Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-22
DOCUMENTS
THE GOVERNORS ME,

surveys and estimates the various plans of
for James river valley, and the connection through the
western waters, pointed outn the act above referred
These surveysand estimates, plans and profes of yours
which very particular in DETAIL and these, together
with the knowledge have of the valley of tho river
Richmond to above the Blue Ridge, give sufficient data
TO make up my mind TO the Improvement should
recommend TO be adopted by the State thus far And
beg leave TO ask OF you whether ought cam
agree upon report part of the duties assigned u.s.
also beg leave to ask, whether there in your OPT
non' any further surveys necessary beyond the Blue
Ridge, to enable visit the country, understood
all the ground upon which to under the law
above referred to- am, dear Sir, very respectfully.
Your obedicnt servant,
c. CRozrT, Esq. B. WRIGHT.
Chief Engineer, State Of "a
To his Erceleney JOHN FLOYD
Governor Of the State Of Virginia.
SIR arrived in Richmond, on the evening Of the
23d July in order to upon execution Of the
duties, associate engineer
was little disappointed in finding the chief engi-
ncer at the seat OF government the fault perhaps part
~ chargeable 10 myself in adverng the fact of the
extent oil territory OF the state and that the duties OF
the chief engineer might call him TO the parts
H. ana therefore longer notice Of my intention visit
here ought to have been given.
In waiting the return of the chisf engineer, have
Through the kindness of the second auditory employed my
time usefuly and benefcally in the examination of all
the reports plans proes and estimates &C. which have
been made from time to time of the valley of James river
and New river and the intermediate country, where pro-
6a6e connection, as contemplated by the act Of April T.
1881, might be made.
On the Sd of August the chief engineer arrived n
n
the proper course of duties to be pursued under the
oil the state and the appointment which brought here
L took the liberty to address note to him. copy of
which enclose as also his reply thereto.
Your excellency will perceive that the chief engineer
has, by his former official reports various times express
ed opinions upon the kinds Improvement adapted 10
James river valley which opinion could not expect he
would controvert. Situated am, have only to
make up opinion of my own, which have done from
the reports, estimates plans and proes before referred
to- and from personal examination of the valley James
river, from point above Blue Ridge Richmond for an
improv ement OF this kind in 1924.
BY the act of the legislature above named Appears
there are three plans kinds of improvement TO be
ined, and estimated.
lst Dams and ocks--Moving power, supposed steam.
Sd. Ra-road from Richmond to Lynchburg, aud sup
posed to be continued westward to the proper point the
western waters.
If the act contemplated estimate Of the whole of
these several routes mentioned in il from personal survey
made by u.s. all these duties could not be performed less
than two or three years. in such engineer
would like TO be responsible for their great accuracy
believing as do, that further survey enable me 20
make up opinion Of the kind of Improvement which
think the state ought adopt that an
approximation OF the cost OF executing such improvement
can be so ncory determined at this time useful
portant 10 permit legislative body benecialy for
the state, take the liberty give that opinion which you
can you think proper,
LIST. Lock and dam navigation, with moving power by
steam boats.
have carefully examined the report and estimate Of
the chief engineer for locks and dams in James river
Maiden's Adventure to Covington
am very sorry cannot agree with him TO the
Oh Sucn WORK. My own experience, aud what have
seen OF such works, executed by Others applying the
principles as far they arc applicable to James river val
ley to Lynchburg, and cannot make such improve
rnent for double the money estimated.
If such improvement made, there are strong OBJ
eclons TO the moving power 1t requires too much me-
chanical SKILL and either the wealthy indiy.
duas must become the carriers.
RAILROAD.
railroad should be adopted it ought to start from
Richmond instead of Maidens Adventure this would de-
stroy all the Of the present canal.
do not believe railroad, with two tracks permanent
~ constructed and proper turn-ous and fixtures, be
constructed for so small per mile as a good canal
1t requires great mechanical skill if the moving power
is locomotive engines and without these, applying only
horse power, it will be found that great speed gained
mile will be much greater than canal Property can
not be as safe from storms and depredaons good
canal boat under lock and key.
CONTINUOUS CANAL.
OF all the three plans which have been directed by the
act far the valley of James river from Maidens Adj
venture to Lynchburg the best in my opinion,
pendent canal, with such connections with the river as
can make il accommodate the south side
The simplicity Of canal, and its adapt alton TO the ca
pacity of every in the community, will certainly
make transportation il cheaper than any other
IL is without doubt, better suited James river as far
Lynchburg and probably taking into consideration what
has been done at the Blue Ridge ought 10 be extended
beyond that point Every is his carrier, if he
chooses to be he lie peases and stops when
he plcases, II he does not interrupt others in a canal
Inc question arises then, n canal is TO be made, what
shall be the size of it
If the canal between Maiden's Adventure and Rich.
would
wish, (and am inclined TO the opinion that can be
done, without very great exPencc0 would then
mend, that the canal from Maidens Adventure to Lynch
burg, should be fifty feet surface, thirty fee bottom and
FIVE feet depth OF water in all its parts where the excava-
ton and embankments good. AT the heavy bluff
points OF rocks, where ii is expensive, would reduce the
width as barely to permit two boats pass each other
Where had culveris of any considerable SIZE would
reduce the width TO forty feet save ten feet OF
masonry The aqueducs would build Of stone if good
stone could be found, and cement Is not too expensive
These would have 10 or 20 feet water way.
The present locks built IS feet between the gates
and 10 feet wide These entirely too wide for the
canal should prefer locks Of the length Of tho present
ones, but not than IL IL feet wide or feet at the
extreme.
Such canal be built along the valley of James riv
from Venture falls to Lynchburg, under good manage
ment for IL to 10000 dollars per mile provided water CO.
mcnt can be procured at OF near the Blue Ridge.
II is proper that should give why would en-
large the canal to the size have MENTIONED and give the
banks slope Of toll II is we'll known by experience
that earth Is inclined this shape when
washed by water, and my experience leads to believe
it Is better TO form the banks with this slope first than
to supply the abrasion Of the banks with new earth after
they have washed down and assumed this shape.
Such banks when raised above the natural earth are
stronger they will sooner take vegetation and be protect.
ed from wash il abraded, they castor protected by
few small stones thrown along next the water surface
Many persons who have not examined tho question, sup
pose that canal increases cost according 10 size hi5s
not tbe fact II will be found that for canal side 1fe
have mentioned, the additional II excavation and