The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-04
sides these there ret,ro very limited points
| with less than 20 feet s,s

1t will require approximately PSI, 900 Gu
bic yards Of dredging to make channe
200 feet wide and Is feet deep AT Low TIDE
through all these shoals, except Varina
where contraction in connection with dredg
ing would be. better than dredging alone
And we think that this work can be done in
SIX. months at q cost OF about 81, 900.
IL this is8lone, vessels drawing 1s feet
can come TO Yarina, at least, a: any stage .ot
the tide. and ut high tide could go on to
Warwick bar. which is in Sight OF your city.
We have before stated that with three
months work I64 ieet can be brought to
Rockets reef, and II so cubic yards Of rock
are removed from Rockets reef this depth
viii he brought to the city wharyes. 1t will
require considerable sum to remove the
rock on this reef. and at other points to in
crease this depth to 18 feet. but With foir
can be done in two years.
The shoals between Warwick and Yarina
with less than eighteen feet at io1o tide are
Falling Greek, le3s feel; ! Kipgsiand' g Reach,
II feet. and Dut Gap Cnt-Of, Is feet. 1t
would require say $4,000 to reduce these
to eighteen feet at iooo tide.
The period OF the year when work can
be done. at more reasonable cost is slipping
away, further appropriations by Congress
are uncertain, and are made so small that
for months the work is stopped, and in fact
is deteriorating; and on behalf Of the com
mittee we submit it to your good judgment
whether ii Is not Of paramount importance
to the interests Of the city to 90 on with
the Improvement at any reasonable cost.
We have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servants, 80
r. +. BLANKESsHIP. Chairman;
Ell. d. WHITCONB. Engineer.
Mr.. Curtis, at The conclusion OF the read
ing. offered the following:
Resolved (he Board of Aldermen concur
ring), That the Finance Committee be and
are hereby authorized to borrow for and on
account OF The city OF Richmond $4,000,
and place the same to the credit OF the
James.River improvement.
Mr.. Curtis made an earnest address IN be-
half OF the expenditure. He referred to the
efforts now being made to carry the trade 10
West Point which should come to Rich
mond. The time is at hand when we should
make every effort to make James river az
deep as the York at West Point. He thought
it our duty TO invite commerce. There are
less charges at the port OF Richmond than at
any other port in the United States, and it
does seem right that the Council should
make every effort to secure the depth OF
channel desired.
Mr.. Christian opposed Mr.. CurtiS's reso-
lution, and moved that it be referred to the
Finance Committee, with authority to re-
port to either branch. Mr.. Christian con-
tended that the committee had not author
lied any such resolution to be offered.
Mr. Curtis said the committee had not
sent 10 tie resolution, but it was under
stood that such a resolution would be Of
tered to follow the memorial.
The Chair stated that under the rules the
resolution would goto the Finance Commit
lee.
Mr.. Curtis moved to suspend the rules so
rs 10 consider the resolution at once.
Dir. Straus demanded the ayes and noes.
The ayes and noes were takeG, and the
rules were suspended by the following
vote:
AYEs.-Nessrs. Adams. Baker, Crcnshaw, Curtis,
Davis Of Marshall Mard Edwards EIlslt; Gsntry' nt
Phillips Pollock, Rankin, Talbot Taylor ana
NoEs-Messrs. Christian. Davis of Madison
Ward. Eyson. Hargrorc. King, Skink'r, Straus,
and Nalson-S.
Mr. Straus hoped the resolution would be
referred. He said that $4,000 would not
save James river, nor S500,000, il our COM
merce is to go by another route. The way
to correct the matter is to pull up the con-
ncc;ion track we now have.
Mr.. Curtis said that if james river is
deepcned to eighteen feet then we will get
Lhe trade. Our river will then haye rs deep
a channel as the channel to West Point. Ii
Is vital question. We must be up and
doing. viii we stand by and see the very
hearts blood OF our trade 60 to another
port? They tell us that q vessel can sail all
the way up to West Point in the York river.
It's ali boSh. Such is not the case. Th'nk
Of it! Three hundred thousand barrels al
lour went down our river in the past eleven
months shipped to the BrazilS. Mr.. Curtis
next spoke OF the vast good already acconi-
feet OF water added to the
depth OF the riveri in the past few years
and of the importance OF doing away with
the necessity OF Tightening vessels and CT
deepening the channel.
Mr.. T. Wiley DAVIS seconded very hearth
ly what Mr. Curtis bad said, and stated
there would be no difficulty in getting the
money at per cent. He hoped it would
be the pleasure Of the Council TO make
some provision for this great improvement.
Mr.. Davis made warm and friendly argu-
ment in favor Of the appropriation.
Mr.. Talbot said that ii the river has been
we should not hesitate to make tue appro-
priation now suggested. 1t did seem to
him that it was most important question.
He did not doubt that the river had been
decpened to the extent stated, and he was
willing to make the appropriation to put
the machinery TO work. -
Mr.. Curtis made another earnest speech
in favor OF the appropriation. --...
/ Mr.. Ellysou said he hoped the matter
would be referred. He thought The coul-
ml,tce would meet before next Monday,
and be able 10 report to the Board OF Alder
men. ........
Mr.. Charles r. Davis thought livery In
eypedient TO appropriate $4,000 TO any
cause without being referred to the FL
nance Committee. We ought not to act too
hastily.
The motion to refer was lost-ayes, ~ !;
noes, 10.
Mr.. G. T. Davis, Mr.. Christian, and Mr..
Edwards said that they were yitally inter-
csred in the river improvement, but would
be compelled to vote against the resolution
because 1t has not been properly consid-
cred.
Mr.. Curtis said that there were some
members OH the Finance Committee VINO
would never vote to spcud money to deepen
the river, and therefore he hoped the rcso'
luton would be adopted this evening.
The vote was then taken. and the reso'u-
ton defeated by the following vote mot
two thirds):
AYEs,.-Mcssrs Adams, Crcus.aw. Curtis. r. ".
Davis. G-ntry, Goddin. Hayes, Higgins, irwin,
Pearcc. Phillips, Pollock, Rankin, Talbot, Taylor,
Wood-16.
NOEs.-MesSrS Baker, Christian. Charles 7. Da-
yis, Edwards, Elicit, Ellyson, Hargrove, King,
Skinker, Straus, Mansop-1l,
On motion OF Mr.. Elicit the vote reject