The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-25
LOCAL MATTERS.

nesday last, we stated that "the Canal and
Dock Connection cannot be used until the
Dock and River Connection be completed"
Mr.. William p. Mnnford, the able and vigil
liant Secretary Of the James River and kanaw-
ha Company, informs US through commune
cation addressed to US on Wednesday, that in
the above statement we have been misinform-
ed. ~ ~
The statement was made upon information
derived from conversation with gentlemen,
supposed to be familiar with the subject; and
no one can be more gratifed than ourselves to
learn that it was incorrect.
We learn from Mr.. NJ. that the construction
ofthe Ship Lock, which will connect the Dock
and River, has been attended with unforeseen
and almost insurmountable difficulties, and
will probably require not less than II months
for its completion. The connection between
the Basin and Dock, however, will certainly
be completed and in use on or before the first
day of January next. The principal Engineer
on the line states that he has received instrucs
tons to complete the improvement between the
Basin and the Ship Lock with the utmost ex"
petition, and that this can be accomplished In
about three months.
The Company is aware that it is important
not less to their interests than to the interests oil
the public, that the navigation should be OPEN
ed as soon as possible between the Canal and
the Dock, as we'll as the connection between
the Dock and the River.
The stone required for the Ship Lock has
long since been prepared, and the cost of its
transportation will be greatly diminished by
the facilities afforded by the completion OF the
upper improvement. The delay in the con.
struction of the Ship Lock has proceeded from
| the great difficulty encountered in preparing
suitable foundation for this massive structure.
This difficulty has been much increased by the
frequent and severe freshes to which the
works have been subjected during their pro-
gress. When this improvement shall have
been completed, it will stand as an enduring
monument of engineering skill and persever-
ance. And we are assured that no exertion
will be spared by the officers Of the Company
to ensure the earliest possible completion of
the tide-water connection.
During the progress of the construction of
the Ship Lock, it will be a great advantage to
farmers, and other shippers along the line of
the canal to be able to avail themselves of
water transportation to point within few
hundred feet of the wharves at Rockets, to
which point the water can be admitted into the
Dock without interfering with the main works
below. The cost of Transporting their produce
from the freight boats to the vessels will be re-
duced more than one half, and an onerous tax
being thus removed from the agricultural cons
munity, it is expected that an increase of trade
and of production along the valley of the
JamssRiver will be the necessary consequence,
and that our city will ultimately derive the
greatest advantages from this work.
THE Dock IMpRovEMENT-A communication
from Mr.. D. J. Walton, the able Engineer of the
| James River and Kanawha Company, who has in
charge the Dock Improvement, near Rockets, en-
abes us to state that but little delay to the work is
apprehended in future, from interruption by water
flowing into the Dock-that the steam pumping ap
paratus there has not proved failure-and that
the screw pumps, alluded to by few days ago,
| will be ready to 60 into operation in about two
| weeks from this time-and that such delay will
Dock work, as our articles the subject calcu-
lated to lead the public to believe. All this will be
acceptable news to our commercial readers.
One of the drawbacks to the prosecution of this
work, was produced By the datoriness of the con-
| tractor, who abandoned the work the LIST of
August last. Since that time, Mr.. Walton has had
charge of the Dock and Ship Lock work on
| the conpany's own account. The old pumps placed
there by the contractor, year ago, had sufficient
capacity by great exertion, to keep the water out
and enable the workmen to commence work on the
foundation of the wals-but on Tuesday last these
old pumps gave out-the Dock filed up again with
| water-and consequently there will be a partial
suspension of the work until the new screw pumps
are ready to be introduced, which will be in about
two weeks.
| Our notice of communication of the Secretary
of the James River and Kanauhssy Company
(above) on this subject, makes a more extended
| notice of Mr., WIS communication unnecessary.
| We have no doubt that the James River and Ka
| nawha Company, and its efficient Agents, will do
| al in their power to expedite and complete at as
early day as possible the Dock improvement We
! have attached no blame to any person. In COM
mon with all the people of Richmond, we have re.
GREETED the causes of the delay of the Dock work,
| and we have endeavored, as we shall continue to
do, to explain the of that delay, whether it
be from the overflow of water or any other cause.
AssAULrING.-A free negro named Garland Win.
| ston, arraisn at the Mayors court yester
day. a charge of assauting in conjunction with
his brother Fleming, white man named Jacob Poe,
on the 2lst of August last Fleming has already
been punished for his share in the attack. Garland
was ordered 80 ashes, and required to give $500
| security.
Alexander Jackson, free negro, was examined
on the charge of assaulting and being engaged in
fight with another negro named David Smith, on
| the 4th OF July last. This case was adjudicated
hull I,al Lii le,oi-