The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-01
es,,ma,ed COS, ~ the work. but enough

the estimated cost OF the work, but enough
has been done TO render II certain hof
The scheme Is perfectly practical, and a
scheme that IN rs carrying out iciU cost less
tkan he purchase ercn of The machinery
and plant hot gace the ciiycf Glas9o" It's
depth Of icdfer.
The work Of this survey included every
part OF the river with less than the stand
ard depth, and was so thorough as 10
leave no room for doubt. over 5000 bor-
ings were taken for the location OF the
rock, and 80, 900 somdings OF the existing
depths, and these positions referred to per-
manent landmarks on shore; and II the
maps and estimates can be finished IN time,
ii is hoped that the present Congress VIII
take action on the new scheme. Besides the
engineers, the services OF Captain Thomas
Cunningham, Sr., were also employed on
this survey. His knowledge OF the exist
ing shoals rs they are now and as they were
many years ago give valuable criterion
for what they may be in the future.
Although great attention was paid to the
survey, the actual improvement OF the river
was not neglected. The dredged channels
through yarina and Curtis Neck were CON-
pletcd, and channel through Goodies
Rock was cut TO eighteen feet. The funds
available this year were less by 30 per cent.
than the amounts expended in some pre-
vious years, and this has delayed the work
considerably; but with the proper means
il is unquestionable that the eighteen feet
of the original scheme could he obtained at
the end OF the present fiscal year.
The heights OF the tides are recorded
daily and filed for reference, TO see whether
the improvement CT the channel and open
ing OF the cut-olIs have had any effect upon
the lowering or raising Of the high-waic-
mark; so also with the freshets. Their
heights at various points OF the river are
determined very carefully, and referred TO
the standard Of the sea level.
In addition, complete and systematic
examination OF the river is made after
every fieshet, and also once year, in order
TO determine what changes have taken
place, thus putting the engine' ~ IN posses
sion OF Il knowledge so specific that they
are enabled TO carry out their projects with
slow but mathematical precision.
The fact that for the first three or four
miles below the city an underlying stratum
Of rock il found so far from being dis
advantage, Is one OF the weightiest reasons
why this work can be made a success. The
great difficulty in improving rivers by the
system of contraction is that the underly-
ing bottom is secured out to an almost in
credible extent even in the space Of a very
few days, and elaborate works tumble in or
are washed away. With rock bottom
scotw is impossible; the works designed
for the purposes OF contraction are stable.
and it only remains to cut the channel-way
through the rock. This part OF the work
is under the charge Of Mr.. {. l.. kalmbach,
who is so wel-known from his connection
with the nitrC-glycerine explosives.
Both diamond and percussion drills are
in Use on the river, which, with surface
blasts. arc removing the rock with speed
that would have been deemed impossible
twenty years ago. There is no limit to the
increasing Of The number Of drills and con-
segment removal of rock, and this rock is
the very thing needed for riyetting the con-
tracing ietties.
In conclusion there remains only the
statement that the new scheme is perfectly
practical.