Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-23

SupcrStructurcs, and the company expects soon
To have erected foot bridge in the city rRich'
mond. farm bridge on the upper Brclno estate,
and county road bridge in the town OF Co'
llmbia. Bv the terms of the contract, they
are warranted to stand severe tests, and the
price to he paid for the three is si9j. Should
the board become satisfied of the cXpcdicncy oi
substituting iron for wooden superStrncturcS,
as renewals shall be required. one important
item of annual expenditure will he materially
reduced
The renewal of the Clshaw lam has been
cornpctcd. The reconstruction Of Bosher $
dam and of Joshua Falls dam is progressing.
The Lynchburg feeder canal is nearly finish
cd The lattice bridge over the Lynchburg
basin has been completed and considerable
progress has been made in raising the Lynch
burg level.
The completion of the bridge over james
River at New Canton is promised carly i'll De-
ccInbcr
The work on the third division of the canal
has remained as at the date of the lust annual
report, wholly suspended.
BY an arrangement with the Governor of the
Commonwealth 1s male and five female negro
conyictS were received from the Penitentiary
and employed on the North river improvement
They are guarded by squad of six men, well
armed; their labor is directed by competent
managers whoarc also armed; they are clothed
fed. and worked according to regulations pre-
scribcd by the Governor; and far, the re-
ports Of their operations have been etirely sat
sfactory. Applying to the asccrtaincl quanti-
ties ofwork performed by them the usual prices
for each description of work, they compare la
vur;bly with any other class of labor; indeed,
the report from their managers is, that being
well clothed and well fed, worked steadily but
without har>hncss and confined at night, so
that they are prevented from roaming about,
committing dcprcdalions, drinking to excess
losing sleep, and thus uniting themselves for
work the ensuing day, they are superior to the
ordinary class of hired negroes or Irish labor
crS, over whom no such control can be SUCCESS
fully exercised One has died. and the terms
Of two have expired. :,
J The improvement on the North River being
completed to the mouth of South River a dis
tancc of Is miles. the convictS are continued
upon that line with the view Of completing it
up to the town of Lexington, which, il is hoped
will be accomplished in the course of the enSu
ing wear \ limited mechanical force will he
employed in conjunction with the cOnvictS; the
extra expense of which will be met by an &C.
comlnolation at Bank upon the notes ofthe COM
pany endorsed hy citizens of Lexington, paya-
BILE at twelve months from the original date of
each note
The expenditure Oh account of the North
River improvement during the fiscal year has
been $23.344 IS. The interest and sinking
fund Oh the bonds Of the North River Naviga
ton company guaranteed by this company have
also been duly paid, amounting TO go, ooo
We learn from that portion of the report
which covers the finished part Of the canal that
the bridges, dams, and every portion OF the
canal is in better repair. and probably in bet
ter working condition than at any former pc
riod--that Notwithstanding the drlwha Of a
short crop the reduction Of tolls on the canal,
and general financial embarrassment, the rcvc
nucS from tolls at the dock and OH the canal
are larger, 10y nearly - per cent, than the pre-
viouS year.
The country is gradually recovering from the
effects Of the money panic, and largely increased
sales of merchandise may be expected and
calculating upon an average wheat and tobacco
crop, it is reasonable to expect a largely in
creased business both in the dock and upon the
canal, during the current year; especially if the
Virginia and Tennessee, and East Tennessee
and Virginia Railroads should reduce their
tariff upon freight. 4 slight reduction by
these companies would secure to them and to
the canal very large share Of the tonnage
from North Alabama and intermediate places,
and the carrying in return to the same points,
Of merchandise from New York. Philadelphia,
Baltimore, as well as from Richmond
The press of other matters upon our columns
precludes us at present from following the very
lucid report of the President upon the West
crn improvements. Our readers well know
the deep interest VIC take in that portion
of our "water line" and how repeatedly we and
our correspondents have urged the importance
of an early connection with the waters Of the