Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-18

he force in the immediate service OF the company "
increased height varying from two to twenty
es, having been gwen y g If - - ooo
I, will he rpcol!ected, that there was ioeA - W.
,oce called SAMPSON farm, upon The line Oh Tue ou
canal and that in the enlargement OF Inc ~oln' a"
with view of saving the expense OF ioch' a 80
keeper at this point this lock was dispensed wi,n' ao
,La two 10 vels aboye and below, thrown INTO one
long l-vel. commencing bt the maidens Adventure
onerd lock one mile and two-enths above Inc beaver
dam aoueduct and descending regularly Tor tne e's.
lance of sixteen miles, al the rate OF one-en.n ., o
,o The mile Third annual report pnges 2l2 "A" II
will be recollected that the company, IN consequea.e
NJ the noston of the pre-e xlsng dam at MAIDEN az
venture and the vast expense oil change oil iocat'"
were compelled to pass the Beaver dam creek upon
low level by means of On aqueduct actng upon .n
Svpbon principle; and that IN order 10 facilitate tue
ossooa nj The water Of the creek and of the drlen
sand Underneath this structure, ITS cross dimensions
were restricted so to afford an interior wdt OF ony
feet the surface OF the water IN Tue
duct and of only feet at the level oil Inc moor
Fifth annual report page 500. In the operation OF
the canal not only before, but since the introduction
of n Teeding trunk in aid of the Madens Adventure
guard lock- il found impractlcable, especially al
low stages Of the river, 10 MAINTAIN tue requse M"
proper nth of water near the upper END OF ths ohS
level and this deficiency of depth, whether arising tom
an unfortunate error the location of the guard lock-
by which was raised rather above the proper point OF
Gle vstion or from the draft upon the upper part
of the level for supply of the long descending level
below or from other cause, proved to be con
siderable ANNOYANCE the heavily laden freight boats
navigating the canal This class of boats, likewise, IN
ascending the canal, found it difficult 10 stem the cur
rent in The aqueduct, arising from its limited capacity
and the great amount Of water necessary TO be PasSeo
through il; and order 10 the resistance,
were frequently subjected 10 delays and charges in pro-
curing the assistance of extra power.
To recty The difficulties OF both these points, II APP
peared 10 the directory, upon consideration OF all the
circumstances that the cheapest and most etectua re-
medy would be the replacement of the lock at Sanp
son farm, and the division of the long level into two
short lsvels conformity TO the policy formerly pur
sued Accordingly, in the course OF the past Sumner,
new and permanent lock put IN progress, without
however, any interruption to the trade OF the ine and
has recently been finished at cost to The company oil
about 81 900.
It is proper to state, that the three last mentioned
improvements were put into simultaneous execution
and FASTENED in their progress, partly IN order to ac
te and favor the introduction upon the line OF steam
packets operating with tho Erickson proPelers and
that with the same object in view the removal of bars
from the bottom of the canal, was pressed with aug
men,ed force signals +, Indicate the readiness OF the
locks TO approaching boats, were provided, temporary
permission granted 10 packet boats, to take III wood al
the locks To this extent the directory tell seli nu-
thorzed go, under the impression, that the expert
ment was one in which the whole community felt con-
siderable interest," and, if successful, might rebound to
the advantage of the company. 1t will be perceived,
however that with the exception OF the temporary sus-
pension of police regulation at the locks, extending
to horse packets as we'll as those propelled by steam
the whole Of the adopted by the directory, in
relation to this subject conducive to The advantage
OF every interest on the line.
To facilitate and economist the administration Of the |
canal, the directory authorized the erection Of two
store houses for the reception preservation and ready
delivery Of supplies and materials occasionally wanted
along The nethe in the first eciion, at the head
of the basin Richmond; the other in tie second
ton at lock No. 40: the latter being provided by n
transfer lls point Of the rope house at the out-t
locks a, the Joshua falls pond, where il longer
used in connection with tn. rope ferry
With The same objects III yew the directory nutho
rsed the purchase Of two boats for the of the two
su perinendents in their respective sections one of
them eng of a larger SIZE, and intended also for the
occasional the president and directors of the
company in their visits of examination along the line
of works In The navigation of these boats, the horses
furnished at the charge of the respective superin.
tenden;s, but the necessary attendance, not exceed
ing two hands t, each boat, may be drawn from The
annual hrelngs in the service Of the company and
each superintendent is required to pass through his
ton at lea, fortnight either in his boat on
horseback; and at least once in every month in his boat
by day, and in every two months in his boat by
night The occasional Of such boats is highly con.
yenent and advantageous, enabling the snperIn,end-
ents land and examine objects on both sides OF the
canal transport and deliver at the points where
ted variety of articles, such glass, OIL implements,
&c and to at all hours OF the night proper
degree ot attention and discipline at The locks. They
serve also upon occasions floating homes for the
pprintendenis enabling them 10 dwell at important and
difficult points, and furnishing them every where upon
the line OF their duties with the necessary means OF
lodging and subsistence. Such boats used by the
superintendent The Erie canal md IL appeared to
the directory fit and proper that equal facilities should
be allowed here, where the supef'nte ndenc'es are OF
twice the length of those in New York. and the duties
10 be performed ore not only laborious, but involve
high degree Of responsibility on the part of the officers
employed.
In approaching the important subject OF the expen-
ditures the canal, during The year, 1t should be
recoeced, that the fiscal year of the company, which
formerly ended the Both OF November, was changed
md made end the 3lst October, and that in
sequence OF this change the last fiscal year embraced
only the eleven months between the Ist of December
1912, and the LIST Of November, 1913 II should also
be remarked, by way of preliminary explanation, that
owing the embarrassed condition Of the company for
several years past il has been necessary to resort
tensvely to The system of credit aud postponed pay
ments, the result OF which has been TO throw into
ceeding years, the payments incurred for preceding
years. In consequence, the Secretarys usual state
ments Of actual receipts and disbursements do not
indicate the exact amount discussed during each par
tcular year FOR the ordinary expenses and repairs of
the canal. Referring TO The subjoIned statement IA
il will he that leaving Of view The accounts
for the Western Improvements and for the Richmond
dock, and excluding also the payment of interest," the
reduction of loans and the redemption of scrip the
dsburse mens of the company have
amounted TO Sl23, 293 SO
OF this amount it is estimated that the
portion paid account Of expenses
which accrued previous to the lst Dec
1912, was 56,35s 6s
Leaving, for the balance pad on account
of expenses and operations belonging to
the eleven months aforesaid, S6G,935 CO
This balance comprises the following
penditures which do not properly belong
10 ordinary expenses and repairs, viz
Sundry small additions, i'm
pruvemenls and reconslruc-
tons at various points along
the line, soy G3
Extraordinary repairs rendered
necessary by the fresh of July,
1912, 6.546 %
Extraordinary repairs rendered
necessary by the freshes Of
April and September, lS43,
about 1000 90
Occasional employment and
penses Of engineers in the su-
perintendence Of the work in
the three last items, and in