Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-02

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large snare OF public attention. what views could pre-
sent that would be familiar every intelligent and re-
hecnS man Tor whom the subject possesses any Interest,"
Surely farther development OF the extensive utility and
importance OF the undertaking can be necessary
AetHg under this impression aud doubtless more in ac-
eosdanee with your expectations shall proceed without
further preface 10 discharge briefly the duty imposed upon
the President by the bylaws TO Law before YOU eat every
general meeting repor, the condition OF the nv the
state OF its finances and such other may deem
interesting" Tor this purpose, and with 10 clear
and facility OF reference, shall follow generally the
order heretofore adopted the reports OF the President
and arrange the subjects OF this communication under the
following heads, viz;
lst The condition Of the works.
ID. The of the finances; and,
Sd. The plan and future prospects OF the work.
l. THE CONDITION OF THE WORKS.
RICHMOND DOCK.
This work important the city OF Richmond as the
only safe harbor aud convenient landing udewaer
commerce aud 10 the company ; a medium OF commuri
cation between udewater and the canal remains in the
faher ansuishns condition reported you last
nua meeting. For the Of outlet dock ADAPTED TO
the eXgeneies Of the trade Of the po;t the of the
dock hitherto fallen short Of the reasonable expeea
tons OF the company. The present lock built by the old
dock company az point where only mud foundation
could be obtained Is detective IN plan, aud capable OF al
hitting only the smaller class OF vessels navigating the
the river below tie falls. The necessity retaining il
io une will be by reference tho Sih and 10Th
annual reports forced upon the company BY lie 6nan
cal embarrassmcnts while engaged In the Reconstruction
OF the dock. The attention OF the board directed to
this subject al early day after entered on the du-
ties OF my office, IN the hope that some arrangement
| might be effected for the erection OF a permanent
stone lock Of enlarged dimensions, by means Of funds
\ raised on pledge Of the surplus tolls but tho at
tempt was abandoned on ascegtaining that the com
pany, under existing laws, does possess the pow
change the site OF me lock one admitting of
solid foundation. Bot the importance Of speedy and
efficient action on the subject Is daily becoming more
apparent The penshabe materials OF which the lock i.
eom-osed are fast yielding the destructive hand OF me
and the period nigh when will longer answer even
the Inadequate purpose which at present
Moreover. the financial prospects of the Gonna
undereX sting circumstances, Indicated by the ex
Peence OF the Is clear that reconstruct
the lock Its present defective plan and foundation or 10
repair TO extent approaching expense nearly TO the
cost OF such ecOnsucuon ali that the board expect
to accomplish. Either alternative, for obvious reasons
greatly 10 be deprecated Let rather hope revival
Of the spt OF Improvement may induce the Lgs AZURE az
It's approaching session, 10 afford and the right
10 construct lock capable Of admitting whole tide " A.
teriTaie % the port OF Richmond, aud 70 give 10 tine
dock the high grade OF utility to the public and productive.
ness 10 the company, of which 1t is obyouy susceptible
Should this hope be realized, ADDITIONAL elevation IL
will be collected be given walls of ihe dock
order the depth requisite Tor larger
vessels which may then be admitted TINS again will ere
ate the necessity VI giving q the along the northern
margin higher gTld Than II possesses. IL Is not 10
D. doubted tiai Whenever this necessity the city a-
lnotucs "hp nave conuoi 81 the street, will promptly
place II ~ condition suitable for the accommod alton OF
the public; sui Is proper 10 sdyen the subject here ss
we the fact that the company does not possess the
power 10 improve the order shield the dnects-
y from censlie on account Of It's present condition. ina
much by OF defective drainage and the character
o the SOIL 1t BE- rendered almost impassabe by every heavy
RAM and becomes perfect qulgmIre during the winter
months thus cutting "a SONS Of the most imp9t-
tsnt points OF the dock.
IL would also cali your the power cxereised
the dock aud It's landings by harbour master who
receives BIZ app IMMINENT from the Hastings Of Rich
mo1d. Tins Is under authority Of the gene
tai law rcgu un. public harbonrs and laadinz. The
dock however is an -lufca ani ling belonging the
public, but TO private corporation acting undfr charter
with specific powers iJr the regulation Of its own a. .
and internal police on the ono hand and specific
tor the protection OF the public other ard these D.
without any mention or implied recognition of tic oce ~
HARBOUR master Just construction Of the laws wou d.
seems 20 me take the compsnys works Of the courg
OF the officer IN question, especially where its execis
m4hi interfere wl the regulations VI the company uuI
the legal acts Of ir author zcd agents. To avoid oil i-
Guilty the subject cully suggest that dccIar,to.
~ act Of the Legislature be applied for which shall cc-y
define the inicndmsnt Of the sung ags and thus mr.
vent IN future tie Inconvenience which scent experience
has shown may arse out Of the cashng powers which
have just ndycfied
the receipts from the dock during tho past year nave
been Sll51l %, and the expenditures s. $50 g. shev
ing net revenue Of S6,ls5 81, which has been applied
10 the cdemptnn II certificates 4 debt Issued on account
Of It's construction, leaving still outstanding S325l 90
chaeoblc TO the aceruirg TIE excess Of the
expenditures over those OF the previous year has been
nH enemy 10 the heavy cot OF repairing the mud machine
which mad become almost wreck, and Of building scows
10 lend 10 the work just commenced Of drodgrg the
ctu1ncl below he outlet lock. IL sweodby the ox-
,.
/ dock, Of required by o. G city auhonu,s.
With economy. the board has effected eh,pps
IN the management Of the Dock by requiring the lock keep
or 10 discharge the duties which had been performed by
tho dJcknister, ard by assigning the tolg hercr on
the canal, with increase of 5000 hs r4'sry tho
additional duty Of collecting tho dockage This Office,
with assistant has been enabled very satisfactorily Il,
execute the duties thus devo.y5d upon him. while tho
arrangement has resulted in saving Of expenses ON Inc
DOCK al The rate Of between eight end nine hundred dol
| lars peraonum.
Tie Canal Jsfssen RiehmoAd and LVgsLL.,1
The binss Of the canal have been bocicd during the
post season 10 very severe tests by of u1usu
ally heavy foin' precipitaung large volumes At water
gllnsi MON "hlni aud by ihe pressure aud destructive
elects of repeated esheis irom without The small l.
mount OF nlIy Which they have sustained rom h. "a eau
zee, warrants boo stating tnnt they have become cos,
dated by time o. such degree correct nny rpcco
ton which might have existed bon their oginsi eo5st,e
i'1' AID i11t with tho exception Of few points, they may
now be- regarded as tgu.y strong aud permanent gh The
tmDankmcnis ol 8ly canal in the country.
The defective foundations and other mporfooona II tho
mechanical structucr have been and will continue 10 bo
ho principal source OF expense Tor rcpaifH. Mot Of the
breaches which have occurred during tho past year fpd
there have been Hcvrfa may BIZ atcrbod e. tese ,,,
u wall be DE innfe policy Oi the board, 1r a. hs lr,
ted means Of The company will allow, 10 prevent the ne
gnent interruption 60 hc navigation which aurc Of tsso
works occasiDn7, b. tmCy fcconstructon of some ~
Nom ad BY und'fpnning aud oros'wnng others 10 o.
o. fend'f mem permanent and secure This tysfrr, has
nfendy boon commenced by causing deposits II atom, a.,
Pc in1dc % those works which have boon found fp , h,
The most critical situation aud will be- continued ,o ~, ~
tent which 30 be- hoped will exhibit beneficial M cite i'm
nndaioy 900 efsaniug The number Ol bfcac o. and cye
tuaIy n considerable reduction II the cost Of annual re-
psiu. ~ addition Il, The the washing, ,nd ,.J.a,
which have been Accomplishing for several years have 70
ceivcd such an accession from The rains Of he pa ou
MGR That The clearing 81 the canal from one end 4, tho
other can no longer be postponed All these eayses 60,
oncd vii tender necessary suspend the navigation n,
period Of louf OF five weeks. The dams with Inc a.
eepon Of Boshcfs, which has been partially repst,ed
hsve sustained luo OF no dsrnsge by M, Crssh, ~ A.,
pis season. they will, however. cell Tor heavy orpenoi
ivre ihs yoarn The item Il repairs whilst the entire recon
hazard, be much longer delayed.