The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-11

81
The annual report of Mr.. Il. D. Whit
comb, Engineer OF James-River Improve
ment, for the year 1877, with an accompa-
nying map of James river from Richmond
to BurweIrs bay, has been forwarded to
Hon. W. C. Darlington, Mayor OF the city.
who will report the same to the City Coun-
ell. The report is one OF much interest,
both on account of the statements concern
ing the condition of lower James river as
we'll as the attention given by Mr. Whit
comb to tue heavy freshets Of October
and November last. The committee say
that the commerce on the river is
steadily increasing; large vessels are seek
ing cargoes here. The Improvement is
gradually being understood, and in short
time will be as well known to sbipmasters
and merchants as the Clyde and other great
thoroughfares that have been made by care
full and intelligent engineering. The num-
Der of vessels arriving and departing from
this port was 1,473-steamers, $40; sail,
9O3. OF this number vessels carrying 175,-
435 tons entered at Chesapeake and Ohio
wharyes, and vessels carrying 50,096 tons at
Richmond and DanviIle Railroad wharves-
a decided increase in the business OF both
railroads. @sf
z, MR.. wHITCOMB'S REPORT.
The Engineer sets out with a statement
in regard to the appropriations OF 1876 made
by the United States, and how the money
was expended.
The city resumed work on March l, 1877.
Two dredges, one tug, and one dumping.
machine were employed from that time un.
til September 30. Work was resumed by
~ af%x hnr 4 W. n
until the close of the year. The United
States continued to work the machines for
drilling and removing rock, one dredge,
the pile.driver, and one steam-tug until Ar-
gust, when the rock-machines were sent to
Petersburg for work on the AppomattoX.
One dredge, the pile-driyer, and the tug
were employed in September, and all the
dredges in October.
The channel from Rockets reef to the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad Wharyes has
been widened to 100 feet and the full depth OF
1S feet at high tide, except at one point near
the Friedrich wharf, where ledge ofrock
on the western side has but 10 feet. This
obstruction is short, and will be removed
when the further deepening OF Rockets
reef gives greater depth than ID feet to
the Wharves. Between the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad wharves and Goodies rock n
channel 70 feet wide has been eXcayated to
the depth of 16 feet, and wing-dams con-
structed on considerable part OF the dis
tance to aid in its maintenance. A layer OF
boulders was found in the lower part OF the
channel, and it is probable that the two feet
vet to be excavated contains large per-
centage of this material. A channel 100
feet wide, with q minimum depth OF
16S feet at high tide, has been completed
through Goodies rock, tie greater part
being Is feet deep. East of the deeper
channel there is additional width OF about
100 feet, with IA foet depth. This channel
has been in use since June, and is great
Improvement in direction and depth at this
point. Wing-dams have been constructed,
contracting the width of the river, on
Richmond bar. Randolph's fats, and part
of Warwick bar, and channel 96 by 16
feet dredged through the two latter shoals.
channel was nearly completed through
Richmond bar when the work was inter-
rupted by freshets.
AMOUNT OF WORK DONE.
The Engineer gives detailed account Of
the work done during the year. We use
his totals Number Of cubic yards Of earth
removed by the United States, l., 4S3; rock,
1.73Ot. By the city, 63,916 cubic yards OF
earth and 9S cubic yards Of rock. In addi-
ton to the above, the James River and ka-
nawha Company removed from the entrance
to the ship-lock 6.240 cubic yards Of sand
and mud and cubic yards Of boulders,
and the Old Dominion Steamship Company
SIG cubic yards of sand and mud. The
United States constructed 4,069 lineal feet
of wing dams. The United States has also
made a new survey OF the river from the
ship-lock to below Warwick bar, and sur
yevs OF Kingsland's reach, Varina reach,
and Harrison's bar.
The expenditures on the part OF the city
to November 30th, audited in the office,
were as follows: