The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-19

alarm ias about 10 O'clock by false
FISED.-Charies Grace was fined 50 and
costs for obstructing l7th street with bousa
10 RICHMOND AND YORK RIVER P.u
ROAD.-Mr Editor The writer of his ~ @ sn.
pteAs SINCE, requested oy prominent citizen of
Richmond to express his opinion relative to the
proposed construction of Railroad from this c;ty
to some point on York River. This was cheertnily
done, IN a communication, which others than him.
self thought proper to have published and circula
ted
Since then, committee of the Council of IN,
city, when reporting upon the propriety of con-
structlng line OF wharves along James River. be-
tween Mayo's Bridge and Rockets, have takeu up
thls SUBJECT and expressed very opposite opia-
ions.
This question having lately assumed an inpor.
tance aud shape especially interesting to this city
VIII you permit me to occupy your columns whils
l attempt TO make good my former posiiionsf
Within five years from this day, there NAV be ex.
pected one million OF tons of produce coming into
Richmond from the West on its way to n market
How many tons of return merchandise | cannot
say, but it must be great
Is this wild conjecturei Let us examine The
little city of Toledo, of New York. of only 64I2 in
habitants, received from the West in 1852 245.724
tons of the three articles, Flour, Wheat and Corn,
how many tons OF other articles, the statement
which have seen does not saw
The Baltimore Sun of this evening dec 18th
states that there were transported Eastward over
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in November lust
expired, 4eo tons, which is at the rate of 62985
per annun. This when the Ohio River has been
and is yet low that none but small steam boata
can run and when is complained of that tn com,
pany is deficient in cars
And there was received in Richmond in 1852.
q have no later statement) 256 oS7 tons nv our
Railroads and Canal and this before either ofthese
roads had gone over the mountains Now look at
the vast triangular area TO be embraced by these
works OF ours, the vortex ofwhich is in Richmond.
The Central and COvington and Ohio Railroads
with their connections in the great States of Ohio
and kentucky, forming one side. and the Richmond
and Petersburg Railroad, with its connections in
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia form.
ing the other side--the base of which viii include
Cincinnati, Louisville Knoxville Nashville Mem
phis, and all the extent of country living between
these cities. Behold its rich valies-its mountains
OF ineXhaustible minerals, to be valued than
II pure gold, because, to convert them into mer-
chantable state more money will be distributed
amongst all classes, than pure gold ready for the
mint. See its magnificent rivers distributing their
water power over the entire area-all under the
happiast latitude for the growth of almost eyerv
production, aad blessed with salubrity of climate
that no other similar extent of country can boast of
in our Union.
Is it too much then, to count upon / 900 900 tons
per annum as the portion that Richmond nayexpect
trom such country as this i-iess than four times
as mach as ace receiUed an 1882 and Ii this is but
reasonable assumption, respectfully ask OF every
thinking man in this city, James River pass II
off promptly and econ0nicalln If not then il will
flow back upon itself, and find other outlets both
North and South of us. Nay, can Richmond main
tain her present relative position with Petersburg
Norfolk and Alexandria, depending upon James
River her only outlet tohe, Petersburg and Nor.
folk and alexandria each connected itA tkS West
and Southeast By continuous Railroads?
The committee of our Council say thus:
''The capacity of James River at present is sufi.
cient for ALL and 1t Is believed much more tonnage
tI.oy, rail- INN +
progress of construction from the interior 70 this
city"
This report was made and published some few
weeks since.
knowing that each member of it is an influential.
worthy, intelligent gentleman, and ordinarily,
should have an abiding confidence in their opin.
ions-not the less SO now, because they acting
under obligations to subserye the interests of our
entire city, the best Of their Judgments but this
is matter of such vital consequence | must be
permitted to examine their conclusions James
River 'dt present., has more than capacity enough
to pass away the tonnage coming all the inn
provements now in progress OF construction from
| the interior to this city
Why, even our coastwise steamers and sail ves
sells have to wait the tides to get to Rockets ard
who OF rs have not seen, many time, these vessels
hard and fast on the bottom OF the river with but
or 10 feet OF water around them, there TO lay or
| six hours? Who of us does not know that every
ton going board of vessels large enough to cross
the Atlantic, has 10 be put on 00afd Oh gnters ana
| towed down to City Point or Harrisons bar at q
cost per hogshead of SI10-oiher articles at SINH
| lar rates ? Why has Congress been petitioned to
give greater capaciy to our river II 1t has enough.
| and more than enough, at present? And why has
| our CITY Council, OF which this committee forms
| mart. Assumed the cost of constructing power
| tul dredping machine 10 deepen the bars, il we
| have ca6aciry enough at present. have, from au-
tbrntic sources this: THE Coast Surveys of James
| liver consist of three hyd. charts-oyer Trents
| Peach Bar (about Is or 20 miles below Rocketts)
| uless than u teet water-overironn Warwick g Bar
| m Dyury Island less than II fee. water, and the
other third, from Drury Island TO Mayo's Bridge,
| which is in the hands of Lieut.. Wainwright who
| made the surveys Surely the committee did not
! intend TO convey what their words seem to import,
and this must be from this sentence which i'm
InediateIy follows the one above quoted:-"When
the Improvement of the channel of the river is
completed so to admit large vessels to the
wharves, the capacity OF the James river will be
increased hundred iold." II the capacity has to
be increased hundred told to admit large vessels
to the wharves, it must be small indeed lat pre-
sent"
But can large vessels, such az viii take tonnage
to any part of the word safely and economically
ever come 10 the wharyes at RichmondY Win
your permission will examine this and close my
observations in another article. ID.