Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-20
SEVENTH
ANNUAL REPORT
fcosrIsuEp.l
9. Connection Sih Tide Water.

examination % he
directors and ITS officers Tor several years past an
has received degree of consideration propnrtior
ute to its importance to all the great interests cor
necied with the line. To enabe the beard 10 mai
n I1deious selection, and to avoid excessive dan
ages Tor property to be condemned o. purchased ,
secure proper location tor the work various rnuts
have been surveyed and have been asccrt,ined
be prSciictDir; of oil which routes, enlarged plat
and detailed estimates OF cost have been prepare.
and placed on Me IN the Office OF the company. q
these vl-ioJs locations, the two which presented IN
strongest claims To attention, were the old route OF
he hill 10y which the James River Company en-
nccted the basin with Il c head OF the tide; and
new route descending across the ormory lot 10y IN
margin OF the river into HaXill's mill race an
through thNt race TO n point below the mills. wher
the two rouG lntcTseci each other, and f,om hic
they might have common outlet INTO tide water.
The question of preference between these tw
locations down the hill, being materially dependcn
upon the amour, Of damages to DO paid upon then
respectively; and the negotiations with the indivi
dual proprictors which have long been in progress
having not vet been entirely closed, dehnitiv
choice has get been made by the board. II is thei
expectation, however, that these obstacles 20 u &C.
lection will DC very shortly removed.
From the point Of intersection of the old ahC
new locations the foot Of the hill there are out
side Of the dock several practicable modes Of com
municition with tide water which SURVEYED
and cs.mltsd by the company's engineers, m con
nec,ion with the routes descending the hal, ard
were embraced N the plats relative TO those routes
already referred 20 file IN the cOmpany's Of
fec. The execution Of either Of these would
amount 90 literal fllfiment Of the obligations OF
the charter. Edf when considered as suitable
termination for great line OF improvement or as
Convenient; medium Of communication bs;ween the
upland boats and tide water vessels, or even a
Ildcious investment Of capital, rome Of them seem
81 to merit attention IN comparison with the line
through the Richmonj dock. provided 1t should he
Durch ised At moderate price snd should be Judi
ously altered and improved.
Upon investigation OF the past revenue OF the
dock 1t appeared that for each Of the two last years
OF lis operations under the charge of the late com
pany, IL amounted TO the sum OF about SIS 5000
and II Is reasonable TO conclude that there viii ne
gradual future Increase corresponding with the erl
Qua lucmenteu ton OF the tonnage and revenue Of
the cana. The accruing revenue of this eStab sh-
mcnt, ii repaired and again put into operation and
united with the canal. would IN sll probability fur
uish abundant means, not only 70 detray the eX-
penses of annull repairs and superintendent, and
10 meet che interest OF sum sufficient To pay tor 10,
and 10 improve and connect u with the canal, but
g provide sinking fund oftwo and half per Ger l.
Tor ihc gfsdgai motion OF loan 10 that amount.
When, therefore, IN the month Of February las,
IL appeared that the dock would shortly be sold
under decree uf the superior court OF law and
clanceTy Cor the county Of HenricO, the board OF
directors applied 20 the legislature for permission 10
purchase o., win the right OF taking sven tolls
thereon now allowed bv law, together with
all us other rights and privileges; except only, that
instead Of the cove rlmeat OF the dock Tor the time
being. IL should he under the government: of the
james river and Kanawhl company, aud might be
used also for connecting the navigation 90 their
canal with the navigation of tide water. This APP
plcaiion appeared 10 meet with universal lpproba-
ton and the ball was unanimously sustained 10
both branches Of the legislature.
On the 9th July Inst, me whole OF the property
OF the dock company was sod al puoiic auction m
the city Of Richmond, when It was bought Tor the
James river and Kanawha company at the pnce Of
500 600. With the exception of cash payment
Of Spots, which was required 10 cover the CXpen-
ses OF the sale, this purchase was made on a credit
OF one two, three and four years, and bonds dolly
executed under the corporate sea. OF The company
were given Tor the punctual payment OF the pug
chase money.
by reference 10 the provisions Of the act author
zing the purchase, q copy Of which Is herewith
communicated, n will be perceived that the c0mpa-
ny Is authorized 10 execute liens upon the property
purchased upon It's profits, not only 20 secure the
payment OF the purchase money, but a.so 10 Sc
cure the payment of eny money which they may
deem !, advisable 20 raise either Tor the purpose Of
repairing or improving the dock, or Tor the purpose
of connecting ITS navigation with the navigation OF
the basin. But in order render this privilege Of
borrowing money on the credit OF the dock income,
available for these important objects, II -essa.
~ 10 place II in a condition for active and uniniet-
rupIec operation; which however, could not be ef.
fcced without considerable repairs, alterations and
improvements, all of which were ioTeseen and con-
sidered before the board Of directors decided upon
the purchase. To excavaie from the bottom OF the
bered, and 10 place II on the embankmeut 10
raise Il up 10 a height sufficient 10 keep out the
foods Of the river 10 Orow IN aqucduc' over Sh0c6
O. Geek carried down 10 foundation OF rock, rs
eit,c,uay get rid Of the source OF deposit by giy-
Ing the waters Of the creek outlet underneath
the dock, TO clear away the De .1st when now %
the entrance 10 the dock lock- and 0srh5p- 90
rebuild The lock Itsef OF another Location. 20 con-
struct inc OF slips reaching from 90 80 20 20 Inc
lower extremity OF the dock, so tI invt: ana %
augment the trade 10y giving proper accouuo iluon
70 the .ading and un.Id.ng OF vessels coming t.om
below 10 clear away ne draw bridge which uow
restricts the fee use Of the upper part NJ TIE DOCK,
ana To substitute 10 by permanent bird q u0.uL
near the squeduct above; these, and u lew ofnersi
muar jobs, calling altogether Tor 40 expenditure Of
uoout SCOOUO, were the indispensable conditions
TO the attainment Of the revenue % the work.
To this extent, therefore Uut 20 this extent on e.
did the bolrd Of directors deem i proper 20 dspaf,
from their late accustomed policy 900 regard 90 fur
Their issue of post notes, and, that shape ~ make
an advance of the general credit OF the pluy to
he REIN bursed, here itef, from Inc special fumes Of
the cock; and, according - The course OF zoe QUE
tumn, they have placed under contract the mos. of
this work, with tie view q getting THIS par: 81 The
line into operation M an early 7eroc DO tie spring.
g. Progr,st Of egni'rueiioH "a hs second airisi0p.
Wien the water was drawn Of % ihs close of the
jus, winter. 90 order 90 n Ec WY FOR ttc euarze.
rncut OF the tr1fk of lh- Blue RIDE canal the 1s-
suciaied works upon that part oi The line were r.ac.
ed under She direction cf TIE experimenting ergf.
uecr: and. OCCASIONS have presented tfafule YES
la the course Of the past season, these works Havs
received from that officer the attention that was
due
The river lock near the upper dam wes finishes
and put into operation e1rIy 100 he spring OF ihe
yelr. T. has answered the destined purpsse Ut pIs.
ing The nver boats engaged in the trade wIlu tue
country above; but its Uss has been occasional y
oOstruc,ed and .ncommoIed ~ Troublesome ccpo-
Sis from thc river 90 the stages of high wafer Ear.
~ ~ the summer, the slope also in tue i1wcs dam
vas finished by the CONTRACTOR 20 whom the iIu bed
been ,oi, and the work b.ing well executed, 90 luf
cher acciuents have since happened az that point on
the line. IN the course of the fa' hKe,glse. wItt
view 90 give greater facility and safety DO cr0ssn!
Of thc periods o high winds OF floods iu the ryef
tnc ferry was furnished with new and strong en-
uon1ry rope, outlined from factory az toe north
1nd, recf nty, the upper dom has 0cCn strengthens
10y the erluug of supporting crib ut % point ne1
rs northern extremity, where D. hlo nc appear
once Of giving WY.
1hr0Uehou, the present year, the new works
this division have continued in steady p.osrss. up1
t1c reduced scale Of operation prescribed Ivy tl
board.
The introduction Of two skiiful and experience.
masons, MS supcunt ondcnfs or masonry in cha ..
cond division. has thus far been attended win ID.
hlppcst results; the plans and specifications stio
figidIy enforced, and the masonry COT which here
O. vast amount IN the dlvIslonl cvabiting ever
ahtfc the good effects Of the system I'm a csref.
EXCLUSION OF bad mltcriils, and most worthwhile
style Of construction.
The posture Of the works in The second division
In point of f1rwlrdncss and of 8ctus. cost I'D. ,l Do
I5,h day uf November, 1871, is SET lprtu .u ml.