Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-18
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
JAMES RIVER AND KANAwHA CoMpAN
NINTH ANNUAL GEpoaT OF THE PRESIDENT.


NINTH ANNUAL IEPoaT OF TIE PRESIDENT.
To The Stockholders ~ the
.iamts Rirer & kaaa,oha Company
In obedience TO The requirements OF the charter,
beg leave present The Stockholders the usual an
nua report embracing the operations of the past year
and the present and cond ton Of The company
In the performance of this duty, beg leave also, IN
pursuance of the plan adopted the last annual re-
port u present the subject under two general DIVISIONS
by exhibiting first, the state Of the companys works.
and secondly The state OF The company funds and IN
The review of the works, again ak OF them sue
cessve order, beginning in the East, and proceeding
thence 10 the West
1.-STArE OF THE WORKS.
TIE Richmond DOck
This establishment has been IN operation since an
early period of the year, having been opened IN Janu
airy for the reception of small craft and III April for
vessels Of larger class
II will be recolecled that the plan Of tie directory
in regard 10 the Dock 10 carry the reconstruction
only far tor the present might be indispensable to
the accommodation Of the trade, and TO defer the con-
pleton Of such parts would admit Of pos,ponement
until the funds Of the company should be in more pros
porous condition..
OF the parts of the improvement selected for early
execution, portion still unfinished and pro-
gress the period of the opening OF The dock This
portion Of The unfinished work has alSo since that pc
Rod been enlarged by the pushing some parts OF 1t 10
more advanced state than that indicated IN the last
last annual report and by the addition OF several other
Jobs which the experience OF the has suggested
requisite with view to ensure The early success OF
the work.
In the Of the operation of the DOCK it has been
discovered that in order to exclude the land wash from
the neighboring hills partial construction Of the
wood framing around the slips, frs, proposed, would
be insufficient, and that Nth view TO this object, II
would be necessary 10 raise this framing 10 us foil
height, and to surnount il with stone wall FIVE feet
the side immediately in front of the hills, and the
other sides of one half Of that git
Instead, also, of the partial execution Of The
bridge 9Th street, at first intended, by carrying
up the abutmens 10 the level of the water surface only
and suspendng the work at that point, until some
venient period hereafter, II was Uncovered that tho
contemplated postponcment would conc, harshly and
inluriousy with The nteres, aud convenience Of the
propretors the South side OF the Dock, and il was
therefore, decided to change also this part Of the org
nal plan of arrangement and to finish the new bridge
previous to tha removal Of the old drawhdge upon tue
line of 18th street
1t appeared upon experiment. that the level grade of
Water street. bordering the North de OF the 'ck,
did admit Of the dra maze necessary carry off the
land wash from The hills, aad to prevent 1t from again
becoming Of annoyance that $ de oi the
work. Hence il was detarmned the most efficient
and proper remedy 10 the street and the support
ing wall in direction towards The East, from 18Th
street to 22nd street distance Of 1850 FRET and thus
TO afford descending grade IN an opposite direction
sufficient TO give outlet 10 the drain waters through
The neighboring channel OF Shockoe creek.
The abrasion OF the high waters, The Of the
past season, upon the entertainments contiguous To the
aqueduct over Shockoc creek, has demonstrated The
necessity of guarding that structure from similar nju
ry in future, by The speedy annexation OF the wing
walls These wing walls from considerations OF eco
nomy, have heretofore been omitted, but they are ROW
added t. the class of improvements which cannot be
any longer prudcntiy postponed.
In order 10 hasten the opening OF the dock, the wa
Ter was let in, To adm the Introduction Of yes
sells as high up the drawbrdge, previous 10 the
,noval of the deposite from the quadtanguar basin
situated Immediately above that point. The excavation
in this part Of the work, left after operation
Tor the dredging machine. AT the period nj the last
annual meeting, the intention OF the directory to
provide extension OF the chaGnel of fall depth and
hundred feet wide, along the stone walling which had
already been erected the North side OF the BASIN,
up 18Th street, and TO lay for the present The
completion of the excavation, in he bottom OF the resi-
due of the basin, and the erection OF The supporting
walls around the remainng sides OF the quadrangle
But the experience OF the year. and careful eXa
minaton of the subject since The erection OF the new
bridge at 18th street, have induced the directory to
change their first determination and to proceed at once
with the execution Of THIS work. The additional wal
ling is mms dIaely required IN order 20 sustain the
high entertainments, which indispensable TO the pro-
per grading OF the bridge and - the construction
Of good carriage way leading around the basin, to the
property Of individuals the South side OF the dock,
and sound economy Dictates the policy Of af'rd'ng ex-
tended and varied accommodat on Ia the trade, at a
point 10 the BASIN on the hi, dhd u the COM
Rercial part OF the city
The addition 10 the aggregate sun, already expended
at this point, resulting from the prompt execution OF
these various improvements is source OF regret 10
the directory; but they consider themselves jus''ied ~
authorizing it, upon the ground of it's necessity, to the
enrly of the work, and of the ultimate ability
of the establishment to repay to The general funds OF
the company such portion OF the amount as is mol 10
be directly charged upon the revenue OF The dock
The execution of the unfinished portions of these
improvements will probably be closed by the Isl Of ia
nuary next, with the exception only Of the slips at
the lower end of the dock which are not expected 10
be completed until some time in the course OF the en-
suing Spring.
During the fresh in the month of April last the high
waters forced passage into the dock, by breaking
down the embankment OF the lower feeder, between
Elaxall's mill and Mayo's bridge, and rising TO an ex
traordinary elevation, passed all the works except
the high embankmenis bordering the river from the
outlet lock up to the dfawbridge. The damage re
sul,inp from this ovef w, inclusive of the repair OF
the embankments, did not exceed the sum OF S30,-
The fact, that the flashed entertainments over,oPped
the vast height of the waters this occasion, fur
nishes satisfactory evidence, that upon The final COM
pleton Of the works, the dock will be July protected
against The food waters of the river. The high wa
ters which prevailed in the month of September lst
likewise found by breaking down the fresh en-
bankment with which the former breach had been
mended, and swept through the dock, bat wiihoGt
overlooking the works, leaving any other damage u
consequence to repair The embankment between The
bridge and the mills, will shortly be raised TO full
height and strengthened, eiectualy hereafter TO
shut that point any further nroad from the river
ut the time Of high foods.
In the course Of the eleven months which elapsed
between the Is, December, 1892 aud the 3ls Of Octo
Der last, the payments made account of the i'm
and repairs which have been specified, and
for coal stages to accommodate the coal trade, wood
patforms for facilitating the lading and unadng of
vessels and sundry other miscellaneous items OF ex
pense, have amounted to aggregate Of S34 S73
54 OF this amount, the sum of S45l6 20 was paid
for the reconstruction Of the dredging machine, and
$4,000 40 for clearing the channel below the lock;