The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-24
THE LOWER JAMES RIVER.


some suggestions upon the condition Of the
river below this city, and the means to be
adopted for removing the distractions to navi-
CATION, which, as the subject will shortly be
brought before the Legislature, cannot be too
strongly recommended. He states what most
Of our readers know, but what, we suspect, few
members Of the Legislature are aware OF, that
the draught of water at full tide, is from l0l to
III feet, admitting vessels OF $50 to 300 tons,
to discharge, and receive cargo-that by deep.
ening the water to IL feet, vessels of 400 to $50
tons could bc admitted-and that for every foot
of water over 70 feet, an additional 100 tons
may be counted. That this statement is perfect
ly correct, we have not the slightest doubt, and
as the subject is one of vital importance to the
growth and prosperity of this city, it is proper
that some estimate should be made of the ex-
pendaure necessary to ensure SO great an adj
vantage.
In 1887, Lieutenant Stansbury, of the U.
States Typographical Engineers, an officer Of
great professional skill, made survey of the
section under consideration, and submitted
mated the expense necessary to place the river
in such condition as to ensure IL feet water
at our whaues, at not more than $1l5. 900, and
to show that his estimate was very little under
the mark, he offered, himself, to undertake the
job for 100000. Unless he had been sure of
making handsome sum by the operation, it
is hardly probable that he would have made
the offer.
The city of Richmond, long aware of the
importance of this work to her trade, has from
time TO time made strenuous efforts to secure
the cooperation Of the general Government,
and at one time actually succeeded in pro-
curing the passage, for that purpose, of bill
which was vetoed by President Tyler. In the
meantime, with a strange want Of providence,
instead Of taking the matter in hand herself,
and calling upon the State for assistance. she
has been content to sit with her hands folded,
deprecating the inaction of the General Co.
vernment, but taking no measures to remedy
its effects. Gen. Harvie said, on a memorable
occasion, that Resolutions did not build rail-
roads" and we are disposed to think that la
end. A new spirit, however, has taken pos
session of Richmond, within the last year or
two. She is determined to go to work herself,
and being thus resolved, she calls upon the
State 10 assist her.
She makes this call, with the utmost conf
dence, that it neither can nor will be resisted,
by those who are the guardians of the State,
and the keepers Of her purse. In refusing to
answer this call, the Legislature would be
warning directly against the interest of the en-
tire Commonwealth. In every one of the pub
lie Improvements which terminate at this
point-in the James River Canal, in the Cen
trail Railroad, in the DanvilIe Railroad, she is
a stakeholder to an immense amount. tits her
interest not to leave the immense amount of
produce which will undoubtedly seek this
market from every part of the State, without
passage to the ocean. Rival schemes we know
are on foot; but we are disposed to think that
none of them will hear comparison with this,
either in cheapness or efficiency. The success
of the least difficult among them involves the
construction of railroad at least fifty miles
long, and when this is contrasted with the small
expenditure required to clean out the river,
there can be no doubt as to the best scheme.
We do not know that it is al all necessary
to confne the depth of water to II feet, as sug-
gested by he report of Lieutenant Stansbury,
though hat depth would allow the ingress of
vessels larger than any which reach Charles
ton or New Orleans, and within hundred tons
of any which reach Baltimore and Philadel-
pbia. We are not engineers, but we know
that Glasgow, in Scotland, could not be
reached a century ago, by vessels of heavier
burden than 100 tons, and TINT now, thanks to
the industry and enterprise of man, he has
triumphed so far over the obstacles of Nature
that any sized vessel can reach it. If skill and
industry triumphed there, why may il not here
For $l15,000 we can command IL feet at the
wharves why not expend more, and obtain 20
or IS feet, that is, if it can be done?
The writer in the Wing SAYS that - feet will
give US 400 tons. and that every foot over is
good for 100 tons more. Seventeen feet, then,
would give US 900 tons, and 20 would give us
1000. No larger ships, We believe, trade in the
river.
The enormous advantages TO be derived from
this clearing out of the River below, cannot be
over-estimated. Our enterprising neighbors OF
Petersburg, are well aware of this, and they
are moving Heaven aud earth to render their
river navigable for the largest ships, while we
are sitting still, and calling or Hercules.
Ice IN THE PoroMAc.-The National INTEL
ligencer learns that the bed the Potomac, for
about three miles below the Great Falls. is
blocked up with broken ice to the height of 80
feet, and that the shipping merchants ofGeorge.
town are experimenting danger to their vessels
when this immense mass shall break away and
come down. The river directly opposite
Georgetown is still closely bound up, and
cakes of ice were cut outa few days ago up.
wards Of foot in thickness, and quite as pure
as the Boston expectations.
GEORGIA RAiLRoADs.-The Legislature OF