Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-30
JAMES RIVER AND xANAwuA COMPANY.
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REPORT OF THE RESIDEN
To The Stockholders of the
hnz.s Riner and Konn,nhn Cornnann.

To The Stockholders of the
James Riyer and Kana,oha Company:
In presenting 10 you the annual report requi-
red by the bye.laws, al the close OF the com.
pauy's fiscal year. which duty has fallen upon
me on this occasion, beg leave 10 adopt, with
bu, slight variation, the method pursued in late
years by my predecessors, and TO speak Of
lst. The condition Of The existing improve
ments;
%. The slate OF the finances;
Sd. The resumption OF the works; and
4th. The plans and prospects OF The company.
/. CONDITION or EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS.
Richmond Dock.
Concerning this portion Of The line considered
as work in operation there is liIlle 10 be COM
munica,ed In the last annual report, the made
quacy OF The outlet lock to admit the larger class
OF vessels, was adveried 10 rs a prominent cause
OF the languishing condiion Of the business OF
the dock, and Of the low stale OF lis revenue
That cause still exists, and produces The same Ell
feet A belief has prevailed, moreover, that The
gates and .imbers OF the lock were so much de.
cayed as 10 be momenlarily liable 10 give way
casually that would delay and perhaps injnre
the vessels happening 10 be IN the dock al The
time. This work, however, has been very recent
" repaired by renewing both sets Of gates, splicing
their quoin posts, loading their balance beams,
strengthening the lock by proper appliances. BY
this means the safely OF The gales, and The lacli
ties Tor working lhem have been greatly increas-
ed, and the lock itself placed in condition equal,
with proper care, 10 line efficient accommodation
of all vessels that can be admitted by it, until The
completion OF the new and enlarged lock shortly
to be undertaken. That This will have The effect
of restoring The confidence Of shipmasters in It's
safety, seems probable from the iacl that on The
day after the completion of these repairs, there
were, as am assured, more vessels in the dock
a. The same time, than there ever had been before
since its purchase and resuscitaiion by The COM
pany. II is 10 be hoped, therefore, that the exer-
lions OF a rival interest 10 prevent vessels from
entering this commodious haven, will mol cont.
nue. TO be as triumphant as heretofore, and Iha,
next year the revenue VIII DC propoluonaoly ln-
creased.
Besides the repairs above mentioned, another
EXPENSE under the head OF extraordinary repairs
was incurred in July last in consequence oil a
breach which took place in The wall, and heavy
inner embankment on The east side Of Shockoe
creek. north OF the aqueducl. II was occasoned
by leakage through an old wall oil open mason
~. which had become imbedded in The earth just
without the northern margin oil the dock, and had
not been removed and substituted by clay pud-
dlino Perhaps its existence was not known
The breach was ID yards wide, and carried away
about AIS cnbc yards OF embankment. The wa
ter, moreover, rushing against The wall on the op.
posi.e side OF the creek, oosened its foundations,
so thai 10 yards othe masonry ofthe two walls had
TO be taken down and rebuilt The breast wall
between the abutments Of the dock bridge p.even
led the main portion OF The dock from being
drawn down so low as 10 interrupt lis ordinary
business The repair of this breach cost 1862
Is, which together with the sum OF $l3l 05 paid
on account OF the work upon the lock, makes an
aggregate Of 1888 80 expended for extraordinary
repairs during the year.
Under The head Of ordinary repairs The heavi-
est expense OF the year was incurred IN rehlling
the steam dredger, passing it through The lock
and working i, in the channel below. Besides
This. for The better accommodation OF the GOLFERS,
the coal spouts were repaired The embankmcnt
and streets leading TO them improved, and The
flooring OF the dock bridge renewed. These Sc
veral repairs, together with some minor JOBS,
have swelled the item Of ordinary repairs to the
sum OF S2730.
The gross dockagc collected during the wear has
amounted 10 1922 so
To which add for rent Of quay l00 %
Making a total of 1882 so
Deduct disbursements, as follows:
For extraordinary repairs 1S3 50
For ordinary repairs 2,I3o w
For salaries and incidental
expenses l.ooi ~ ooo 80
Total 4,90U 81