Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-12


suppose stand it is To this be added 900
blasting used in dams In all, 1924 $40, exclusive
the dams and locks
The former, 81 in number average 720 feet in Lengths
their aggregate lift is 32S feet. These my data
The cost of Boshers dam divided by III Ia gives very
nearly $1,000 per foo, lift of the dam $50 feet long; and
for the average 720 feet above mentioned 81 l75 which
multiplied by the whole lift, 32S feet makes the Who'll,
cost oil the 81 dams at this rate, 1885, 400
To which add for canal at Seven Island, Sc,
"a above, l2I37C
And FOR 32s feet lockogc, at the high rate of
81 900 per foot lift, 32S, 600
And this sum, $685., 40
will he tho Who'll, of this improvement, according Ia
the data by experience II is only % per &C mt
above estimate of 1925 and falls still 1870 $40 short
Judge Wrights minimum.
And still must rccolected that the standard assm.
cd for dams here is known have been expensive The
difficulties encountered great and the PLAN as de-
monsratcd in my report, s2s, page 25O.) costly
than that propose.
And as to The locks 81 900 foot 0 l. known 70 10 b;b
even in canals; and have shcwn liz the same report
(2ts that lock in dam must cost less than in canal
II then the most cSaggcrate data, furnished by
experience cannot swell the estimate than fourth
we must out of the State the of the associate
ginccr's otrn experience.
Two dams have been built upon the Potomac after his
own plan.
One OF them, 1857 feet long, I-2 feet high cost 1913
900 which is S3o67 per foot lift of tina, length, aud 81
500 for 720 feet.
The of the other DAM 1900 feet long, fee, high
!, $2l 200 whchis $t2io per foot lift for that length, and
81 liza for 720 feet length
nc average between them being therefore, 81 PA per
foot lift,
And for 72o feet in length, which multiplied by
the whole lift, $685. is 5000
10 which add as above for Seven Island, Sc. 1880
for lockagc 32S 900
And $3.50, tlS
will be the highest estimate we can obtain from that source
OF iniormahon and yet his dams also upon more
pensvc plan than mine, the width OF one of them being
az much 81 feet and both covered by arch of good
building stone There is much experience of the dams
have described the Rvanna, and elsewhere the state
The above calculations incontrovcribc and will give
the public pretty estimate of the cos, of the
tenn under consideration, at the same time they will show
how high that gcntlcmans estimate is.
His next objection is against the moving power II is
the first time have head steam power objected TO- where
so readily applicabe-and why' Because it requires too
much mechanical skill! Is this a general principlc or
merely applicable TO Virginia.
RAILROAD.
have already mentioned, and every body knows that
this system OF ntercommuncation has advanced rapidy
towards perfection within few years past Having ac-
qured what wanted before the capabity of trans
porting large burdens with great volocities on level
susains in many circumstances n successful competition
with canals, Of which, indeed, are converting into
railroads in England is therefore, proper TO consider
whether the basin oil James river would favor its appca
ton.
At the very Threshold we meet with an objection men
toned in letter TO Mr. Garland last year. page 23I
and which Judge Wright also states in the following terms:
elf railroad should be adopted it ought start from
Richmond instead of Madcns Adventure; this would de-
srov the of the present CANAL
How far this objection should influence the determine
ton OF great State, is fair ubect of enquiry when
magnificent scheme is in agitation general con-
IcSon between the east and If il should appear
that general railroad would procure very superior adj
vantages would il be sound TO persevere in that which
has ceased TO be best and reject that which new inven-
tons have rendered NEST desirable because what has
been done before, lose part its usefulness This
might be the of an Individual with limited means
but never can be that OF State.
IT, however, the of railroad from Mai,en's Al
venture TO Richmond constitutes objection the sbst-
'utc of Judge Wright viz the enlargement of the canal
cancels his objection; for shall easily prove that IL
would at least cost much the raroad and besides
the saving in cost between good canal a rail- the
whole way, as view it, would pay for the extension
railroad along James river, would cost about much
as ordinary canal and less than that recommended by
Judge Wright; though he says al do believe rail
road with two tracks, permanently constructed and proper
turnouts and fixtures he constructed for so small cost
per mile, as good canal"
This not matter of belief but of actual fact and ex
pcricnce.
II is we'll asceriaincd now that the ~ l-2 miles of the
Baltimore railroad from Ellicotts mill up the Point of
rocks, embracing as many difficulties should have
TO encounter will cost 2Ol6S mile, which is the cst-
mate given for good canal and that canals have
cost than this and the Ohio chesapeake canal
so far about double
Here again, this gentleman objects on account of the
great mechanical skin required; and we shall find all
along, that sieampo will not do i'm any shape in Vir-
gnia but that must and forever, conne ourselves
TO negro power and let the other states retain and enoy
the superiority which attends every where the application
OF mechanical skill. Yet we allowed by him rail-
road over 200 miles long and from Lynchburg Tcnnes-
see, or the Ohio.
Iii added that f locomotive engines arc not used
plying only it will be found that no great
speeds gained and it certain that the expenses of trans
portaon per mile, will be much greater than canal
Property cannot he safe from storms and deprcdaons
in good canal boat under lock and kew
The word horse po,cer is used here very indefinitely;
there situations certainly where horse could not draw
on railroad much canal: this would be the
II he had TO But as we are here
upon the James river it is proper 10 consider that from
Lynchburg have descent Of feet TO the mile with
the heaviest loads, and that the trade is light and
cannot, any how receive any very sensible check from
inconslcrablc dccyity.
This promised is well proved, that with the Winans
car under ordinary circumstances, and with small wheels
only 30 inches in diameter, pound will draw $50 on
level If we rate the horse >? the strength of 1925 pounds
traction, he will draw 25 tons gross on level about as
much on canal and, having descent to assist the
heavy traffic, he will de much more here.
With ordinary cars, having outside bearings and chilled
boxes repeated experiments have proved pound
bile of drawing 25S pounds with the small wheels;
contemplated improvement will extend this pounds
on level. On descent OF feet to the mile, will then
be about 365 pounds and horse of the above strength
a walk will draw about 20 l-2 tons gross.
In England, under favorable circumstances the Winans
car with wheels OF feet diameter reduced friction TO
even one in SOC.
The with outside bearings and chilled boxes with
wheels enlarged TO feet diameter might probably give TO
pound the traction OF 800 down the valley of James ri
yer. and 10 horse consequently IS tons gross.
Now the cost of transportation consists of two distinct
items, transportation proper and tolls Therefore il horse
can draw much and the work is not COSTLY why
should the expense OF transportation be much greater than
on n canaP
But it, may be expected, improvements in cars are
carried artheT,and horse draw than on canal
n rail