The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-17
MAY REPORT.
ENGINEERS OFFICE,
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT,
RICHMOND. VA, June 2, 1881.

RICHMOND, VA, June 2, 1881. )
LepiS d. CrenShd,o, Jr., Esq Chairman :
Dear Sir,-I have the honor to submit the
following report OF operations on the inn
provemeDt in May, 1881:
No work was done by the city directly.
The General Government continued WIDEN
ing and deepening the channel at Goodies
rocks, using its own .rock.remoyinS ma
chinery and the three city dredges; one OF
which was employed only half the month.
The city pile-driver was also employed on
wing. dams above Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way wharf. 1t will require about two
months additional work to ~Open the
eighleen-feet deep channel through Goodies
rocks; but the channel for sixteen and
haf feet has been widened considerably,
and for the most part to one bundled and
fifty feet. Two OF the dTedges will shortly
be removed higher up the river, and one
will be put to work in the harbOr on Gillie's
Creek shoaI, where the United States Engl-
neer has consented TO do limited amount
OF work. A surface blast has already been
made on the rock heretofore reported as
uncovered while dredging this shoal, which
| it is hoped will allow most OF the rock to
be dredged.
A force has been employed in construct
ing brush mats for protecting the ends OF
Wng-dams from scour.
Mr.. James Caller has completed a channel
200 feet in width and IS feet in depth
through Varna sboal, and moved his ma
chimes to CurPs Neck on the 3lst OF May.
He will not be able TO complete the cut at
Currs Neck TO the same width before his
contract expires by limitation on the Both OF
June. | think he may be able to complete
70 feet in width, judging from his progress
at Varina. From recent survey, as well as
from the coaSt.survey charts just received,
there are now 1S feet inches on this shOal
at mean high tide, and the bottom is very
soft, with a wide channel OF that depth. 1t
appears from the COast-Survey chart that
there is another point mile and half be-
low Grubbs's wharf on the lower end OF Va
rina shoaI with less than IS feet at low tide
on il. We made a survey Of this shoal two
or three years since, and thought we found
narrow channel through it OF Is feet, but
reported some dredging as necessary. There
are probably 194 feet on 1t at high tide, and
the bottom Is soft. think this and CurPs
Neck shoal would be removed in year or
| two II dkes or wing-dams were constructed
! TO narrow the waterway. The river in
both cases is wider on the shoal than above
and below.
By the end Of June, therefore, it will be
practicable to take a vessel OF 193 feet
draught from below Warwick bar TO the
sea: and at the same time. | think, the
depth to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
WhaIYes will not be less than II feet at mean
high tide, allowing vessels OF say lG3 feet
draught The amount OF bottom in the
channel, less than IS feet, is now very small.
E.li, - nryf -
in May:
By contract at Varina, sand and mud,
17,272 cubic yards; by days work at
Goodies rocks, sand and cobble-stone, 6,675
cubic yards; by days work at Goodies
rocks, solid rock ana boulders, 3O8 cubic
yQrds-total, "a, 255 cubic yards.
One thousand feet OF wing.dams were
built and seven brush mats were sunk uear
their ends.
A survey Of the river from the ship-lock
to Falling creek was made, and the sound
ings are now being plotted.
The dredge Richmond, which has been
laid up since April 1st to be reftted with q
crane, went TO work about the middle OF
the month, and alterWard lost two days by
breaking shaft. The tug Somers broke of
one OF the blades OF her propeller, which
makes it necessary for her to go TO Norfolk
to be fitted with a new propeller The
drcdge Greenwich is leaking badly, and
will be beached for repairs immediately.
| The following accounts are submitted for
the consideration OF the committee. Both
are for work done reftting the dredse Rich
mOnd with new crane:
No. i0'O-O" Work TR " tU p' lO2 Sc
| l03l-W. T.. Tanner Co., machin-
ISIS 8 Il
I20 e3
| Previously reported In 1S8l............. 1862 6S
| 2.773 81
Amount of appropriation. ................ S,737 80
Remaining to be expended ed...............S5,964 Is
OPERATIONS on THE IMPROVEMENT IN JUNE.
The Government drlling-machne and