The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-23

The River Improvements.


Am cIry PoINT-TwENTY FEET DEPTH
WANTED.
Al the last meeting of the Board oil Alder
xoen me following interesting communica-
f,u,, ftom Mr.. II. ID. Whitcomb. engineer OF
sbe James.R River Improvement, was SUP
nni,tei and read and referred to the Com
nit,ee on Finance. The communication
vas prepared by Mr.. WhitcomD al the re-
cues of the Committee on the Improvement
ENGIsEER's OFFICE
JAMES. RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
RICHMOND, VA, January 9, 1880.
To me Honorable Board Of Aldermen o. me
[Ry Of Richmond
Een,lemen.-At a meeting OF The Com
miitee on the Improvement OF James RIVER
held January 7. 1880, a resolution was pass
ed requesting the Engineer TO address q
written communication TO The Board OF Al
dermen IN relation 10 the importance OF
deepening the shoals between Randoiph's
fat and City Point, so that there shall be
everywhere in the channel at least ~ leet
depth at ordinary high tide.
Tbis Improvement is carried on under in
attractions from Colonel Craighill. United
STATES Engineers, and any expenditure on
IL by the city since 1870 has been made IN
harmony with bis instructions. Under the
existing arrangement with the General
Government the city is expected to keep
clear the channel above Warwick bar, Whcn
once eXcavaled. and to do any work In me
bnrbor q. c., above Rockets reer outside
q! Il channel $50 feet wide. The United
States excavates the channel and constructs
the works intended TO maintain the eXca-
waited depth.
The plan Of Colonel Craighll has been to
provide channel $50 feet wide ana 10 ieet
deep al average high iide.
II will be remembered that as iate
as Is70-after the great fresbet-the
dep;h on Richmond bar aud at some
OTHER places at high tide was but 100
feet. On this same bar there are now l6
feet 4 inches, and below il not less than II
feet: and in short time POSSIBLY in few
daysl this depth will be- available to the
wiiaryes at Rockets. i do not mean that
vessels NAV load to that draught, but that
this viii be the least depth OF water every
where in the channel al average high tide
Thee are but 1Gs or II feet at high tide
on two or three shoals below City Point;
and there are other shoals above which have
les. than IS feet at low tide-yiZ., Dutch
Gap cut of has but Is feet ut low tide; Va
rina shoal about the same; CurPs Neck
abou, lja feet. Including Dutch Gap, we
and Civ Point which have less than IS feet
on them at low iide-auerdge tOW tide-for
under be influence OF westerly winds the
tide flilS below this average, usually TO 13
feet but we have records in this Office
showing nearly q feet due 10 thi, cause.
On the her hand. eas,erly winds prevent It's
falling 10 the average. Doubtless every port
has q similar experience.
Now vessel cannot be taken to Hampton
Roads, or below all these shoals, on one
tide; and if loaded TO the full depth at
Richmond could not pass without delay all
the shoals below, since some Of them would
be net at or near low tide. The Gen
eral Government has recognized this
fact, and is now cXcavating the chan
pes below City Point to 10 feet AMI
over at low TIDE. and by the Goth Of June
next channels 300 feet wide. and with this
depth, will be completed through all the
shoals below City Point, ard vessels draw
ing 30 feet may then be brought to City
Point.
IL is probable that the United States En-
gineer will continue this increased depth to
YariDa, il not 10 higher point: provided
further appropriations are made by Con-
gress Tor James river; and il is possible
that zone work Will be done on the VarIna
shoal under the present appropriation but
the means in hand will only suffice TO com
plefe tue contracts below City Point and
carry on the work near Richmond until
NAV. II further appropriation is made it
will not be available until August, and we
will lose three OF the best months OF the
year.
The cost Of making a channel 100 feet
wide having at least 20 feet at hieh tide
from City Point 10 Warwick bar would be
about $4,000, and across Warwick bar to
Randoiph's fiat $4,000 more. This would
be a narrow channel, but would answer
temporarily, as the aggregate length OF the
six shoals below Warwick bar would not
exceed II miles: and if Congress makes
further appropriations we may bOpe that
the United States Engineer would 20 on %
widen and to build works TO maintain the
channel, which would cost about 100000
mole.
think it very important TO the city to
have the deeper water brought to Warwick
bar, f not 10 RandoIph's flats, NJ tho earliest
possible time. The former point Is u miles
and he latter four miles below the ship
IocE. Before This work en- be done theIe
will be leg feet in the channel above War
wick to the civ wharves There ar already
II Zee below Richmond bar, which Is about
three mites below the city. When there are lG3
feet ~ vour wharyes and fully 20 feet below
WafW Ok ilud this may be WITHIN the eur
rent YEAR, think | would be safe TO load a
YES el h ia feet draugbt at your wharves
and 60 boat 10 feet at Warwick. Lighter
ing iiom the CITY 10 Warwick is an addi-
xionll expense which would haye 10 be sub
nliiied 10 for The present.; but the expense
would be less than If it had 10 be done TO
Civ Point; and ali vessel. drawing over
ia ~ lC feet Will have t. submit 10 this.
But with this Increased expense aud The
cost OF lowage to Hampton RO1dS, the cost
OF cnrying freight TO The Seaboard would
still b. Re than Il would he by rail on any
line buis or projected,
think IL would be "A iudici0us eXpenai-
tttIc OF city funds 10 90 on with this work
ab0Ye City Point at once. and, Il possible, |
h2yetbis l00-ioO channel completed by June !
S0th II will require an appropriation OF
x25, 600 instead oi the usual amount, which, !
i'm tact, has not been sufficient TO carry out !
ibe arrangement with The General Govern. |
incnt aud to keep the city machines in pro- |
per condition.
IL will be necessary 10 do most OF this |
W0rk by contract, a. most " the city ma |
chimes will be in use by the United States !
until May between Richmond and Warwick |
bar.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
II. j.. WHlTCOMB.
Engineer for Richmond city.
Tnr MOZART MUSICALE LAST NIGHT