The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-01-19
JAMES AND YORK RIVERS

Mr. Editor Your correspondent ID. has inferred
meaning to the conclusion ofmy reply tc his CON-
munication advocating Ethan as the Shipping
port tor Richmond, that was not intended
| accord to D. higher motives and claim the same
or should net have placed myself in the Gnestion-
able position of advocating the Improvement of
James River, owning as | do, wharf property in
the city. Thanking d. for his forbearance in not
putting to the test, think, if necessary could
satisfy him that as sincere and disinterested motives
prompt my advocacy of James River as the channel
tor the commerce OF Richmond. as governs any ci
tizen, in advocating the same or any other route
d., alter quoting my statements about the Erie
canal, says II he James River compared to a canal
40 feet wide and feet deep; pray who is now un-
derrating James river?" Surely made no such
comparison d., in his communication, after allu.
ding to the business of Toledo, what the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was doing for Baltimore and
then TO the vast area OF country that will be tributa
ry to Richmond by railroad and canal, asks il it is
too much to count upon million tons coming to
this city ia the next five years1 and ii so can be
passed off promptly and economically by the James
Riverf
In answer to his inquiries l stated the length,
breadth and depth of the Erie Canal the tonnage of
boats and the speed at which they moved and left
d. to work out the sum II over the Erie Canal, in
months, S.85S All tons ia moved what could
be moved over noble James river in IL months,
in vessels of 800 TONS at speed about 10 miles an
hour? agree with D. that the river has capacity
at this time tor average size ships come to the
wharves; but have too much confidence lin the in-
telligent engineers who have surveyed the river
time and again, to doubt that 1t will have that capa
city III short time and at small cost, with proper
dredging machines, when will see, practically
what canals and canal boats have to do with large
shipping
My object in stating the cost and expense of work
ing ten packet schooners between this and New York.
and the tonnage moved was to draw attention to the
TACT that If the ten schooners representing capital
of $4,000, did move 65 900 tons and could
move s5 to 80 900 tons. hst the Va Central Rail-
capital of nearly $loOoOoe moved about S. GOO tons
was it polite or judicous in the city of Richmond
to aid in constructing railroad to Ethan to cheap
ton 1.-THE lowest estimate, it would b rect charse
of $4,000 more via Ethan to New York or else
where, than by said packets from the wharves to
the same points on that amount of tonnage!
d. says there is no applicability in such reasoning,
as the great and only question between US is can
ships that large enough to be safe and economical
conse up to Richmond ~hdrUes hereafter?
swer, that vessels engaged in foreign voyages
receive and discharge their cargoes at the wharves,
lsate aud economically or would not be continued
and hereafter. if d. will continue his efficient aid and
fifteen feet water secured, it will at once COM
mence the building OF vessels suited to our river.
goes, and that will be safe and economical for any
voyage.
Provide accommodation for such shipping as ff.
teen feet water will admit to port get the
wharves and streets leading to them in good ORDER
and the result is inevitable Merchants will soon be-
gin and end III owning sufficient shipping to beget
spirit of enterprise that will look the world for
the best markets ask is it reasonable to expect that
Richmond will ever own shipping if the owners have
to travel forty miles-even by railroad-to their
vesseis2 says if had fairly estimated the capa-
city of the Va. Central Railroad it would have been
put down but little II any, short of million tons
per annu,n, instead of52, ,S95 tons. When we have
railroad communication with the West, some five
years hence, there will be an immense increase in
the tonnage of the "a. Central Railroad. ID. is extra
VACANT however, in assuming it to be million
tons, even after the connection is made as the fel
cs Sas g Je sSs New sbs Gs
year, 6Sl 039 tons the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
cost about $40 900 co., and moved the past year. ST.
S3l tons, ofwhich 399, ,002 tons was coal.
think if practical men will take the above facts
and contrast them with what is done aud what is
doing, they must come to the conclusion that an inn
proved river navigation is requisite to place the
inerce OF Richmond on fair footing with the cities
on the right and left.
thank ID. for working out my statements about
the bsrks Parthian" and 'sVirginian," but thK If
he had ima gined the Ethan railroad finished, and
those two vessels waiting in York River for their
money and time, he would have given his readers
va1ab Information, and convinced himself that our
much abused James River is the channel for cheap
aud expeditions movement of tonnage l an, at q
loss to account for the conclusions that d. has come
to, on my statement OF the tonnage of the shipd in
the port OF New Orleans, ON the 10th of December
My object to draw attention the fact that the
great city of New Orleans, with II ships ia port
averaged but goo tons each: If seven ships ranging
from 1888 to 1857 deducted. it would leave 64
ships averaging but 653 tons.
With these facts before them most readers would
come to the conclusion, that it will be sometime
before Richmond will require az many or az large
sized vessels as New Orleans ought to be satisfied
wlth such vessels as fifteen feet water would allow
to be employed in our trade. | assure D. that the
seven large ships were employed in the trade of New
Orieans and strange as it may appear him. large
ships pass 70 and from Wiicox's on James River.
as can pass 10 aud from New Orleans. also stated
that with fifteen feet water ships of the bulk of 800
hhds tobacco 5000 barrels -four could receive or
discharge their cargoes at the wharyes BY the same
process of reasoning that D. worked barrels
-four To the ton in the case of the "Parthan" and
'yrgaian," he would arrive at the fact that such
vessels would be about 800 tons Again. II d.
ssillfui 10 expedenu TO help James River as he is
anxiuus to help York River, he would see that by
Tightening about one-fth of The Cargo ships of 1000
could discharge and receive their careoes the
city wharyes. With the above explanations, hope
D. will that did not intend 70 limit the trade of
Richnond to ships OF 655 TONS and that intended
nay arguments TO be fair, whatever construction he
may have placed on them.
Ii conclusion, Mr. Editor, hold II the large and
constantly increasing tonnage eentering here has to
incur expensive portage and then costly railroad
transportation 10 oIk River for shipment that Rich
nond has outlayed her millions OF money to little
advantage II, on the contrary, the improvement Of
James River is pressed 20 a. 10 meet tonnage with
yess6ls OF all sizes for foreign coastwse voyages
aud thereby offer the cheapest outlet to the ocean
Rchmond Will attain the commercial and uaIs-
uiaetufas Importance she u entitled TO- n.