Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-10-15
RICHMOND IMPROVEMENTS.

| The various Improvements springng up, the hum and
hustle OF business in streets, and the marked energy
which pervadcs commercial community are unmstaEc-
able evidences of the Influence which canals and rail roads
calculated exercise upon trade and Illustrate The Wis
dom of that policy which has made city the receptacle
into which many of those avenues OF commerce pour
their treasures And this influence indeed only 10 lis
infancy will be felt al points very remote from Richmond
for facilities will deveope busnessour planters and far
mers will have market for their products easy of
and capital will find investment in ioundresr mills and
mines, heretofore unihought Of
In addition the advantages accruing to our city, in
business point OF view, from those Improvements terminal
ing here we help viewing OF the structures
connected with them, monuments Of taste and skill as
well usefulness and durability and certainly calculated 10
reflect great cred! all parties in any way engaged in
their erection We refer more particularly 10 the works OF
the james River and Kanawha Company lately completed
and under progress in city On examination of
these works all could find occasion any regret was
The difficulties the Company have had and still will have to
in the construction Of the outlet or Ship Lock.
These that the contractor who first undertook
the work was unable them and the Company
have, consequently, been Compelled 10 take the wok into
their charge; and unit, it completed Of they
realize all the benefits 10 which their great-and we
think, iudicous- outlay OF capital will en,i'lc them.
Win the recently completed by B. McGrann Il Go.
exceedingly pleased and far judgment; goes
consider them in themselves quite sufficient TO establish
for those gentlemen the character with which they came 10
uslhc reputation Of enterprsing and Siltu contractors
These works comprise three Locks und Basins together
with the va r-ways connecting them, well leading
into The Locks beng completed by the James River
and kanawha Company themselves. Lock No is, ncud-
ing wing walls 100 feet in length with lift of 10
feet and being all are Is feet in the clear From
,hi l.oda Bagi Nc. l., ing
some so fee, under 10Th street being 10 feet wide bottom,
with wall balteug 10 he. hi n % feet Basin No
is about $50 feet 10 length y 80 feet in width with walls
averaging 20 feet in heig and this leads Into Locks Nos
and which are combined having lifts of Is feet each
Lock No leads into Basin No. g which s some l1O feet
long bv $50 feet wide ard arranged that side ot il
will make an excellent commodious wharf The water
way Leading out Basin No 2 and 18th street. OF about the
same capacity thar under lOh street, completes the
works Of B. Mctirann & Co
OF the character OF these works need say nothing 10
those who have daily opportunity OF viewing them and
Judging for themselves; but those who have not seen
them we take the liberty of saying, that the citizens OF
Richmond consider they have within their city some locks
and basins which, for completeness Of finish and durability
of material may safely challenge works OF like nature
in The Unions and that the James River and kanawha Com
pany Col Gwynn the Chief Engineer. and q McGrann &
Co. have alike secured monuments Of their laniahc enter
prise professional sk! and practical efficiency.
We cannot remarks without adding our sincere
regret TO THAI already expressed and is that understand
B. McCrann & Co will lose largely by their contract, if al
lowed only the prices a, which Tho work taken They
are however good hands, and feel assured that their
application for at least whn, The work has them, will
be responded TO in a spirit which will allow them leave
community satisfied in having lost nothing but their
time