The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-03-17
THE DISPATC Fl.
sHrssnay MoNsIr. ~ ..-....MAscH u. 1859
~. RAJ. A s,nrrectieu /.

.ss~~
The Bars A Correction. ia.
The article IN the Dispatch Of yesterdsy' 80
tsp for the purpose Of impressios tue p"e"s n;rg
sod the Council with the importance OF aeep
the chsnnel of lower James River. and Hee,"e
navigation from obstacles, Was erroneous :"
Important particulars, viz;
LIST In regard to the bar at "H~ies' W"
,,atea that since the dredging opetasiens s"ete
80 80 a;.cantinued. there had been new depo.
s,,as Of saud, which had almost restored the bar
20 a. former condition. We have nov the best
authority for saying that the channe, over that
har has been eepened instead Of diminished. since
the dredging was suspended. This fact 10
proved not only by measurement, but by the pas.
cage of laden vessels over the bar.
cud. II was generally stated that the impression
made upon the bars BY the iabors Of the last Ave
years, had been "amost effaced by subsequent de-
positss." So far from this being correct. we are
assured that In no place whore the channel has
heen drsdgcd, has the subsequent deposite OF SAND
d,sainished the depth Of the channeh IL appears
thst the dredger having broken the impacted crust
III the bars and removed them 10 certain depth,
the constant movement OF vessels and steamers
over them since has not only prevented the aceu.
mutation Of neW deposites. but tended to dislodge
much tha, had been disturbed and exposed BY the
6fedser.
We are really gratlied at being able to make this
corree ton. II is true more might have been done
in fse years than has been done, had the proper
force sad means been brought to bear upon the
Undertaking: but, at the same time, much has
seen done. and that much has Thus far proved q
great aud permanent advantage to navigation, As
the following facts will show:
The famous Warwick bar, it would seem, has
- lo~ al t;nn
All or unconstitutional. When 1t was attacked
Are years ago there were scsnt ten aRdd half feet
Sc the channel at high water. The channel there
at high water is now fifteen fee. deer, and is grow
iug deeper by use, Vessels drawing fifteen feet
have passed over II.
The cnly bar between Warwick and City Point
In the way of our commerce, was the bar Of
Tfsvff Tsdct, twenty two miles below Richmond
Before the dredging was commenced there the
depth Of water at high tide Was only eteren and q
hat fsetthe channel there nos has sfxtcen feet al
high water and shst is also gratifying, the move
ment OF vessels is helping TO deepen that as we'll
as the channel at Warwick.
Below Rocke,ts-whers laid those boulders
which were SO annoying TO vessels,-betore their
removal was begun, there was tn anda hatf fee,
Of water--ii is now etcrca md a half feet deep. -
The loose rock have been chiefly raised and car
ried out Of the channel. There is now to be blast
81 sud removed some lat stone of considerable
extent. The proposition now before the council is
,or the removal Of this stone. The contractor
.ars 20 remove IT, max Ing channel fl teen feet
daop AMI hundred feet wide, for a specific Euul
and in some fifteen months Of time. The sum 10
$4,000. II is deemed by persons who have paid
attention to the subject, .ha. the city could not
accomplish the undertaking for any thing like
this sum- But these matters, IL Ia 20 be presumed.
the Council will fully Investigate. Let 1t De re-
membered, however, that should the proposition
be accepted the sun Involved will not be disbnrs'
ed Immediately but only as il lie wanted WITHIN
SOME fifteen months
The removal of this bed or beds Of stone, will At
once facilitate the deepening fthe channel, above
aud below tine point where they lie. Upon such
barrier The tides, which powerful, and the
moving vessels can make no impression. once
removed, however, the track Of the dredger will
be swept by both tide and ship, and more than
probably continually deepened and widened. At
all events, the work OF keeping open the channel
after the rocks are removed aud a proper depth
has been once obtained, will be an easy and COM
paratiEely cheap labor.
We are sure that the citizens generally sympa'
ftss with US Ia the ardent wish that the Council
will adept some decided and prompt measure, for
the completion Of this undertaking, involving as
IL does, In most vital manner, the commercial
interests and welfare of Richmond.