Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-31


To the Stockholders Of Tho James Rrer and Kanarha
Company-[CoxcLuDED
g. Second Grand Dirisi0n Of the Canal
From the passage of the Loan Act Of the 18th OF
March last, until the meeting OF the Stockholders IN
the month of May, the Directory avaed themselves
Of oil offers from contractors in the second division TO
relinquish their contracts upon condition of payment
being made for the work already done After the lat
Ter period it was deemed essential with view 10 les
sen the enga gemen,s of the Company, to invite COM
promises upon reasonable terms with the remaining
contractors; by which all the contracts for the
construction OF the new work in the second division
have successvely been gotten rid Of with the exception
of I've upon the line OF the old Blue Ridge Canal, and
Two upon the line below. And with respect 10 these
seven contracts arrangements will probably soon be
made in consequence of which they will be dissolved
or suspend by The end of the year So that at the
CONNIE mcnt of the year, none OF the works o
will be in progress in this division and the
employ ment of the engineers will for The present be
discontinued
In consequence Of this suspension Of operations very
little hns been added, in the course OF The present year
TO what already done in the second division at the
perioS of the last annual meeting; al which time very
detailed statement of the works, both finished and un
finished was presented the Stockholders lat page IL
TO 10y in the Seventh Annual Report.
A much create, change has unfortunately been pro.
duced by the ravages of the fresh in The month OF July
last the injury here in consequence of the unfinished
state of the works having been much greater in pro-
portion 10 distance than upon the first grand division
By an estimate made by the Chief Engineer, the de.
mare 10 the works in the second division amounts to
400 800; Of which about 995DO was sustained upon
the line of The old Blue Ridge Canal and about S2O,-
600 upon the line between Lynchburg and the Ridge;
about three ourts Of tine latter amount having fallen
upon the sections Of independent canal, and only an
uncomfortable part upon the towing path sections
Throughout n large portion of the second division,
the slope OF the towing path bordering the river, as well
india al
marnn of the contemplated pools, lined with fac
inr of stone in the form Of either common or placed
rprso which was 10 he covered end sustained to a
considerable extent by the refnent water OF the pro-
posed dams The works, however, being unfinished,
il was every where exposed during the late fresh, to
the violent action Of the current the river rose and
fell.
The levels also upon the canal sections having not
then been finished and filled, the unprotected interior
slopes of the towing path embankmeuIs were swept
like manner, where the waters broke over the mounds
by which the guard locks were defended.
Had the canal been in operation, the damage, proba-
bly, would have been comparatively lnconsiderahie
The interior OF the canal banks would have been pro-
tected by the water in the levels The guard and out
let locks would have formed permanent barriers TO the
river and the volume of water passing over the gates
would have easily passed off through the medium OF
the wastes.
The same would hive been the result in great
measure with tic towing path sections. The slips on
these occurred al the subsdng Of the river, and had
they been supported by the eluen water OF the DANG,
would have been prevented. He'd the works upon
the line o: the Blue Ridge Canal been completed, ii
would have escaped unDjured; fo1, by the new plan
of improvement, the guard locks aEd eh'oanknlen's
were 10 be raised two !eet higher than formerly which
would have prevented the water IRON entering the
canal
The july fresh at Buchanan, was ID feet above that
Of hs36 But at the mouth or North river, owing to
the sudden rise and concentration oil the waters oil bo
rivers IT attained to most extraordinary elevation
Two heavy breaches ook place al the dam just at this
point the near lis centre ana occupying aoont one
hundred feet Of lis length; the other, around Its North
EN- abniaen,, BY the rushing Of the waters through
the canal entertainments above aad below the DAM
The waters also broke The guard lock, leaving
heavy post in the feeding canal for some distance
below, and damaging large portion of The cement in
the cemem, house, WHICH they reached IN ;he'r couFs'
The navigation through the guard gate, canal and
ou:r, lock- suspended from the 18th July TO The
2S,h September The entire navigation CT the river
was suspended net quite three weeks, tic boats, Tor
The residne Of the time, passing around the Northern
nd OF the DAM through the breaches above and below
Il.
On the Goth july G force OF 90 men hired for the
purpo.e, commenced the repair, at the dam. On the
18Th OF August it was augmented TO 80 mon, and It
continued at that amount until, for want of space TO
work in reduced; and on the 9th OF October, II
sas finally dismissed About two thirds Of the con
put under contract, and The whole will be com.
pe;ed about the end OF the year.
The operations at this point for the eres!cr part OF
the time placed under the immediate direction OF
Mr.. r. w. Tonn the resident Engineer and appear
10 have been zealously, skfully and efficiently con-
Quoted.
The amount expended upon the second division, for
repairs arising from the July fresh, sst,led Mt the
office, up to the olh November, amounts 10 $500 81,
to winch is 10 be added estimated amount Of 81 800,
soy Gl The repair of the remainder OF The damages
upon this division, must be deferred until Line rcsump
ton OF the works upon that part of the line.
The following summary statement presents an out
line vie Of The expenditures incurred and to be incur
rcd the 30ih Move mber us for the construction OF
the works IN the second grand division.
There has been expended for canal construction, IN
clnGing repairs III damages caused By tie rce Of July
last s257 s53 S4-for construction of locks $s7 6l0 20
for construction Of dams $3.50 92-amd for con-
s;ruclion Of bridges S2,s0 60, amounting in the ag.
g7ega;e 10 Soo3,oUo ~
And there is s,ill required TO complete
the DIVISION as follows: From Lvnchburg
wafer works dam to lock No. The outlet
Of the enlarged Elue Ridge canal:
For construction OF canal, including SH,-
O0O-fcr repairs Of breaches caused by
the fresh OF July last, and $1,000 for
bridges and cuyerts S21,a10
Fer construction Of locks $1,000
For construction Of dams lIGCGO
Total from Lynchburg to lock
No. 7 -- 26l, 1oo w
From lock No. :. TO the Blue
Ridge ferry on the Cushaw falla
dams:
For construction of canal, inclu-
ding "a 600 for bridges and cul.
vers and $4,000 for repairs of
breaches caused by the fresh OF
july last Sll,Go0
For construction OF locks 10000
Total from lock 10. 10 Cuslaw
fails dam $1,000 co
From The Cusi.aw falls dams 10
the North river:
For construction ofcnna, including
$4,000 for repairs of damages
sustained by the July fresh, Si250O
For construction Of locks 41,JUo
For consruc.na or raising dams 5000
60,500 90
Amounting in tie aggregate TO s721,4oo ~
A. Blue Ridge Turnpike.
It appearing to the directory, at The end OF TIE last
- a.. turn 20