The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-30
Richmond and the River.

But they have found that the troubles are
in great part quite efectually aVoidable
BY o little forecast aud liberality OF eXpendi'
ture, guided by wisdom and energy. Here
in Richmond we have one of the noblest OF
rivers. 1t confers upon Us dement's inest'-
mable. and its troubles arc few; put we
should take measures to avoid these.
Lower James river is the outlet OF our
commerce 70 sea. We have sixteen feet wa
ter from our wharvcs TO Hampton ROADS.
We can grind -four with the water-power or
the river. and we can load Sea-going vessels
which stand in sight OF the mills. and they
,ske their cargoes to sea and foreign ports
in snv continent. In front OF the city there
arc the falls which afford the watcr-power.
aud the rapidity of the water flowing down
those falls is such that the highest floods 40
not raise the water more than ten feet just
inthem. The river there has granite bed
the ready and enduring foundation OF any
structure that may be located there. These
are advantages which we fear are not fully
appreciated by our people, and we beg them
TO consider these gifts OF nature for awhile
IN order better to understand them.
Yet in the recent food We found some OF
the troubles which the benefcent river may
give Us, and has time and again given us,
while we have done but little to avoid them.
We have thrown away lessons and we have
wasted much money in losses against which
we should have provided. II we look along
the north shore in the city do we not behold
avery ragged edge: Openings and low
places and confined points, amounting to
distractions, are observable. The dock,
constructed at enormous expense, has
bank so low that the river foods often make
the dock and river one, both flowing as one
fiveT. This neglected and poorly-guarded
edge needs attention for the sake OF the city
and OF us all.
Then there are the streets near Shockoe
crcck-thrce OF them that are oIcrtlowed
hy every considerable rise in the river. All
the stores and warehouses in that vicinity
arc periodically flooded, and some OF them
on Main street, in what was once the fash
icnable lry-goods district, are eight to ten
feet deep in water. Should that be permit
tedo 1t is a scandal to the city that in Its
present advanced state such things should
I've. There has been many times over mo-
ncr enough lost hy such oIcrnoWs toplace
the houses On each of these streets above
the -cac! OF the highest floods. The amount
o. losses in those streets at the recent hood
would be large contribution toward such
an Improvement as is necessary and proper
to protect the business in future from the
erieyous Inconvenience anG losses 10 Whlch
il las been so long subjected.
1t The lowest depression, where the water
forms those canals in the centre OF the city
which cause ii to resemble q city in lake,
the streets should be raised fully ten feet.
Il IS due to the decency and the health OF the
city. as we'll as its business, that this should
be done. Shall Richmond continue perma-
neatIy foundering through conditions dis
creditable to the most untidy and apathetic
village? Surely the business community
desires to get out of this condition, and
surely. when the prevention OF loss in this
way will supply means to lit the city up
from such discomfort and disgrace, there
should be matured and carried out scheme
so to lift her up.
We suggest that the city authorities, with
TIE CITY Engineer, take these things into
consideration, and see If there be not some
feasible plan for reforming this discredita-
blecstate Of things. .@%.'
TIE river needs looking after. It IS
sor. OF tutclar deity OF the place, and de-
serves TO be protected from such neglect
and deformity that would be unworthy OF
thing not especially deserving public re-.
snect. The river should be wcll-ordered
and decorous in its shores, and we should
by no means neglect the matter OF giving 1t
plenty Of space and guarding 1t from i'm
proper use as a sewer for things which tend
to its obstruction, and therefore to the en-
barrassment of navigation and the injury
OF commerce.
A great point that must be carried ont,
and should have long ago been consumma-
ted. is the union Of Richmond and Manches-
ter. so that the river, the people, and the
security and morality of the entire locality
shall be under one government. The
LONGER we live the greater will appear the
necessity for this.
What sort Of show did what is called
the port Of Richmon present to us all in
the late food: The dock and the river one,
the wharvcs in the river, and the vessels
hanging by their anchors in the rapid
stream the Chesapeake and Ohio wharVes
swept, steamers lodging about like rats
driven from their holes, and general confu-
sion and scatteration prevailing. Did that
look like commerce! owe guess not"
Commerce wants order, quiet, and facility
for loading and unloading. 1t wants YES
sells to have plenty OF room, and to be
quietly moored at accessible and commo-
dious wharyes. 1t should not be disturbed
or suspended by floods and freaks OF wea-
Their. With maritime interests time is
money, and demurrage is as obnoxious to
owners OF ships as to shippers.
We will merely suggest in this article
what Richmond will have to do in course
OF time to secure what commerce wants and
avoid what commerce deprecates. She will
have to construct an ample ship-basin on
the Falls plantation, just below Manchester.
with canal for vessels to enter and depart
from it. This basin will have to be fed by
canal coming from the falls by tunnel un-
der Manchester. The earth that is dug up
and removed to make this great basin or