Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-06
EXTRACT FROM TIE
Report Of the Principal Engineer
VIRGINIA.
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

OF VIRGINIA.
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
OF the cxpcdicncy of beginning immediately
this most important Improvement, there cannot
be he leas, doubt IN the mind any person. who
has attended Ia the steady increase Ufrhe trade
OF the river, which has almost doubled since
1896, and is sufficient to make he improve
ment one of the most valuable sources Of revc-
nue. to The treasury OF the state. wi hnut advert
ing To the self G, idcut ftc', that after the com
pe' ion of the work, the trade will be at least
three or four times greater.
In my answer to 'vrral queries Of Dir. James
Garland, printed in the journal, and also il he
18th annual report, page 223, showed that the
trade of 1880, being,
Produce and merchandise, $4,000 tons,
Coal, $50 600 bushels
The nett reveiue on each ST. lie OF improve
mcnt up to Lyuchurg, might be, including fer
water and ground rent, s. 477,
CANAL. LOCKS AND DAMS. Rarr. ROAD.
SEQ 237 Sl26,77o 30 S3o4U2
Allowing for tolls on each respectively Tor the
whole dislancc
SIS 90 6 12 6 CT
This year, as expected. the trade Of the
river has continued to Increase, even under the
unfavorable circumstances of The present nav-
CATION: the tolls received up TO the first OF De-
cember, were, S59.7IG
Last year for the same time they were So 93I
Ana for the whole year, 53,777
single proportion shews that the tolls
of this year, would consequently be
about, 65,nG2
Which is an increase Of nearly / ncr cent
and would be the result of pruhablp
Produce and mercha ndZe, $500 tons,
Coal 100 600 bushels.
The increase of revenue, at the above tolls
would therefore be (supposing always one-hai
only from and to Lynchhnrg)
Canal. Locks and Dams. Rail Road.
1880 3l,325 $500
To which add for increase of
coal, 600
Do of ground ana water rent, 1850
canas. LO.ks and Dams. Rail Road.
$3.50 30, $50 39,4OU
Which added to the nett revenues es'Ima ed for
last year, would make them this year:
51,887 10000 40 73 500
This is the capabll!ty ofthe present commerce
of James River, between Richmond and Lynch
burg. These receipts, it must be rccolectcd
the surplus 10 he deposited into the 'rreasu-
ry tree from all the annual charges of the I'M
prnvemcnt of the section up 10 Lynchbnrg.-
They would evidently each be sufficient not
ly to cover the estimated annual deficiency OF
$40, 755, report TO Garland, esq page z3I, J
but even to leave an excess, whatever The sys-
TEN adopted might be; Il resu t which had not
yet been quite attained last year.
This urges strongly he necessity Cfbeginnirg
without loss OF time improvement, certain to
be productive even with the present trade, and
which the rapid increase which must individually
follow the Improvement itself, viii render one
of the best investments in the United States.
But, what shall this Improvement be?
'Th; question will naturally fellow the convic-
{ on impaired by the foregoing calculnt'ons
For long time system OF navigation was
the only kind of Improvement thought Of and
The competition was between a lock and dam
navigation and q canal. For two years past.
however, railroads have acquired many addi-
tional advantages, and now also dispute The pub
lie favour with the preceding. Between these
three modes we must make choice; the de-
csion IS important, it involves the best nercs
OF Virginia. and feel the weight of the respon-
slbilny have to encounter, III giving Gil opinion
at this decisive moment.
in my reports Of 1926, &c, 80 | have cndea-
voured 10 present fair comparative view of tine
ndvan'ag ages and Disadvantages of each paTticu-
lar scheme applicable 10 the James River SO
thGt the legislature might be possessed of every
consideration Of cost aud cXpcdency, upon
which TO rest its decision.
After genera! reference TO these, If has be-
come necessary that should preface my own
opinion with some Gddionul remarks on tie
three SYSTEMS of improvement under considcru-
ton, rs applicable 10 the present circumstances
and localities.
LOCK AND DAN IMPROVEMENT.
The cheapUcss aud efficiency OF steam power.
which have caused lis III production Into aims;
ali the mechanical arts, together with lis sue
ccssful application to navigation, induced me in
1926, to enquire IIto the merits Of a steam,
navigation upon the james River, improved BY
lIcls and dams There appeared many advac-
tages in the system; some residing IN Inc c'i-
witty Of the power Itself, others III cIrcUmsau ccs
independent OF i, such as the accommodation
Of both sides, and the economy If cous ruct,on.
Some disadvantages were also observed, tie
principal of which liability to Interruptions
from 1oods, to which good conas are not ex.
posed.
Steamboats, are made now cf much greatcr
speed than few years ago; and this adds, at
the present day something to the favorable
considerations on this mode Of Improvement
formerly stated.
As to the cost, up 10 Lynchburg, the co';Datc
made in G7G, was S664,149 for the whole dis
lance. This supposed hydraulic lime, an ndis-
pensable material, to be drawn from the Blue
Ridge
IN he doub', whether advantageous contracts
for it could be made, and to allow for the CO.
largement Of short cangla, which think wou'G
be advisable, it my be safer to SAFE II at obog'
$500 600.
Judge Wright, Gio o,s~cie'o engiaccr, says,