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

6f9OO
OF the Blue Ridge at Buford's Gap, 1880
OF the dividing ridge between James river and Roa-
OF the ridge between New river and Hols,On at
Mount Airy, 1858
OF Evansham, 1920
VI Aoingdop 1882
| OF Holston at mile ford, IoO5
These may also be added:
| or the Allegheny, head Of Laurel fork of South
branch of Potomac, Pocahontas county, 1850
VI uto' between ONO and Schuylkill, 1855
ana 'his corrected elevation oil Pittsburg, 756
Having now brought the lines of Improvement 10 the
basin oil James river there remains for consider tho
Improvement Of this stream down TO Richmond.
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT
Oh the cxpedcncy of beginning Immediately this most
important Improvement there be the least doubt in
he nd OF any person. who has attended the steady in
crease OF the trade OF the river which has almost double
since 1926 and sufficient to make the
one OF the most valuable of revenue TO The rea
ny oil the state without advertng TO the sclfevidcnt fact
that alter the completion of the work. the trade will be al
least three or four times greater
In my answer to several queries oMr. James Garland
printed in the journal and also in the 18th annual rcpo
page 22s. Showed that the trade of 1880, being,
r I,G and merchandise, 10000 tons.
The nett each STYLE of Improvement ~, ~
Lynchburg might be, including for ,cdter and ground
rent. !$5,477,
canaI Locks and Dams. Rail Road
$3.50 Si2oT7o 40 $39, 4O2
distance: ~
So 6I2 G s7
This year as was expected the trade of the river ha.
continued to increase under the unfavorabe circum-
stances OF INC present navigation the tolls up
=" nc iS' OF DcCemocr were $780, ZIG
Last year Tor the same time they were, So 93I
And for the whole year, SO I'M
single proportion shews that the tolls Of
Thu. year, would consequently be about 65Os2
which Is an increase OF nearly ii per cent, and would
be the result OF probably
Proiwee and .nyehdndise, $1,000 tons.
Coal, 100 600 busbcI,
The increase of revenue at the above TOLL, would
therefore be (upposng always one-haf only from, and to
I.ynchburg0
Canal. Locks and Dams RoJ Po,J
3ro'''V " "'4Zo $1,000
Do OF ground and water rent, 800
C tmed Locks q, and Dams Rail-rOad.
Which added to the nett revenues estimated for last
year, would make them this year:
$5l,Ss7 10000 10 1892
This is the capaly Of the present commerce of James
nver' between Richmond and Lynchburg These receipts
IT must he rccoeced the surplus be deposited into
the treasury free from all the annual charges the inn
provcment OF the section up to Lynchburg They would
evidently each be sufficient only cover the es,ima
ESQ page 23 but even TO leave whatever the
system adopted might be; result which had not vet
been quite attained last year.
This urges strongly the necessity Of beginning without
loss oi time an Improvement certain be productive even
with the present trade, and with the rapid increase which
must individually follow the improvement ITSELF will rem
der one OF the best investments in the United States
But, tDhdt shall this improvement be?
This question will naturally follow the conviction i'm
For long time system of navigation was the onl,
kind of improvement thought of, and the competition was
between a lock and dam navigation and canal For
two years past however, railroads have acquired many
additional advantages and also dispute the public "a
vor with the preceding Between these three modes we
must now make CHOICE the decision is important il in
wolves the best interests Of Virginia, and feel the weight
OF the responsibility have TO encounter i'm giving an o
Mon at this decisive moment
In reports of 1926, %, go have cndcavored to
present lair comparative view of the advantages and dis
advantages OF each particular scheme applicable to the
James river so that the legislature might possessed of
TO rest its decision.
After general reference these it has become ncces
sary that should preface my opinion with some adj
diiiona remarks the three systems of improvement I'M
appcablct the present
and localities.
LOCK AND DAM IMPROVEMENT
The cheapncss and efficiency of steam power which
have caused its into almost all the
arts together with its successful application TO nayiqaion
induced me in 1926 to enquire into the merits of steam
navigation upon the James river, improved by locks and
dams There appeared many advantages in the system
some residing in the activity Of the power itself others in
such the accommodation
oil both sides, and the economy of construction.
Some disadvantages also observed the PRINCIPAL
OF which, liability TO interruption from floods 10 which
good canals not exposed.
Scamboa made now of much greater s,cod Than
few years ago and this adds at the present day. some
thing to the favorable considerations on this mode of inn
Proyement formerly stated.
As 10 the cost up to Lynchburp the estimate made
in 1928 was $50 liO for the whole distance This sup
posed hydraulic lime, an indispensable material to be
drawn from the Blue Ridge
IN INC doubt whether advantageous contracts for il
could be made and o allow for the enlargement of short
canals, which think would be advisable il may be safer
TO state il at about $500 600
Judge wright, the associate engineer, saws that ne
has carefully examined my report and estimate mot tbe
river or counry0 and that hc make such an inn
proyement for double the money estimated"
Ills lowest estimate Is consequently, 81 1923 ,28O
As the only element, upon which this predicatcd an
pears 10 be this gcniIcmans experience will also
appeal to experience TO enable the public form its own
estimate.
We have also had dams built in Virginia, and on this
very James river. will choose the most expensive as
NY PASS bosers dam, $50 feet long, III IL feet high
IL. ~ wv ~ " VIZ N j"
Tbs nun includes also % 600 allowed Tor removal Of
IavoI' Wch ought TO deduct, for can assure the gem
ilenan that no such contingency will occur above, hot
mean to be liberal and leave him the advantage Of dis
enormous sum