Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-11
JAMES RIVER & KANAwHA COMPANY.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT,
uuI HtttItfIy W DtttMbtr, ISIU.
Icosrtsurpl

Al the annual meeting in December, 1910.
lcosrsuEp.l
For some weeks previous to the regular period
the ordinary river boats or battcauS were permit
ted to enter the canal. upon condition of being
moved by towing line drawn by hand or by
horses anj being enabled to carry full loads, both
ascending and descending, Of from to tons, with
any augmentation Of tolls, nearly the whole class
consisting, perhaps, OF upwards Of q thousand in
number have already abandoned the river and are
navigating the canal. They will speedily disap
pear from the line, after the imposition orthe new
tolls, and the admission OF full depth of water.
The water upon the levels at this time being only
three feet deep, the new boats carry only half load,
of iron 25 to 80 tons. As soon the stability OF
the cmbankments will permit, the supply will be
augmented TO four feet; and afterwards TO the
mum depth Of FIVE feet; and, the water deepens,
the loads will be enlarged, until they will finally
reach TO so or GO tons.
The Opening of the navigation of the first grand
division OF the canal has been greatly retarded, and
deferred to period OF the year considerably later
than that which anticipated at the last annual
meeting OF the stockholders; and this unex pected
delay has been produced by various causes, some
of which originated in the csrly movements Of the
company.
BY the provisions Of the charter, no portion OF
the tolls could be levied until the work should
be finished up to Lynehbrrg, and various consdera-
lions Of public policy cooperating with these pro-
visions, line OF nearly hundred and fifty mile,
OF clnal OF enlarged dimensions, was decided by the
company TO be put under course Of construction a,
the same time. The signal advantages which ac-
companied this bold and vigorous commencement
were, nevertheless, destined to be followed by some
disadvantages in the The light sections, OF
which much the greater portion of the line consisted
were finished rapidly and considerably in advance
OF the residue of the work; and being delivered up
by the contractors upon the completion OF their Jobs,
the embankments lay exposed, and became greatly
washed and damaged IN the intermediate time.
From this, and from other sources, large amount
OF deposit was formed in the bottom of The canal.
The removal OF this deposit, and the redressing and
raising the banks, constituted very large amount
of work, difficult To be estimated in advance. and
being much augmented by the heavy rains of June,
July, and the early part Of August, 1t greatly ex-
ceeded IN the end the anticipation of the officers at
the period OF the last annual meeting Of the stock
holders.
SnoIner considerable addition to the earth work
arose upon the Introduction Of the water upon the
line from the necessity of frequently drawing il
away, IN order 10 republic many of the culverts
and aqueducts. The masonry of these structures.
OF which there are upwards OF 200 the first
grand division, in very many cases, did not keep
pace with the excavation OF the canal; in conse-
quence of which, the embankment and pudding Of
Inc cuverts and aqueducts were necessarily detach-
ed from the-contracts for the sections upon which
they were situated, and transferred to Get of
contractors; and thus were executed, at irregular
periods more or less detached from each other, ac-
cording to the Irregular periods Of completion Of the
mechanical works with which they were connected
The late execution and dispersed situation of these
numerous JOBS OF earth work, causing them TO be
brought less frequently under the eyes OF the SUI
perniendins engineers, many Of them were not
faithfully executed, and upon the introduction of
the water, had to be repaired or renewed by the
hands.
The amount of earth work 10 be performed Inv
the force in the immediate services of the company
was, likewise very much increased, as well as yefy
much delayed IN It's execution, by the unavoida lie
withdrawal from the line of many Of the officers
md agents, IN consequence OF the extraordinary
nnhealthiulness OF the'past season. About the st
oil August, alter an uninterrupted service of about
eighteen months for Tie whole Of which period Ia,
was absent from his family, the health of the chief
engineer became so seriously impaired by our sou.
hern climate, as to make 1t indispensable that he
should return to the state New York on leave oe
absence until the LIST of October. For several
months OF the summer and autumn, MIR. Lake one
OF the principal assistant engineers, was likewise
disqualified by III health for the performance of ac-
tive duty. AT the time of introducing the water
an the months oil August and September, when su,
perntendIng attention, and skill were peculiar
~ important, the superintendent of repairs, and
three out OF four OF the assistant superintendents
we're Withdrawn from their posts by disease two OF
them continuing Ill till an advanced period of the
year. The adjustment of the levels at this critic.
Juneture, often fell exclusively into the hands of The
lock keepers, who had Just come upon the line TO-
norant OF the business TO which they were called
Frequent breaches in the emb lnkmen S consequent
y took place, which, although injurious At the time
90 'ne character OF the work, wefe in fact due in
proo1oy, at least three cases out OF four not 10
any defect of construction, but to the inexpefence
OF the agents unavodIbly charged with the man I
ngement OF the levels.
In the absence of Judge Wright from the line. |
MIR. h. h. Gill, by request Of the board of direc |
tors, took charge OF the FIRST grand division of the
canal, IN the character OF acting chief engineer i;
addition TO The discharge Of his regular duties ns
principal assistant engineer in the second GRIND al
vision. In the performance OF his arduous duties
MI GI RODE once fortnight and returned through
thls combined line Of works, extending from The |
city OF Richmond to the mouth of the North river
a distance OF one hundred and seventy miles LIS
due to this officer TO state, that he acquitted himself
o. the heavy undertaking committed to his chsrge
win Ihuch eredn 10 himself, and with great salts
faction 10 the board.
The unfinished mechanical work upon thu line of
the hrst grand division, IN like manner, was. from,
various causes, augmented in its amount and retar
ded IN It's completion. One Of the heaviest con.
tractors, being an undertaken Of one OF the auue-
ducis and Tour of the locks, after protracted DELAYS
abandoned his contracts and at an advanced neryod
OF the season, these expensive jobs had TO pass into
new hands. At an important pont-the OutfsII
locks at the Joshua falls pond-out of two Of the
best contractors the division and LARGE forrs in
their employment, one Of the contractors died; the
other, Tor considerable time was dangerously IN.
and the iorce was gradually reduced by sickness 10
three hands; that the work at one period was to-
tally suspended. Sundry wood locks At different
points upon the line and at various stages of their
progress had also, IN whole or in part TO be taken
down, in order 10 throw Objectionable materials
or TO get rid Of detective workmanship I'm the last
annual report, stated TO the stockholders that I
was induced TO believe "that upon the issue of nos,
notes IN payment Of the estimates at the July meet
ing oil the board, (lS39) not less than one.haC Of
the whole white force, and much larger portion of
the mnsons then engaged upon the works, became
dissatisfied, and very soon thereafter left the line
Nor was II merely in the reduction OF the nuueri.
cal amount Of the operatives upon the line that in
convenience wasfelt. For portion of the ,emain-
ing contractors reiaKed in their eHeuions 10 finish
their jobs, and disregarded the stpuatoos binding
Lnem TO timely execution Of their contracts. -
IN the early part OF the past season, in despte
OF the unceasing eNertlOns Of the chief engi-
neer, and under favour of the incrensiny 10
tervals between the remaining jobs Of work, and
regret to add, m some instances Of mistaken lentv
or negligence on the part oil sOme Of his subordi.
mates, the causes thus advercd to ia the last nnnu,
report began To disclose their injurious oper,t,on IN
a painful extent, upon the character of the mate
rails and OF the execution Of several unfinished oeks
u is true that the deficiency Of good ouar,es
upon extensive portions Of the line which had in
duced the directory 70 change the original plan Of
the locks from stone TO wood, had, IN like mai ner,
led in sundry cases, from the want Of better mate
rails Va the vicinity, 10 the ndmss on Of infetiof
stone into the backing Of many Of the wood locks
But the utmost limits allowed by spirit Of ptu
dent economy and Of liberal fOrbearance, beng
ranscended and abused, Il became indispensable in
different instances, with view 10 avoid the more
formidable evils OF a suspension Of the line oftrade
hereafter 20 take down m whole or IN part and re-
Dnuo some OF the wood locks, although II might