Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-03

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"a hu 10 lhl ffe CHI hoal II oiis'naoa
49, .irs. ,y.sk.. and oecu..:n. al the period Of the
n,;nr ipn, ns Tie Western country, was injurious
i,;c 10 lie revenue and reputation Of tie canal
On the 2lst Of June storm OF extraordinary anu
a s,read violence ragged upon the upper parts at the
M and producing vast Of the tributary streams,
enused considerable damage Il. sever different places
rb;n lie 20 miles Of cana! which lie between Bent
creek and Lynclburg. Four Of these places were on
tho North and three the South side ol lhe RIVER
those ON the North side being at point little above
and near lock No. 80, at the donhe cuvc,t at Elk
orok n the frs, culvert below lock No. A. and Il,
mint lust above the last mentioned lock- and those on
The South side being ut the large cuvert over Opos
sum creek al the first culvert above lock No %, and
NJ the culvert immediately opposite to Duke null
H.. culvert first below lock No. IL sunk 10 rem
der il necessary 10 take II up and rebuild IT on
hotter foundation; wooden trunk being substituted
for The purpose Of passing the boats during The pro-
rrcss ofthc work The masonry Of the large double cu
ert at Elk creek stood firm and unlnured, although
wos pu, 10 test by the washing away OF The
emDanknent on lis upper side, and by the shock OF
vai accumulation OF materials OF null dams and houses
WHICH were swept from their foundations b. the vlo.
lence and magnitude Of the flood. The large culver
NJ Opossum creek being III like clicked up by
The fragments Of bridges brought down by the torrent
from above the accumulated waters rushed over il,
carving away the embankmcn Of the canal and large
portion Of the masonry OF the cuvcrt, consisting OF a
mart Of The arch and the whole of one OF its wings The
damage at the other enumerated points, confined
ia the mound Of the canal, and produced by the
pcnt ~ waters Of suddenly swollen tributary streams
breaking Tie canal, and sweeping of portions Of
thc cmbankiacn in their course. The various points
oCnury in this extensive ofdumarc being prompt
IL attended 10 Nv forces OF adequate amount, the
rupon 10 The passage Of boats fortunately Of but
short DURATION and produced but slight Inconvenience
10 the trade and travel q! The Inc.
On the Isl Of October, heavy breach took place on
section 10, below lock No. -, where, from causes
unknown, about 20 feet 81 the cmbankmeni gave way
and we're swept the adj acent THIS part Of the
canal being located along the face OF rocky prccpIce
of considerable extent the necessary supplies d. earth
Tor men1lnr tie breach in patlcmpnrary borrow.
et from the establishments above and below, IN order 10
lessen the delay Of bringing il from the back lands and
throwing i, down the cliffs On this occasion, alsc, The
passa.e Of freight boats WAS stopped Tor about thee
weeks, during which time, numerous wagons coming
from tie interior To meet hem were detained al the
town of L5nchhurg, and THIS interruption occurring
unfortunately tie mds. ct the Fall shipments 10 the
West, was Doubtless, preJudcial TO the revenue and
/ character Of the line.
! The whole Of the breaches in the entertainments and
other works which have taken place during The present
year. have been thoroughly repaired, except the cuvert
first below lock No IL which IS still III progress, and
the raising The banks section 10 below lock No. %,
which are not gel entirely restored to the full and pro-
per heigl; aud has lately occurred, il
probable that but few weak points remain 10 be dis
closed aud that such Interruptions will rarely ereai
Ter eubarrass the line. In addition 10 the eN.raordna-
~ demand FOR labor 10 repair the more numerous
breaches the works during The rs, year Of the
na another heavy draft has arisen from The necessity
Of restoring and rc-d!essing the cmbanEmcmS Through
out the first division, and OF thus Tec'liying IN one
wear Tie waste and injury ofscvcra preceding years.
The nnmber Of the regular yearly force 10 be provi.
ded Tor the ensuing year, Will be reduced from $50 10
20 men, and the contingent calls for extra labor will
probably be lessened in frequency aud amount IL not
unreasonable 10 conc udc that the aggregate annual
pense Vi superintendent aud repairs Of the frs, grand
dvs on Of the canal, which for The present year will
amount 10 about $4,000, will, during the nex year,
range about The sum Of 81 coo II NAV even be con
fdeutIy calculated that i; will not exceed that amount
| if any re-cons:ructious and Improvements which may
he made in tie works should be placed their proper
head OF original construction, instead Of being classed
among the annual repairs. Indeed II is uncertain whc
Their either of those objects will form a material item in
the mex, years expenditures inasmuch upon further
examination IL appears that the proposed additions 10 30.
sher's and Ala;drns Adventure dams, may be safely
deferred Tor several 10 come, and that tie defects
in some Of the wood locks have not proved upon trial
as great az by was appreIended previous to the
opening Of the canal
Although lie water in the levels falls short bY SIX
inches Of tie full depth Of five feet, and The freight
boats which calculated for sixty tons buthon still
reno al!y carry loads OF less than that amount, the
7 new system d: navigation has already been signaliy
successful in the reduction Of the price If i-anspora.
I ton. In the latter part Of the year between Rich
mon! and LyEchburg, II has ranged below cent
per ton per mile for agricultural products and heavy
goods thereby aiiordng speedy confirmation III re-
gard this great interest OF the community, Of the
most sangunc anticpntons Of the friends OF the I'M
proycment
The tolls on tic new Inc Of canal from tho st ia
nuary 10 the ls December 1911, have amounted 10 the
stun Of S,l2l $50 80. They already double the
amount received during the preceding year The Old
line, and will probably double themselves again in the
course Of the ensuing year. Various circumstances
which have already disappeared or will shortly hercaf-
ter 10 exist have tended to lessen the receipts OF
the present year IL will be recollec,ed that il order
to hasten the transfer the trade from the river 10 the
canal, The tariff 81 tolls suspended III lis ope
ration until the month Of January, and that feet oil
canal boats had then 10 be huilt; that the Spring Of
the year was well advanced before the number was
sufficient TO answer the demands of the line. The re-
ccp;s likewise from the several considerable branch
cs Of trade apperaining 10 the Rvanna river, Willis
river aud large portion Of the South side Of James
river, have been reduced about half III conse.
auence Of the suspension Of tie tariff of tolls upon the
river boats until they enter The canal at The Maiden
Adventure dam a; the Seven Islands feeder. The
almost toa! failure Of the wheat crop has, also greatly
diminished the tonnage Of the present year The
breaches likewise III the entertainments Of The canal and
the disappointmcnls 10 which they have given rise,
have doubt greatly tended to discourage lis USE and
to lessen the amount Of imports which would other
wise have passed through the line MoFcoyc-, il wouS
be peposterous and absurd 10 expect TO Witness in the
compass of few short months The full deycupcment
% The tonnage hich tie canal is destined produce
by the creation Of new Subjects By grca, changes in
long established individual HABITS and pursuits, and Nv
extensive alterations in Preexis,ing combinations and
channels Of trade.
am happy 10 have il in my power 10 state, tina: The
experiment Of the body OF regulations prescribed for
the government Of Tie canal has thus far been emf
nently successful. The system, although complex and
new was introduced without much difficulty at The
I commencement Of The ycar-n practical operation il
seems 10 work weil--and II is daily growing more f.
nii!iar T. the officers and customers Of the line. The
regulations relative 10 The collection Of tolls the
way trade have yet been Only inpcriectly executed
and appear 10 be somewhat IN advance Of the present
wants Of the line; but they will be gradually called
INTO operation b. the growing prosperity Of The border
ng towns and villages, and Of the several districts
upon which they depend. Tho regulations, Likewise
respecting the inspection Of boats have been only