Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1843-01-12
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
Or The Presds 10 The Stockholders Of The James Rirer
and kdna,cha Company.

|
But this was also among the most remarkable floods
m modern tunes ier It's absolute height and relative ele
vaton Its height above low water mark in the rveI,
At Calls MILL about IL niles below Iynchburg was -
feet; at the Rivanna aqueduct II %; feet and at
various points upon the whole line of the river east ot
the Blue Ridge. ranged. according To local ccumsan-
ces from minimum OF - feet to maximum OF q
feet. Al the head Of the Blue Ridge Canal the water
to extraordinary hegh IN consequence o the
unon at that point Of great floods from both branches Of
the rivcr.
The relative height of this in comparison with former
eses. appears 10 have been greatest nthe mountain re-
glon and especially in the ueghborhood the Allegheny
Ridge. Upon ileuc OF the east OF the Blue Ridge
II certainly surpassed any fresh that has occurred within
the last ~ years. and exceeded by difference generally
of several feet, that of the year lela which, II will be
ecoeccd formed the standard OF reference or tho oca
ton Of the Canal.
| regret To state, that In the result of this most
extraordinary and sudden rise IN the river that
the canal in both the first and second grand divisions,
was extensively submerged and sustained heavy dam
ages. in addition 10 considerable INJURY done al the
same time 10 the turnpike road between Covngton aud
Lewisbnrg
The overflow in the first division occurred at various
places between Richmond and lynchburg, constituting
altogether aggregate distance oi "a miles. The great
est portion Of The damage sustained confined 10 the
embaukmcnts, which Were broken in many as lO3
different places upon the line OF your divisions the flood
water generally coming IN Immediately below HE locks
running down the levels and bursting ont At the weak
points here the mound of the canal had not been
thoroughly settled and was still unprotected 10y vegea
BILE cover
The shocks to the numerous works of art on this
division much less severely felt. aud the amount
Of injury Inflicted was comparatively incodsidera-
BILE although from the character OF OF the sub
lecs of damage and the time necessarily consumed
in their repair il proved 10 be the chief cause OF the
consequent interruption to the navigation Of the line
Al the Joshua S Fall dam. the current passed the
mound al the Southern abnmeni, aud swept away, to
gether with two and half acres OF the adjoining low
grounds. and caused n breach o abont POO feet wide
and from 20 feet in depth below the level of low
water mark. thus forming passage Tor the whole vol
ume OF water the river around the Southern abumcnt
VI the dam.
At Beaver creek the water rose so feet above the
level of low water mark, ami passed the top Of the
double culveu. destroying 80 feet of the upper and
one half OF the lower arch, On the sldo next the river,
and carrying away about 1000 cubic yards Of embank
ment.
At several other points on the lnc injury Of MINOR
grade sustained by other ofthe v...s
One of the ,-..,,- Dmckwaior aqueduct having
been insuicienty fastened by anchors Ia the iounda
ton, partially lifted up by the upward pressure
OF the water as ii rose. The Temporary trunk al
Pudding Hal injured and portion Of the plank
ing carried away. and the limhes of four of the spans
and the piers Of the Tye river towing path bridge and
likewise those of the first farm bruge below that point
swept off and lodged in the neighborng low
grounds
As soon as the water had subsidized sufficiently 10 as
certain the character and of this APPALLING
OF damage, measures for the restoration OF the work
adopted with The prompiude and energy demanded by
the great interests at stake The general outline Of these
measures was 10 conduct the repair of the embankments
by enlarged coinpany's force, operating under the
pe,'nrnden OF repairs aud the repair ct the works Of
art by contractors operating under the supervision Of the
Chief Eng neer: but the two systems cpTocally
brought 10 aid each other, especially upon the upper part
of the division where considerable portion Of the earth
work was let 10 the contractors
The INST great object was 10 repair tho enlankmenis
and To re open the Canal with all practical despatch
high up the I've river feeder. leaving the breaches
above that point ilr a subsequent and more gradual opo
ration lnasmueh that porti1n of the could
net be restored until the completion Of tho work at the
Joshua Falls Dam.
notwithstanding the financial difficulties with which
they had 10 contend, the Directory fortunately
BLEED 10 secure the prompt concentration OF powerful
force upon the work consisting of 100 men procured
from the contractors the Richmond Dock; 50 obtain
tanned By the influence of one of the directors Nh. sam
son from the Midlothian Goa pits lao hired along the
line and the Company regular annual force Of 50 hands
constituting in the whole an aggregate force Of 400
men.
This force having been suitably distributed through
out line Of los miles, extending from the city of Rich
mond to the mouth Of 1ye river managed with
great energy and effect by The superintendent and his
ssianls insomuc that although from state Of en-
bankmcns, operations could not be commenced ill the
18th Of july yet the necessary repairs finished so
as to let in the water al the Madens Adventure feeder
the 9 st of the month, and the Seven Islands and
at Tye river the 9th of August and in few days af
those periods respectively. the navigation from those
points completely restored.
During The progress Of the work portions Of this
mnm force wore dismissed and the middle of Au-
gust a detachment of about 20 sent up to
strengthen the Company's force at the head Of the
Blue Ridge cana but notwithstanding these reduc-
lions, there upon the first Division from the 18Th
July I'LL the 2Oh Sept general average Of about 200
men.
The breach ii Joshua Falls Da mwas stopped by sink
ing cribs OF timber with base of 45 feet in breadth
which afterwards raised a plano about 0 feet be
low the comb of the DAM and then carried up the dc
sired height by means back interior aud front logs
and ties the low side with slope of three feet base
each foot Of rise aud eupper side with slope of IL
the slopes being covered with A inch plank, well Sc
cured by wrought iron bolts 10 the tmbers underneath
The Southern abuiment OF the dam is constructed
of cut stone laid hydraulic cement and it is
plated to extend guard bank from the abument the
negloring hills.
The double culycr at Beaver creek having twice pre-
viosy beon injured by iosheis and repeated trials hav
ing shown its nrapacy TO give proper vent 10 the wa
tiers of the creek decided TO take il down to the
water line and rebuild il upon economical plan. sus
ceptbe ospeedy execution, and calculated to avert the
recurrence of such injuries hereafter Permanent abnt-
menis Of cut have been erected and upon these
substantial wooden trunk of Al feet span, has been pla
ced, giving water way for the creek OF more than
double the capacity Of the culyen for which 1t is SUI
stutc.
The Backwafer aqucduc has been readustod and pro
ner secue and the abuimenis of the aqunduc nj Pud