Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-31
Local lntellisence~"City Affairs, 10
IMPROVEMENT OF JAMES RIVER.

IMfhON EMENT OF JAMES RIVER
Inc Commission appointed to examine flames
n'Ver are prepared to report, we understand, that
between Richmond and City Point no necessity
exists orJeuys or other works to confine the river
to its bed. The banks are generally biph on both
sides and few extensive mud fats exist. The
river fows In a channel, not requiring expe nsve
works to prevent it from spreading in the ordina-
ny stages OF water. The improvement of its bed,
Is therefore, comparatively, in their opinion, a
simple operation; aud the permanence of the i'm
provement the only point upon which there may
be doubt
Inc principal distractions in the river are the
Goose Hill Flats below Jamestown, about eoui-
distant from City Point and Ham pton Roads:
Harrisons Bar; Coxs Barr Warwick Bar and
Rich mond Bar.
At the Goose Hill Flats, according TO the testi
mony OF the most experienced Pilots, there are
two channels. The South channel has for one
aud half miles, only 16 feet clear at ordinary
nigh water, but in consequence of its bottom
being OF very soft mud, vessels drawing IL feet
can be dragged through by tow boats "a most
remarkable fact, certainly; but strictly true, new
ertheless. The North channel has depth of
IL feet, with Jumps of hard sand interspersed
along the bottom, admitting only of the passage of
vessels drawing l6 feet of water. At Harrison's
bar there nlso two channels. The main one
passes along the Northern shore of the river, and
was l63 feet at ordinary high water
AT all the other points of the river below CITY
Point the pilots state, there is at least feet Of
water at high water
Above City Point Capt. Stansjury Survey and
the Pilots differ, we hear as to the depth of WI
ter on the several bars. At Cox's bar, Stansbu-
rvs report indicates Is feet Mt ordinary high WA
ter. The pilots variously report ? and l34 feet.
though they are of opinion that the water has
shouted since his survey. At Warwick bar.
Stansbury gives II feet, the Pilots 135 to Is feet
At Richmond bar, Stansbury 10 feet, the Pi.
lots l01 to l feet, and ut Rockets and
for mile further down, SALISBURY reports
ut least IL feet the Pilots / Ii to - feet-all at
ordinary high water At Warwick and Rich
mond bars, the Pilots arc of opinion that the wa
ter has deepened some or 10 inches ia conses
quence of the current carrying away the bottoms
oosened by the keels of vessels To this same
cause the Pilots attribute the keeping up of the
former depth of water at Cox's bar, where yes-
sells drawing Is feet Of water passed up to the old
town OF Warwick and discharged their cargoes,
till by the Introduction of tow boats tue Tightening
was all done at City Point, or at the Bermuda
Hundred opposite No vessel passed that bar
which could not get up to Richmond. The bot
tom was no longer stirred up by the keels of ves-
sells, and the depth has since gradually dimin-
lshed to l33 feet or l2 feet, as before stated
Ii Cox's bar We're depressed to l6 feet, that
depth could be kept up to Warwick
The bottom at Richmond and Warwick bars
Is OF sand, and at Coxs bar is said to be of mud
The Commission report appearance Of rock
10 the river except at Rockets, where it is visi-
Bile In detached masses, and probably in some
places forms part of the river bed The reader
will thus perc Give that the task of removing these
distractions will be less formidable than has been
generely supposed