Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-28

whole Of the erlba nkmcnts below the bridge to
the height Of nineteen feet above bottom, Ian elevation
sufficient to keep the foods of the river as we'll as
the wash from the hills) and To line them with wharf
ing the height consisting of twelve feet OF tim
Der below, AID seven feet of stone wong above, re-
tanning in the execution Of the plan, subsratum tor
the work. much possible of the old whafiing
and tokinglt down and rebuilding it only where may
be necessary in order 10 get rid OF tccnyed materials or
to rscfy The work. For the present, however, cons'
Geratons Of economy have induced the adoption OF
more limited plan: TO grade back the embankmenss on
the side next the river, from The top Of The old wharf
ing TO the full height of 10 feet; and the Opposite
eide 10 raise the new whnrfng and entertainments 10
the height of only II feet, grading back the latter,
in the form Of water street, TO back drain dscharg ng
itself into the height oring tributaries above and below
Until the outlet lock shall have been raised or rebuilt
height elk feet greater than the present elevation,
the of the dock, although protested sufficiently
along its 'front.' may yet be reached circuousy
at the time of the hghcS, foods by back water coming
in at its lower extremity hut the INJURY from this
source, will be comparatively small.
To enlarge the capacity Of the lower division OF The
dock ard aord greater facility in the !ading and un-
adng Of vessels was also decided, after obtaining the
requisite permission from the authorities OF the cy 10
upon lis lots overlooked near the Eastern end
of the DIVISION three slips, each 200 feet long and 100
feet wide with intermediate qunys of equal dnens ons
The old outlet lock appeared upon examination 10
be susceptible of being restored, and perhaps OF be
ing raised and, although not of the most suitable d.
years come, and the event of another lock being
substituted Of furnishing during its construction the
means of avoiding interruption to the trade; IN the
present state of the Companys funds, IL was, there
fore, deemed advisable 10 recy and repair the old
lock- and also TO raise and repair the excavang boat
and its machinery with view 10 remove The obstruc-
ton from the outlet passage into the river and TO com
pete the excavation at the bottom Of the dock Hereaf
Ter under suspicious circumstances, the site Tor
the lock may be adyantugeousy transferred and the
Jc,L ;t-,r VITO cd IN n nhnuf
down, where solid foundation of rock may be obtain
ed and where the passage from the river to the lock
would he swept and kept open by the course and d..
rection of the channel.
! Another Improvement decided upon, with the reqni.
site sanction of the Legislature and The city, TO DIS.
pense with the draw bridge at 18th street, and TO sub.
stitute it by the permanent bridge al 18th street,
already referred 10; executing the work, Tor tie pre-.
SENT only so far as 10 carry up the abntments TO the
level Of the water surface, and there leaving them in
position to admit Of the completion of the bridge at
some convenient period hereafter without in.errup.
ton to The business Of the dock.
/ TO the summary statement which has been given Of
the ,nost material items embraced in the Company s
plan of improvement may be proper to add that the
aoueduct now finished Shockoe Creek, is per.
manent structure Of hewn granite, standing upon
solid foundation Of rock; the abutmen,s having been
carried down Ly means of Golfer dams 10 depth of
ten feet below the level Of low water mark in the
creek The arch has span of % feet with rise of
feet, and the Of the arch stands at the height
of feet above the ordinary level of the water in the
creek. The water way Of the nqneduct is 81 feet in
width and is confined between pnrapet walls As feet
long and feet high with average thickness of -
feet The sides oflhe creek above and below the eque
duct for distance in the whole Of 100 fret,
fined by vertical walls - feet high with embank
men,s in the rear The location, plan and arrange
men of the aqueduci, and Of It's associated walls,
we'll calculated to fulfil the important object for which
they were intended without danger of obstruction TO
the outlet BY depnstes from the river, of damage 10
the property or health of the city, by back water from
the arch, when the creek may be swollen by e1traoId
nary foods.
In reference to the other items of improvement EN-
braced in the specification, il may be sufficient 10 STATE
that at this time, they all nearly finished TO the
point which has been indicated as desirable for the pre-
sent and that this valuable work is now nearly IN
s ate of readiness be put again into full operation
The this time passing into the Dock so as 10
admit Of its use in few days by such small vessels as
can reach the outlet lock with depth of eight feet;
| and il is expected that by the 18th OF January, with
the aid Of the dredging machine, depth Of IL feet
NAV be brought up to the lock- SO as.,o admit the in
PRODUCTION of the largest description Of vessels, which,
IN present state of improvement, can pass the bar
at Warwick, and come mp to the CITY
The expenditure upon the duck, in the form of alter
atoms and since the period purchase by the
Company, WILL when the navigation s restored, amount
to abon the sum Of $S0000. the excess Of which cx
pandlture and above the estimate Of S6OO00 con-
tanned in the last annual Report. may be fairly placed
! TO the account Of raising up the embankmenls to
ma ximum elevation of 10 feet and of other additional
work that was afterwards introduced, with view TO
give greater success ond value 10 the deck
1t is proper that should remark, that Immediately
after the called meeting IN the month OF May, III nddi-
ton special supernendcnce over the operation Of
the dock, the of subscription were transferred to
Mr. John A. Lancaster, as Agent or Committee of the
Boar Of Directors charged with tine duty of collecting
and appying them as directed By the stockholders to
the reconstruction of the dock.
| take pleasure bearing testimony TO the ability
and u al, with which hmself and the engineer, Mr..
Sanford have pc rlormed the duties conidpd 10 their
charge and in stating that IL is TO them that the Com
pany is mainly indebted despite Of the great Difficult
ties they had contend WITH Tor the present advanced
and prosperous condition of The work.
In closing the subject of the DOCK is proper also
10 remark that consequence of the provisions OF the
act 2h March last further preparatory measures
been taken regard to lis connection with The ca
nal and that those formerly adopted remain in the po.
sitlon in which they stood at the period OF the last
annual meeting OF the stockholders.
| 9 The first grand dicison Of Me Canal, e1tendiaS
from Richm0nd to Lgnehburg.
For the first six months Of the year. nothing oil mate.
rial interest occurred upon this important DIVISION Of the
Companys works With the annual force, which had
been reduced at the commencement OF the year from
$50 to 80 men, the ordinary repairs were conducted
with ease and success by the Superintendent and his
assistants The embankments throughout the division
appeared 10 have become stable and firm, and The few
breaches that occurred, being generally IN Inc covering
Of the cuverts and speedily repaired, caused very little
interruption to the passage of bonts. During this pc
rod the amour, Of tolls less than that received
in the frs, six months of 1871; bot it was confidently
expected that the deficiency would be more than com
pen.aed by great excess in the remaining SIX months
Of The year
But The condition Of the canal and its prospects for
the last half of the year, vastly changed by The
occurrence in the month of July last of The greatest
fresh that has taken place in the river since the year
hinb
fresh. extended in an Eastern and Western direction
along the line of Improvement from CartersvilIe TO
Lewisbure in Northern and Southern, from the high.
lands North Of james river to the highlands South Of
the Roanoke; and, for the quantity OF water discharged
the most remarkable that has occurred aince the first
settlement Of the state.
In the middle country it commenced atont A. NJ,
and ceased about in The afternoon, on The 18Th July
About The chain ofhe Allegheny il commenced on The