The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-26
THE JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
INTERESTING REPORT OF THE JOINT CON-
MITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
Present Condition Of the River. &c.

Present Condition of the River. &c.
The joint Committee of the City Council
on the Improvement Of James River have
prepared report, which will probably be
made TO the Council at its next meeting. The
committee say that in 1860 it was scarcely
possible TO bring to our wharves vessels
drawing more than 1O3 feet Of watere After
the end OF the war the river was filled with
sunkeu wrecks and artificial distractions
that made access to the city difficult and dam
gerous. To-day we have 40 unobstructed
outlet to the sea, with IA feet of water to the
wharves of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road Company, and 134 feet to the Wharves
below Gille's creek at Rockets, and - feet
to our dock, with the fact, asserted and de-
| monstrated by engineering skill, that Is feet
Of water is easily obtainable.
To an intelligent business man these SIM
pie facts are sufficient to demand thoughtful
| attention to their effect on the future pro-
gress and prosperity Of our city. To accom-.
pish the results thus far obtained the city
has expended S250,000 aud regular annual
appropriations have been made by the United
| States Government. Of the money appro-
priated by the city large amount has been
expended in dredges and machinery, OF
which it is now the fortunate posSessor, and
the question Of the proper employment and
use of these appliances for this work demands
at this moment your thoughtful considera-
ton.
We may safely assume in considering this
question that the Government of the United
States, acting on its established and we'll
known policy, having begun and demon.
sllated the feasibility Of the Improvement Of
| our river, will continue its annual appro-
priations until the results certified by its en-
gneers as attainable are accomplished and
| our river becomes that great highway of
commerce which continuous depth OF
eighteen feet would insure.
From our repeated reports on the subject
the Council are aware that during the past
two years, under an arrangement made by
your committee with the officers of the
United States, the city has been relieved Of
the burden Of expense of the river improve
ment, having simply furnished and kept in
repair the machinery which has been worked
at the expense OF the Government appro-
priations. Under the Impression that this
arrangement would continue, the Council! ap-
propriated only $4,000 for the river improve
ment this year, that being the sum necessary
to keep the machinery in proper repair and
to maintain the organization. But the work
has reached such point in its progress that
it has become necessary for the United States
engineers to terminate the existing arrange
ments. and expend the $4,000 appropriated
by the Government for this year under def
mite contracts.
The work proposed to be done during this
year by the United States engineers is as fol-
lows:
First. The Dutch Gap canal, having been
demonstrated 10 be feasible and available, is
to be So widened and improved as to make
il permanent improvement, suitable Tor use
by the largest steamers visiting our port.
Second. 1t is proposed to cut channel on
the north side OF the river from Gllle>S creek
to the wharves Of the Chesapeake and ONO
Railroad Company, so that the fourteen leet
| of water available below may be brought to
the dock.
Third Goodies rock, which stands in
mid.channel, and has been a serious obstacle
| TO navigation, is to he removed.
Fourth. The system of dyking having been
proven TO be euinentiy applicable to our
| river. and demonstrated by the recent fresh
c,s TO be of great benefit in maintaining the
depths of water obtained, is to be extended
| and improved.
Advertisements have already been issued
| by the United States for proposals for carry
| inw out these objects and IL IS worthy OF
special notice that all of these improvements
| are to be made on the blsls OF eighteen lect
of water as the final result.
| TO accomplish this result, Which Will with
| in the next eight months produce great and
marked benefit to the trade OF the city, Will
require the whole Of the appropriation made
by the Government; and it rests with the
| &l,o a;t, nf piri
| in behalf Of its own interests.
The committee have carefully considered
the whole subject and formed the following
opinions:
| TO maintain the condition Of the river, and
| nreseryc the improvements made and to be
| made. it will be necessary for the city TO
ALWAYS maintain an organized force, and con-
slantlv employ one dredge-boat with its
necessary appliances. The river is high
way for transportation, which, like rail-
road. must be maintained in condition Tor
the business required Of it, though 1t pro:
per for YOU to remember that il will carry
the tonnage of scores Of railways, and can
be maintained for one.thrd less cost per mile
than one railway. Freshets are OF necessary
and sometimes frequent occurrence ln our
river, and we must always be prepared to
remove and repair any damages they may oc-
casion, in order that our commerce may suf-
fer no delay or obstruction. 1t therefore
seems plain to us that while the United States
engineers are periecting and carry ing
out the additional improvements we have al.
luded TO that it is the duty and TO the ill.,
trrcSt of the city TO maintain anu keep avail
able those already accomplished. 10 90 this
we must keep organized one dredge-boat
and while all of its time ana expense would
not be required for this purpose alone, we
can. when rot otherwise needed, devote It's
service in such assistance towards the perma'
nent Improvement Of the river as may seem
most desirable.
ton of the city machinery should De sou, Us
we cannot foresee at w hat time the Use OF the
whole OF it may not be OF vast Importance ~
the CITY. Our plan is that the city MAINTAIN
the existing organization, anu Keep III USE
during this year one dredge-boat Tor such
use as your committee may deem most bene'
ticial, and that the balance Of the machinery
owned by the city be protilabiy rented 10
those who may undertake contracts uhoer Ihe
Government appropriation.
Only $4,000 having been appropriated py
vou out of the current revenues Of the city
| before the facts now developed were pre-
seuled. it will be necessary TO appropriate
| Sl5. 900 more to carry out the views we pre-
| sent, and we would suggest that IL pe zone
| ty the further issue OF Sl0,OUU OF Jimes
| River Improvement bonds.
| We have 10 personal views or objects 10
crafty; but. endeavoring faithfully to ad-
vance the interests of the city, we deem II
our duty to urge as strongly as possible the
| views we entertain. The river improvement
is now beyond csyil and doubt, and has be-
come fixed, demonsrable fact. Three tee
| additional OF water already brought nearly
to our city, and the promise of the engineers
| tIat thiS raur will bring ii 10 our WharYes