Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-10-06
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

a
this body held Tuesday eyering consider tn,
report Of the Special committee whom was referred
the petition Of may citizens of Richmond to acquir,
right to the hnd between the Dock and the River from
near Mayos BRIDGE, to the eud Of the embarkment form
ing inc entrance to the Dock for the purpose Of inerea
sing the Wharf accommodation for shipping engaged in
the commerce OF the city Members preseut-Messrs NV
ers' President MeOancc, Mills, Haskns, Ill., Darlington
Richards, Sheppard, Saunders Fry Saeaj Scott, aud
$ Anderson.
Before proceeding to the consideration of the Speca
! order-beiug the report,
Mr. Saunders asked leave to submit rcpor, from the
Watering committee, the petition OF John C. Powell
Tor an increase OF compensation Assistant
OF the Water Works at tho pump house Up to this
time Mr. Powell received but sum of $3.50 year which
was paid by the Superintendent of his yearly salary
(SlSoo) Arcsoution fixing the salary OF the Assistant
at $500 year agreed The salary Of the Supcrn.
tcndant shall continue a. before $500.
An amendment 10 the 9TH section OF the Ordinance re
a'ng to the salary of the Superintendent of the city Wa
ter Works was made, conomaby with the terms Of the
resolution.
The same Committee reported adversely on the pcti
ion OF Dr. Bolton and others praying that water would
be supplied their Hospital the expense Of the City
Mr. Saunders, said that the COMMITTEES conceived it A
violation OF the chartered rights Of tho city, to carry wa
ter beyond its limits and therefore led to the conc lu
sion as given in the report.
The same Committee reported avorably on a resolution
OF the Council asking them inquire the cxpedien
eS Of carrying the the building used by the JEFF
| ierson Wand Primary School.
resolution authoFi.iug an appropriation of $500 to
strengthen and orti the Northern smbAukment of the
Reservoir and also recommending the Council to direct the
City Engineer prepare plan for bridge across the
canal for the purpose Of carrying the waterppes over the
c'na from the Pump House to the Reservoir was agreed
To-.
Tur RrroEr-Thc Council then proceeded to the con.
.dcraion OF the special order being report of the
special committee on the condemnation Of the land be
tween Mayo's Bridge aud the end Of the cmbaukment
forming the entrance to the Dock.
There were some interesting debates in which Messr.
sheppard, hcClnce, Anderson Hill and SAUNDERS took
part We regret that IL not in power to publish
them, they contained much useful information in regard
to the subject then under consideration The public no
doubt would always feel interest in reading the debates
OF the Council upon all subjects part cuary subjects
OF character Ike that under consideration on Tuesday
The Council themselves shoud appreciate the ADVANTAGE
Of rep orting whatever is said upon any question: that
false Interpretation may be put their motives such
As is often the when the is recorded and
the reasons which influenced that kept back IL
all important io them that the which govern their
action upon most questions, should be given as scruru
lousy their final vote Il be expected that the
city papers could publish the debates without some com.
pensAou og the Council better afford to make some
allowance for such purpose than the papers to publish
chem gratuitously. Nor do we doubt but that such a
would have the approval of the people OF Rich
moud who would necessarily feel interested in hearing all
that Is said upon subjects which bear directly upon their
hes, lie. the Council consider it if they choose
We give the GLOWING from the report, which
readers and all interested in city improvements
will fui to possess considerable interest I,s the bes,
move, for the bcaeit OF Richmond vet made:
Tae tommit,cc, impressed with the great Importance
of the sub submitted their consideration met on the
ztouui "a Tie 7h December 1852 and afcr A c,r,,uI
examination concgrcd in the opinion that the CITY ought
acquire the right to all the land between the dock and
the from Mayos bridge the end of the iettee
forming the entrance TO the dock
On the Sth December the City Surveyor was reque.ed
20 Turn I'D uc Committee with plat OF al the land be.
tween te points designated, but high aud other
causes prevented him from completing the plat To low
water mark along the margin OF the river early
sired.
Tie necessity FOR works Of improvement TO develop the
OF Richmond have been made NANTES, by large
subscriptions on tine part OF the C.y aud by individual
citizens 20 the James River and Hauawha Canal the
richmond and panN.c Railroad the Virginia aud Tenn
e~s,e liroa. aud the Virginia Central Railroad All the
above grca; works, with numerous feeders such as canal,
RAILROADS, plank and turnpike reads, are pressing ON 10
completion with energy and must ere long pour into
This City amount Of trade, unless is forced to some
other point 'y hc want OF shipping accommodation here
The recent survey Of the James river 10y the United
states Coast survey CONFIRMING several previous
aud rendering certain at small cost, the improvement Of
river for vessels OF large tonnage the wharyes and
the dock has induced the Council to assume the cost
Of powerful iue machine (now in course of con-
-,ructon, which when completed will under the control
o the United States Engineer, with appropriation al
ready made 10y the Oued states, commence the dredging
the bars that haze long hNmperci the commerce
aud retarded the growth Of Oh, City.
With the shortest and cheapest for the trade
within the range OF the improvements DIS rging from this
City in every direction, your Committee OF opinion
al is lsfa luiya
your merchants the control Of this trade aud that is here
At the terminus OF all the great Improvements Of the state
To- provide accommodation for the shipping that will be
necessary 10 meet the commercial wants OF the City,
coaswse traic only but for vessels OF n capacity to
trade economically with any and all the pors Of the world
IL longer question, is necessary for the CITY
have competent outlet Tor her traiyy She has no other
alternative She have H. the large outlay by cor
pDr.e AND individual subs srpuJu works Of improve.
20 the interior will result in advantages other aud
more au.s. pri..ug communities
To the extent la the City can command navigation for
large vessels 10 the whnTycs that one movement OF
merchandise only T. necessary from the vessel to the
houses i,rDt, and vice versa with the fact that ship
thousand b., tOwcl 20 lllmpdeu Roads and vice
versa FOO about fifteen hour, ut cost Of about hun
rei dollars each way the Of ihis City, with the
rlirabe improvement OF the river, Will have, D, youd
question: the cheapest aud most expeditions outlet to the
ocean
When u trade passing TO and lro through the City Is Of
gu'lLc require larger vessels than navigation Of
about icct will admit 90 the ShlfyCs then by the
-tructou Of railroad about % miles point il attained on
James RIVER about 90 miles from the City 10y water 10
every respect admirably suited for port for large ships,
10y b. helhue- great depth Of water close in shore,
anchorage and depth Of water OF more than ~ feet
! 90 th" ocean,
TIE advantages Of railroad to the James, instead Of
hr York river promote the Of the City,
obvious and numerous aud have important bearing
tho question under consideration, aud the committee state
/ few Of them.
The capacity Of James River at present sufficient for
all and % is believed much tonnage than pass
ADJ the Improvements in progress Of construction
/ from the interior TO this City.
When the Improvement Of the channel Of the River il
completed admit large vessels 10 the wharvcs the
capacity Of she James River will be increased hundred
| lud.
At this time fr the class Of yc''cs that load and
discharge their cargoes at the wharyes the rate Of freight
low from any other port for coa'twise foreign
VOYAGES
The Of things will exist when the improve
ment Of the river completed aud large vessels load aud