The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-18
DEEPENING JAMES RIVER.

We feel so deep an interest in all that af:
fects the interests of Richmond, that it gives
us pleasure to assist the efforts Of the press
looking in the direction of improvement
We heartily endorse the following article,
which we copy from the Dispatch of this
mening, and will always be found in the
front ranks of those who manifest willing
ness to give the city a lift
AT this time there is no matter of public
concern so important as the deepening and
clearing of James river. That river is the
very throat Of our commerce and as in the
animal economy diseased, ulcered, and
obstgucted throat will lead to the worst
consequences, so will the distractions in
our river bring upon commercial intercourse
the most serious injuries.
We have begun boldly and are progress
ing most earnestly with the work of deep
ening the channel below Rockets. That
work is one so eminently valuable that the
desire to see it hurried forward with superr
human energy should possess all hearts.
We see Glasgow with twenty-five feet of
swater at high tide in the river Clyde, on
whose shores it stands, when that river
thirty years ago had only twelve inches Of
water In the channel at low tide in summer.
We see Glasgow with a half million of in
ha1itSnts, and we see Greenoch on the
Firth Of Clyde Gn effect on the sea ITSELF,
with population of only forty-fye thou
sand! Glasgow has won her greatness by
the energy and enterprise of her people.
What reward is held out to us through
lher example! She is manufacturing town.
So is Richmond, while she has tentold bet
ter advantages than Glasgow. Glasgow has
deepened her river from twelve inches to
twenty-five feet. Cannot Richmond deepen
hers from ten feet to Twenty-Five? Do that,
and the triumph will be complete. We
have ommerce-Glasgow has but little !;
her river serving mainly for the export OF
her own fabrics and for the passage of the
noble iron ships she has been building and
sending out to the world. Our reason to
hope for reward is greater than Glasgow's IS
could have been.
With these facts before us, what grand
estimate we should put upon our river
Each citizen should consider it his especial
duty to guard and defend it, and to do all
The can to hasten its improvement to that
stage that will enable it to meet the de-
mafsds of the immense commerce soon to
be thrown upon it.
Now, not only is it in deepening the
channel that we are to improve James
river. 1t must be kept free from the debris
thrown or washed into it in such immense
quantities for years past. This debris has
lbeen steadily washed down the channel,
and has very much assisted in forming the
bars which have so annoyed our commerce.
AS part Of the sytem of deepening and
keeping clear the river, the most rigid reg
ulations for preventing the throwing OF
offal and earth or any kind of waste matter
into the river should be adopted and en-
forced. The sand-bars above Rockets
should be removed, and the river opened
from shore to shore, so that the water shall
always have unobstructed flow.
For health and good appearance, as
well as fol utility, this should be done. II
is sad to see the river with its sand beds
exposed at low tide at the very point
abreast of the city where the sight is most
obnoxious. The city government should
pay prompt attention to this subject. The