The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-01
LOCAL MATTERS.

Nrv WHAlyss During the past season COM
plants on the part Of ship owners ana sn'Ppe'
generally have been loud and incessant Oh the "e@
gre and cramped accommodations al Hocke't' 'o'
| ladine and unlading vessels. Inc "nar'es na0
| been and are now, too small 10 accommoos'e 'he
large and increasing shipments % ana iroin our
CITY Vessels have been compelled 10 lie OUT ia tue
river for days, before being able to secure perrin
| for the discharge and lading OF cargo In many
;r.snces greatly to the discomfort OF the several
vessels cargo has been discharged from one vessel
over two and three others, from the wharf The
EN- barrassment thus resulting to our merchants in
their business operations has been very great until
now it assumes the form Ct a positive evil. Yes
terday morning, paying Rockets visit, we found
the port througed with vessels, whose number
greatly exceeded the wharf accommodations
isting. Several vessels were loading and unloading
over the decks Of other vesses-snd others, again,
were patiently awaiting berths. To say nothing of
the lake of mud which impedes the draysge of car
goes we thought the delay and expense to which
merchants and shippers Were subjected for the lack
of wharf facilities, certainly authorized loud COM
plant on their part. And with the completion of
canals and railroads which will pour into the lap of
Richmond the teeming and immense products OF
the Interior ard western portions of Virginia
where will be the accommodations for the ship.
ment of those gigantic masses of producti
1t may be said that the Deck now in course OF
construction by the James River and kanawha
Company will, combined with the VIII arves at
Rockets, fur nsh the required accomm odatons.-
But this Dock will be partially filed with canal
| boats fully laden; and we question greatly, when
the bar In the river is removed and these internal
| lines of Improvement completed, whether mile of
wharves will more than supply the demand for
| berth room. When, too, this dock enlargem ent
will be completed, is somewhat indefinite. We
know what have been, and what are now the pros
| poets of the James River and Ksnawha Company
and we would that they were the most favorable
| and substantial character-but those prospects do
not evolve speedy or successful results Longbe
! fore their dock will be completed, new wharf fac
lities will be mpcratvely needed In truth, they
| absolutely requisite now, and have been for months
past.
To come at once, then, to the gist of the matter
the city corporation should step forward put their
shoulders to the Wheel and help cargoes out OF the
Maud and delay of Rockets. By the 9th section
of the new charter, "they may establish construct
| and keepin order, and may alter or remove land
| legs, wharves and docks on land belonging to the
| city," and under the new Code, they can condemn
| land for public purposes and sous improve
ment. The land extending from Rockets nearly
t. Mayos bridge outside of the dock, could thus be
| condemned, and speedily transformed into capa
| sous and superior wharves for the accommodation
| OF vessels. The rent OF these wharves would more
than compensate the city for the expense of build
ing them, and wsuld furnish, in short time pay
| ing and extensive revenue. Merchants and ship
pers would be accommodated, the aspect of the
| city improved, and its funds thereby increased
We beg leave them to call the attention of our city
! fatheTs-and we are sorry that we obliged to
call on them often for we fear that the voices of
reform and enterprise because of their frequent
utterings sound in their ears but as the passing
wind-to this much needed extension OF wharyes
Dock dock Improvement the present and
future commerce of the city demands it. The
wharves will have to be built, and now is the time
| to condemn the property at low price, and make
| paying investment in wharves of the city funds
We will close this article by presenting petition
the subject which is now in course of circula.
ton, and will be handed in at the next meeting of
| the City Council tits as follows
To the President and Council Of City of Richmond:
Your petitioners, impressed with the great in
in the business of the city, and the want of
| room at the wharves to accommodate the shipping
now employed in our commerce, ask that YOUR
| honorable body will take early action to acquire
| the right to the land lying between the dock and
the river, extending from or Mayo's bridge to
the entrance OF the dock 1t ia the opinion of your
petitioners that all the land fronting the river be-
tween the points stated, De made available for
! wharf purposes. If so, there can be no question
| OF the great Importance and absolute necessity to
the future prosperity of the city, that it should be
| petitioners will sta to cft,n
during the past business season vessels have been
| compelled to wait longer for berth at the wharf
| 20 discharge CARGO than to make the voyage from
| New York, and Tor weeks vessels have been dis
charging cargo each other, two to four vessels
from the wharf Ii, in the present state of the i'm
provements leading from the city to the interior,
| our commerce Is seriously incommoded for want
OF room, What Will be our condition with the rail
roads and canals completed, and the navigation of
the river improved to admit large class vessels to
| our wharvesf Your petitioners think that the
enormous outlay made to bring trade to our city
| will be to little purpose il the want of accommoda-
tons here for our commerce forces to other
port.
This petition is signed by Dunlop, Moncure e. Co,
Haskins & Libby, Edmond, Davenport & Co..
| wharf owners at Rockets, and some two hundred
of our leading importing, exporting and shipping
| merchants.
| UNPLEAsANT.-Yesterday, man named William
Allen resident of Henrico county, verified in his
own person the old adage "out of the frying pan
into the fire." by getting out Of the county Jail and
into the city Jail on the day. nappeared that
he had been incarcerated for some days in the
county Jail for misdemeanor, and yeste rday
giving security was discharged. warrant was
out against him for assaultiug Charles P. Richard
son in the city the 18th Of October last and yes
terday, hearing of Aliens discharge from the
iy jailnot having been able to ascertain his where
abouts before-the police pounced on him ere he
could even take hearty breath of the air of free
dom, and brought him to the Mayors court for ex-
animation. Owing to the absence of the complain
ant the case was continued until to day, and in de-
fault of Sl00 security, Allen committed to Jail