The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-10
rho CHAR. 80, - The .Ja,nes.

Iuc Wti-hh SWn idcts tua' s"N -"
aud Ohio Railroad Company Is SEEKING ior
deep we.er, and conte,nplates constructing
n limo OF road from Gordonsviile or LOUISA
Courthouse 10 the point where IL may nnu
that deside ratum, should arouse our Guy
Council 10 the importance OF securing at
least eighteen feet Of water In the coah'Ni
OF the James river UP to point only a.
few miles below the wharves OF that COM
psr,y below Rockets. We are told mat III
y on thousand dollars will suffice to accom-
nlisb that Objects sum ridiculously small
when the object OF Its expenditure is taken
into consideration, and which could not
otherwise be so used as to be OF hall so
much benefit to Richmond.
It's true the United States Government
ought to do this work. IL Is to give CITY
Point about twenty feet of water thence to
the sea- and it ought to do as much for Rich
mond. But an cnterp.ising city cannot
await the pleasure OF The Government fos-
ever. We have waited long enough. There
should be no effort spared to secure Tor
Richmond tue benefits which must result
to her from being the real terminus OF our
great western railroad.
People are not apt TO appreciate The adj
vaptaoes OF a river such az the James.
What would fifteen thousand dollars do to-
wards keeping up railroad! Nothing.
1T wouldn't pay for the grease used for III
bricating purposes. Yet the river with a
proper channel would be able to bear
hence upon its bosom all the freight which
all the railroads leading into Richmond
could bring bither. The river is gift OF
Providence; aud therefore we undereslf-
mate If. IL it could be removed, we would
be willing to pay millions to get it back. 1t
is worth more 10 the city than any OF the
railroads TO which she has been asked TO sub
scribe so many hundreds Of thousands OIL
dollars.
We trust that the City Council will give
due consideration to this important subject.
The following communication comes
from a man thoroughly informed upon the
subject:
Editors Dispatch The Common Coun-
Gil at lis last meeting passed resolution to
make the appropriation by the city to The
James River Improvement for the current
year $4,000. The appropriations in the
past four or five years have been insufficient
10 more than keep the dredges and other
machinery in order.
The object Of the increase asked for is to
deepen the channels through certain shoals
lying between City Point and point about
live miles below Rockets.
The engineer IN charge says that the depth
near Richmond has been increased from log
feet at high tide in 1870 to nearly lG3
feet. and this is about the depth over certain
shoals below City Point. This beng the
case, the United States engineer who directs
the work has applied a portion Of the last
congressional appropriation to deepening
the channels below City Point. The work
is under contract, and by July 1st the depth
below City Point will he 1875 feet at low tide
and 22 feet at high tide. But there are
shoals above City Point a well which can
not be removed with the present appropria-
ton. Future appropriations by Congress,
are uncertain. and II one is made this year
il will not he available until August. Less
than $4,000 will cut channel 100 feet wide
through all these shoals to within five miles
OF the city, so that there will be Is feet at
low tide and 81 feet at high tide. The
width is small, but it will do for begin
ming. With tue depth OF 1Gs feet from the
city, the lighterage for the five miles would
be quite uncomfortable rs compared with
the same TO City Point; and 1t would be
strange indeed il any OF our railroad com
panes, completed or projected, should
hereafter 90 a hunting after similar or no
better depth at the expense OF longer land
carriage. Freights cannot yet be carried as
cheapIy by rail as by steamer and steam
towage.
1t seems to Us that the appropriation
should be made, and that the interests OF
this city demand that the work should be
put under contract promptly, so that it can
be completed by july 1t, or as soon as the
shoals below City Point are deepened.