Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-09-19
TRAvERs D. MoScrGr Secretary
.,... For the I-a.Gtrc-.
THE STEAMER Getty OF RICHMOND" AZ D'.iE
JAMES RIVER NiNIG iLLNN


Messs Editors: 1t my good .IftI;c u. f.. ry ilS;
be Invited guest board nf .is Interesting st!: r.
on her excursion DOWN the James River Arae ar!
respectable company Of 4entinnn. assembled o 81
her Performance from which mach ws expected c
III 10 ife mercantile intr:csts U Richmond.
This is Of 800 bErt.n !rawnG g. ..Ci
ter, and pres ns III the Eu.%cru her !a"siS ne s5
!ret. She was bull; for trade, s'lunch Sc! hc!utl
proportions. The mncharry is upon ,hr i'r1pssr nr
pie, which, Will. answering I'll the Hurpa.,-
ocomO't3n does hot cssurc the y,ss ad whl' ~ u
c'ial moment, increases the deck accommodations ~"
moves by rompar-or all the noise rar 0H:SiRs ri~
son 50 t-f The vessel glide" through The waller wu", IL"
o.aenn- splash ri this element. consequent upon the
OF the side wheels Al SEA, this steamer mast @s"c ccc
dGd advantage o:her Steamers and for purposes
nns DC prcierca when this plan of machinery s per-
ircttd E its construction sn: operation. :"uu ru r
the attention OF Engineers and mechanics this a
lem Of prupr!ing vessels 20 for il all lis power md
simplicity Of construction.
The lnc oi starting Of tho steamer from RJc!els w.
about an hour two a:tc the beginning u car 1 and ST..
,.a't was mat ns soon as "e reached the te"@e q ro
little below ;c ar:uI, the keel ot the Iutbai I,s
~ over and upon the rocks, there being ScIrccy II
H''cI "e'e; an! "hcn We rca.hrd II" sand bsr III" .-
ter gown I'll" steamer entirely stopped thcrc bum s
than nine lett water lere. Thus progress delay
Tor near SIX hoGrs, walt!ny il;c ILL., I, a..
was extremely sUtr:, The thermometer r!.ii. - .
but brce2c sprinsins w, and with tie ai OF ttc
provided and vertical sails tn conrany " 10 rem !,r ~
Portable Our k"Spiiaaie and gallant Captain cr})
crease our comfort IN The social circle, a! secac t'r
eSsOnal services OF the talented band %! musicians 5cr
ing to the Armory ami ~ ths the le p.as,:
pidy 10 the hour OF !alioUd time.
While detained al this bar my attention was drawn 10 liz
causes Oi the natural UOsrucoHS 10 the Day. lien
river, ana the means oi permanently removing !cE. E.
what could Judge of their character tn,y ap1cir 'r
neither very iornao!e ic First
we encountered (,u LED gc OF rocks may hr regarded - @
the ground OF expense; but TIL. ~a;
deter from the work. Tor should
dreG thousand dollars To secure u depth ut T. r Is @ ut
here, the benefits wUUlI repay
expense with interest
The removal Of tho sand bar where iho ID
tanned, would be less difficult expensive ana gar.G
down the river the difficulties in this respect lcsSn u1
when reach the last shoaI lew mile, ieInS Gy
Point (larsons bar) little need be done here 10 coGsp"
the navigation for the Whole distance
Under this curSoy examination Gt the suh.rf, c"uIarts
with the improvement o! the nayisl'lon OF tins vrr, w.
may venture opn!rn that The whole q" the "as'rGc.
this navigation VIII Ch woui admit ;e passage Il vts
drawing from II 10 Is feet water be ac'u1ir tm"s
under expenditure OF Hundred an. : thousand :
llrs.
Oi the Importance OF this WORK 10 the Interests -: i,
mpnd, commercially, there ran b." ntIHr rt"a. !ns' a's
should, therefore, b" taken t" connenr" ana
feet IT, The stcaturr progress down th- mot
no further delay The siuuo~ircs o JIrnr v,r
remarkable, and for sail vessels. difficult; The t,och"s IN
places being short and quick. Steam Hir&@0& = '"
ter fitted get along without the nEccf'a!I o! ind "
tide. There reach We made, where wc sr"u 4
miles. and found position rnv ltircc4rartra ot "
ing this point There twp oti' places n ti- r.f'r
further down. where the same loss -! ne "ccHf- h"'
wouli be dangerous maAe cuts through ;t~e n'ea> -
land They woui disturb the natcr! le.inen u ,ct.
and, bv increasing the current, create bars ac!o".
The distance the Cupcs of Nr-.nt, by this vo :"
Richmond il estimated la be 100 miles, Which may b"r"'"
ed hv steam in II to Is hours n', in tine 'Siny pnrs
of this Ii"er above liamton Rald+ there are shoals" "'.
would rclns beacon Hgts, to enable vess- I" m'"-r '
river a. ugdt II would scarcely BE- cGeiitti a h@' u
not single light house nov, beacon -H "n tie "E"r
length OF this liver strange overnight a,tm"vt'"!"
There il no navgahc river any "!rr" that PR -.;s na-
beautiful scenery the James; the ich "lT@" Of re
dense forests the unduiaon- "t TIE ni, and 'h' rrh ma
dow grounds Considering the length al ni- rly,r i hYs
few distractions igaion those ' P,nE~t kHHn n,
New York or Connecticut and important Eitr
ond being the head ot liz naSlg"t!n ot-h"fS tone
perfect communication with the ocean >li'uli r%t~'.
ROBERT MILLS.
Engineer an. Architect, Rich3naai. Va.