Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-11

estimate, have spoken only of the dollars nctu
ally expended, without taking into account the
detention of that numerous class of vessels that
may, with favourable wind and tide cross this
Bar fully laden: but failing TO reach il bornrc !
cOb, must come TO anchor even with as fair n wind
rs ever blew, "a wind that might in n few hours
carry them into Hampton Roads,) and whit for an
other tide, which may bring with il 4, cb,,r, Of
wind; nor do speak OF the loss Of In,ercs, or can
ital employed, and various other ycy,tiop. and
grievances which VIII at once occur to every nayi-
gator and man of business; and all this nov hc OH
waited for twenty one thousand dollars u,v;rr
crossed iiarrlSon's Bar let us proceed on our vov
ago TO Richmond, and endcavor as we sail ,lnng to
remove the various distractions that impedc our
progress.
The first VIC meet with is Turkey island Ror.
thus is soft mud, and may nc easily removed and
even now, If VIC have n good tide, and do not draw
over Ito feet, we pass it without difficulty: pro
crossing upwards we meet with no serious OBJ
Siructlon, till we reach Vdr,cick Bar, a short dis
lance below Warwick House. This Bar is danrer
erous being ledge of racks extending across
tho River, and over which, there is not much more
than fifteen feet water, in ordinary tides. | do not
pretend to sufficient knowledge in these matters,
10 enable me to say how it may, with the least OK
pensc, he removed possibly the Rock may be BROKE
up with heavy iron bars: and in that caso its re-
movai would be easy; At all events, by the uso of
caiSsons, 1t may be blasted with powder. Passing
,iis bar' we get to tho Anchorage Ground. at
Warwick; and here we must moor ship, for no YES.
sci drawing 10 to ii feet can proceed further
even at high water. The Bar above Warwick
(about Tour miles below Rockets, and which is at
TINS time, almost tho only obstruction TO vessels
drawing hitccn feet. coming up TO Richmondl is
an extensive bed of sand, which is gradually in
creasing, and in all probability, was originally
caused by the Judgment of some logs and trees
brought by treshcts from above. It's removal would
give i greater depth of water above as from impe-
ding the current, Judgment of sand has no doubt
taken place up the whole extent of the channel
Inc pest mode OF removing this Bar, is an import
ant consideration. My own impression is, that it
may be removed, by the use of SCOOPS and scrapers
or powerful steam mWd machine. The upper
horbor of Baltimore is now kept clear bv this
means. n mud machine is all that is wanted to
remove and Keep clear the Bar at Turkey Island,
and any other similar obstruction that ma DO found
IN the Kiver. There is nothing further necessary
to enable us to get TO Rockets with safety except
that we remove few rocks TO be found in the
Channel, a short distance below the Coal Yards:
these MIR. Baldwin says: ''appcar TO be detached
granite rocks, and may be removed without much
dincu!ty. Having cleared out the Channel
TO Rockets, L will leave it TO tho owners of the
property there to provide for the safety Of the ship
ping, by the construction of docks, &C. so as to
Keep them ailoat at all times of tide.
Time was, whom the clearing out of the bed of
tEc river would have been of comparatively little
benefit, rs from the great difficulty in working n
square rugged vessel through channel so crooked
and narrow as that of James River, above Rermu
da Hundred, few would have availed themselves
OF the advantage: but by the application of steam
to the purposes of navi cation, even this difficulty
| rs removed. With the aid of Steamboat n shin
may he towcd from Bermuda Hundred to Rich.
mond, in tide, and that too, at an expense no,
much exceeding the former charge for pilotaee
hope may have succeeded in satisfying a port
ION u your readers that the difficulties which OBJ.
sr"ct the navigation and have heretofore prevent
ed ships of burthen from coming up 10 Richmond
arc not so great as is generally supposed. l viii
now call their attention to some of the ADVANTAGES
mat may be expected from opening this navigation.
Dt'"g up me Sh'Ps, and you at once do away with
the necessity for, and tho expense of lighterare
and preserve from the risk of river damage ali
goods received from or sent TO the shipping
All the vessels to and from foreign ports that now
enter and clear at Richmond, and lay at various
points on the river, will then discharge and load
here, undcr the immediate eye of the merchants
concerned; and there can be doubt, they would
be loaded with more facility, TO greater adj
vantage, and at one third the. present charge for
labour.
Bring up the ships, and you at once place the
crews in healthy situation. Richmond, for gen
eral health, is not surpassed by any city in the
Onon. This is ain important considerations for
we all know, that during the fall months land
these the very months when the greatest amount
OF shipping are wanted,) sickness does, TO a great
er or less degree, prevail among the vessels living
IN James River, and that in not a few instances
the success OF voyage, and even the safety of
vessel, has been endangered from this very cause.
Despatch is the life of business and every mer
camille man Will appreciate the advantage of being
able, after purchasing his cargo and chartcrinr a
vessel to estimate, with some decree of nccuracy
the time when he will receive his bill of ladino
and the vessel proceed on her voyage. All know
that no calculation OF this kind can be found
under the present system.
by having the vessels on the spot thev NAV
before breaking ground, be provisioned, manned
and completely equipped for the voyage, and with
the aid OF steamboat placed in one tide where
they can make certain progress; if still great
or dispatch be required, by keeping up the sieam
they may with another tide, be carried into Hamp-
ton Roads
Bring up the ships, and all their disbursements
will lie paid here. This is no small consideration
to the citizens of Richmond. During the wear
ending 3lst December, 1881, ninety seven square
rugged vessels cicdyed at Richmond for Elropcan
or more distant portst-some knowledge of the bu-
slness enables me to say, that the average dsburse-
mentS could not have been less than s 900 each
or an aggregate of 1897 900, Independent Of any
increase in trade. This amount would no doubt
be greatly augmented, from a knowledge that
every necessary would BIO advanta goously had
here, greater number of vessels would DO induced
to return direct from foreign ports. At present
from the great difficulty of obtaining any whore
on James River the equipments necessary for a
voyage, many vessels bound TO the river for freight
either Gull Jy home, or have sent them from dis
lance whatever may be wanted
In these days OF regulntingS inGustrY, we hear
much OF the flourishing villages that spring mn
around manufacturing establishments in the Bost-
crh states; and the great market thus created for
the consumption Of Virginia products Bring I'd
tho ships, and the lower section Of your CITY will
increase as if by magic--Pooplcd not with the
not bed plants of Il protective system, but with
hardy, industrious class of mechanics and others
The natural growth of an extensive and active
fore gn commerce.
Bring up the ships, and you will bring with them
commerce heretofore unknown in the city Of
Richmond. Increased cnpitaL will find its way TO
the CapifaI of the Old Dominion, and class of
WI LII