The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-11
New wharfs .

condemn certain lands on the margin of the
river between Mayos Bridge and Rockets,
for wharf purposes. The resolution was
passed by the Council without dissenting
voice, and we have no doubt it win be sus
tanned by the community with equal unan
unity.
The front on the river of the property pro-
posed to be condemned, is 4,445 feet, of which
il is stated in the report of the special COM
mittee of the Council, that about 1000 feet
can be made available for vessels drawing
eight to twelve feet; the balance for vessels
OF light draught. The reasons for the action of
the Council, are found in the present utter
insufficiency of wharf accommodations
Sail vessels are compelled to remain at our
ports for several weeks, at a time before
they can unload, and they are often seen
lying there, four and FIVE feet deep, await
ing their turn to load and unload. 1t is
obvious that such a state of things if per
mtted to continue, will seriously retard the
growth and prosperity of the city. Large
subscriptions have been made by the city
and by individuals to works of public I'M
proyement, designed to concentrate an enor-
NOUS amount of trade at this point, and
which, even in their present unfinished con-
dition, have already so largely increased our
shipping, that it suffers from the want of suf-
fcient accommodations. With the extension
of the James River Canal, the Danville, the
Southwestern, and the Central Railroads. and
the numerous railroads, plank and turnpike
roads, which act as feeders to them, an in
cslculable commercial importance will be Sc
cured TO Richmond, unless the trade is divert
ed from this point for want of a sufficient
outlet. This danger, however, is infinite and
nothing is clearer than the fact that I'M
less additional wharf accommodations are
provided, the trade developed by the works
OF Improvement to which we have so largely
contributed, will seek other outlets and be
secured by rivals who are already moving
heaven and earth to undermine the fortunes
of Richmond.
No one who has observed the great increase
of shipping at this port, since our principal
railroads have begun to penetrate the inte
rior, but must feel perfectly satisfied that,
with sufficient wharf accommodations, we
shall have in five years more than treble the
present amount of shipping. Suppose the
Central Railroad extended to the Ohio, and
united with railroad from Memphis and St.
Louis; the Danville completed to the garden
spot Of Virginia; the Southwestern Railroad
commanding the rich treasures of Southwes-
tern Virginia and of Tennessee, the broad
foundations are prepared for both a foreign
and cosstwise trade, which will inevitably
secure to Richmond Imposition of one of the
first commercial cities of the South, provided
she does not sacrifice the glorious opportuni-
ty within her grasp, by neglecting to provide
an outlet for the immense current of wealth
which viii be poured in upon her With no
increase of the present wharf accommoda-
tons, her commercial increase will be impos-
sible, and she must suffer ruinous loss of
the large amounts she has advanced to draw
the stream of trade within her borders.
In the debate in the Council upon the re-
port of the special committee, Mr. McCance
stated that Col. DeRussy, the distinguished
u. S. Engineer, was confidently of opinion
that in twelve months he would have fifteen
feet of water upon the Rockets bar. The
Committee Of the Council state in their re-
port that the recent survey of the river by
the U. 5. Coast Survey, confirming several
previous surveys, and rendering certain, at
small cost, the Improvement of the river for
vessels of large tonnage to the wharf and
in the dock, has induced the Council to as
sumo the cost of a powerful dredging ma
chine NOW in course of construction which,
when completed, will, under the control of
u. S. Engineer, with an appropriation already
made by the United States, commence the
dredging out the bars that have so long ham,
pered the commerce and retarded the growth
OF the city. Give US then but additional
wharf accommodations and with the short.
est and cheapest route for the western trade
commanded by the public improvements
which have their terminus here, the prosper
my OF our beautiful Richmond viii be placed
beyond the reach ofall misfortune and rival.
ny.
we most earnestly hope, therefore, that
the condemnation of the land in question will
be obtained and that no time will then be
los1 IN preparing new wharfs. OF the prac-
ucabiilty OF extending the wharfs to Mayo's
bridge, there is no doubt An eminent mer-
camille firm Of this city have undertaken to
build wharf on much more difficult piece
of land below the city-the cost of which will
not exceed SO per foot. These gentlemen
would not have invested S or $4,000 in such
an enterprise without due consideration 1t
is believed by competent judges, that the
wharfng win not cost over SIS per foot
Even il the land and wharfing should cost half
million, the interest of the city demands the
Improvement and we have no doubt that the
work would pay more than ten per cent upon
that amount from the day when it is compile
ted. There cannot, then, be any question that
there will be asufiiciency of water for vessels
drawing eight and ten feet, nearly as high up
as the bridge. We have citizens who remem
Der the time when such vessels used to land
there, and it is stated that the accumulation
OF sand and gravel has not been caused so
much by the current as by the emptying of
earth from foundations and other places into
the river at that ,a;,t