
la The BIT pa q, the canal through the b ne r DE
~i not allow oil the sage OF boats Ter Than 10
feet unless the canal and locks he euiareeS; md even
In this Gaze. steam boats would DO useless on ,hi
rnou,ftsin section; that hs prcp-I ing power sboy,
thf Tie Ride, would ply independent Iy. In he ne xt
Pac", by reference TO the table. 90 Annual r. por,
p. 464, & II will be that the increase of f.I
produ rapid dimnu'ion Of speed and an augmen,a
lion OF ths cost ct transportation; hence the
OF the sppca ion Of steam power issseDed as The
rspiitV OF the stream becomes greater suiI from The
Blue Ridge to the Cow Pasture, the average fail being
about i've feet per a'ir, and the reduced speed 1
mies hour, the cost IT transportation would be s,iIi
Ia csnts per ton per mile cheaper an manual now
which may he estimated at liz cents psr ton per
mile: and Jack ors river the fall Of which /. near
Iy 10 feet per mile, thu sps ed of oyo uss an
hour, would still be probably half cent less This adj.
vantsge, however here, might probably be more than
compensated by other Inconvenience, ep .ciaIv IN.
frequent short canal, the cooling of The s:s.m
the narrow and more crooked channels, &c. On this
point, experience alone can pronounce, hat II 4, NOT
improbable that, upon trial, the power Of men, and oe
casonaIly the towing by horses NUT he used
5lb. tits asked, " whether q rail-, Dad to0uLd d.
speees.d and udiu0be substitute Ior the soutgafion
Of the river, on ii, tolIOie line, or IN part"
10 part, arail'roai might be expsdient only In the
upPet eeSuVnr W. cobbeH on Win the crossing Of the
Allegheny, bot not Otherwise, nor else where, be
cause frequent Isoslaion OF goods should be avoided
On the whole lice, and particularly below the noun
tains, stated, in my report Of 1896 (pAso 4so ! mv
opinion that IL would be liable many obise,fons hoI
IS to cost snd Inconvenience as 10 cost two item.
should be considered, the rails and the joundotion:
the former are pretty much the same, whs.vs, ~ ~,
be tne nature OF the ground passed over; Ihsy hsv
been OF late obtained much cheaper than hsretoto,.
but the latter frequently by far the sxp.niyo
and wouJl think, prove so along James river 10,
the purpose OF avoiding great snd steep sscens
We must resort To deep eut5 aud etnbSDkments Aud
(wha would be strongly OFT eed fo) the fo,madon .,
suhEn, hnes wonid necessarily cut, In many places
fbroush the vaInaois james river bottoms
This imProy ment would, thus, oces.lon sveo .r.,,
complaints, and proportonue damage. ,ban ssaI
which car be made to wind eo,sr TO The hIIIs Assin
while canal may receive some ineousldarabls .,,rs
arst-way reguires, Ahsi every tffbulsry bovysa..
small, should be ps'fsd over BY . eal3sr VI Sge, :.
bridge; thb fsu'i sViSenby prove ssnlus can. =,