Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-16


points upon the line, aud various stages OF their
progress had a'so in whole, o. IN part to be taken
down, in order throw cut Objectionable materials,
or TO get ri of detective workmanship In The last
annual report stated TO the stockholders, that was
induced TO believe, hat upon the issue OF post notes.
in PAYMENT of the estimates, al the July meeting Of
the board (Ios9) MOI rss than half o: the :ole
white force, aud mach large. portion OF the masons
then engaged upon the works, became dissatisfied and
very thereafter left the l,ne.S"r was 1t merely
in in. reduction OF the numerical amount oil lie opeE-
aives upon the line, :aat Inconvenience was felt FOR
portion of the remaining contractors relaxed IN thff
finish their jobs aud dsregarded Tue slpo
lations binding them 10 timely execution OF '"e''
contracts In the early part oi the past s-s So :.
despite OF the unceasing exc tons oil t'ic ch'e en
plneer and under favor OF the Increasing in'ef'
walls between the remaining jobs o. wo'%, ana re-
eret TO add, in snue instances oil mistaken iehly
or ne -lioencc on the part OF some OF ms suo"foi-
mates the canses thus adverted 10 IN the last annoa'
reoo,, b.pan 10 disclose their injurious operation 10
painful extent upon the character OF the materials and
oc the execution Of versl unfinished locks. II IS true
that The same deficiency of good quarres upon extern
sve portions Of the line, which had induced The drec-
tory TO change the original plan Of the locks from
stone 10 wood, had, in like manner. led IN snndry
cases. from the rant % better materials IN the r'cny
10 the adms oil nfaIIor stone INTO The oacan5 o.
many of the wood locks. Bat the utmost limits al
lowed by spirit OF prudent economy ana "i oefai
forbearance beng transcribed and abused, 1t became
indispensable in different instances, with view To
AVOID the more fnrmdibe evils OF suspension OF the
line of trade hereafter, to take down IN Whole or IN
pa.; and rebuild Of Tin" woOS locks although II
might lead 10 additional expense and delay III the
final execution CT tie line.
In the of the pas; season, whilst the consruc-
ton of the first grand division advancing examina
tons made ofhe state O: BosheTs dG and OF the
MaiGens Adventure dam, both of which were found IN
perous condition, and the necessary repairs and I'M
provements have becn made are progress, with
view strengthen and Il secc.e them, as ~ guard
agans, The danger of breach, and consequent sus
pension a. the navigation.
A, Bosher's DAMN the deepes, water, the
southern shore, Of the logs and stone had been
washed nu, deep hole formed, and the dam partially
sunk Upon a foundation Of brush, wood and stone,
fnur cribs nf stone well connected together, have hcen
sunk and fastened 10 the dam rs 10 support and Sc
cure i, against the action Of high The old slope
has also been repaired and the leakage about the
lock will shortly be Slapped and these repairs being
made the dam might last for several years longer, with
on, any expense other than tighten IL at thr bottom
But II de-tned prudent, in order more eifrc,uay
guard against danger, TO have new stone dam SIX
feet wide at bottom and onr al top, placed Immediately
below the old dam: and contract has been made for
the execution of the work.
At the Na,drn's Adventure Dam-the southern
abutne had been brought into jeopardy BY consider
able excavation formed bv the abrasion of high
tiers in the bank immediately below the aoutment.
protecting wall, extending along the bank from the
abutment for some distance down ,hr river, has been
contracted for, and the work is progressing TO speedy
conclusion II appears from al ezaainaion made OF
the tlmbers OF the DAM that the protecting wall at the
southern abutment being done. thus dam might Likewise
las, for few years longer Nevertheless, consider
alton of It's great Importance to ths Navigation Of the
line the precautionary policy OF new supporting dam
Of has here been adopted, ia like manner at
Boshers dam; and contract has been made tor the
construction Of the work.
The attention of the directory has been actively d.
rec!ed the o The past 10 the subject OF
the proposed additional communications between the
canal and the opposite side of the river.
Upon careful investigation OF this subject,
the question has a.isen whether bridges would not be
preferable 10 dams, for the purpose OF forming these
communications and whether IL may not be expsdient
Tor the company apply 10 the Legislature Tor the
passage of law authorizing change. IL appeared to
the directory, that whichever Of the tvs" modes OF
comnunica ton might ultimately be adopted, four O!
ihese add ona connections would give proper facility
the trade passing between the canal and the opposite
shore Of the river, and ought 10 be regarded as rea
sonable fufnent Of the obligations OF the company
under the 2d section OF the charter In order 10 assist
in deciding the question Of preference we'll in
gard the best mode oil communication, 10 the pro-
per sites to be selected careful examinations have been
made and explanatory charts prepared, with view 10
alternative plans Of Al four suitable points
upon the river. These examinations, together with
the accompanying charts, were originally intended to
be conducted by Mr. Lake, under the instructions of
the chief engineer but by of the i'll health OF
D0ln lneSe tHcy upon Sol
John Pryor Of The resident engineers, and party
of assistants Tie Who'll. subject Of these connections,
along with letter from Judge Wright ana n- 9Th,
to the board of dreco and the report estimates and
charts of Col Pryor, respectfully referred I" inc
consideration oil the stockholders. See Appendix A.
Before close the present branch Of the report, beg
Leave again TO remind the stockholders :ha; the power
of the company to nct penalties for injuries done to
its property, being limited to persons using the canal
and by such use, voluntarily satectng themselves to
IN
protection of public works, which are TO be found
among rules and regulations OF other States, and
are contained in the provisions OF The act OF AS
sembly Of March sth 1887, entitled IAN act 10 punish
the burning aud otherwise njuring of public property
and for other purposes have been necessarily omitted
and form part OF the rules and regulations reported
for the consideration Of the stockholders With view
10 perfect and complete The system ofregua,on for the
canal these provisions should be embodied in a bill
anlendaory Of the aforesaid act and recommended 10
the adoption Of the Legislature
From daily occurrences the line Of the canal these
additional provisions cannot be too earnestly recon-
uended the immediate attic non OF the stockholders
and By the stockholders 10 the early consideration OF
the Legislature To facilitate action upon the sub
ject compilation in the shape of bill has been pre-
pared and viii be communicated to the committee OF
the stockholders.
beg leave also to suggest to the attention Of the
stockholders the proprety of an immediate application
TO the Legislature, for amendment OF the i3h sec
ton of the charter so as substitute the ton Of 1000
IL,
for the ton Of 9 2lO lbs. Such amendment would
DO smnenily conducive 10 the convenience OF the pub
lic we'll that Of the company, in the collection
Of the tolls and lis every day value to the community
would infinitely outweigh the consideration Of the very
uncomfortable addition the tariff which would be
the effect OF the change
II. PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION TUE SECOND GRAND
DIVISION OF THE cASAL.
Upon the regular CONNIE nj of operations on the
work above Lynchburg, several new regulations were
adopted by the Board Of Directors, with view more
trcually to general fidelity ofexecution and
10 give additional so'dy and pcrmanency TO the ma
sonry Of the line The residences reduced from
about miles in length down about miles each
and the resident were required 10 reside in
the centre Of the residences; I" p"fn all their duties
foot and except when Prev n,cd lay other indisPen
sable official business 10 walk Their lines al eas,
in every day. to all The contractors employed
and to visit all the works in progress upon their re-
spcc,ive divisions. The appointment also, OF regular
suprrntentents Of masonry, selected Tor their e1pen
me-, and nractical skill MAS authorized with prescrIh