The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-18
FROM HERE TO THE SEA.
PracttcabiIity Of n Twenty-fvc.FoOt
Channel from Richmond Out.
Interesting Facts ard Figures Concerning
the Operations or the River improvement
Good Showing for tho James-Dutch-Gap-
Canal History.

From Baltimore, which is the headquar-
tcrs OF Colonel William u. Craighill, en-
eneer i'm charge OF the improvements in
the James, comes the following interesting
information concerning our rivcr-its past
and future:
The improvements made I'm the James
and Appomattox rivers, Virginia, within
the last decade by the General Government
have been marked and striking in their
effects. Previous TO 1870 the first four
miles OF the James river below Richmond
were shallow. except in short reaches, the
general depth being s. feet in the channel
at low tide. The reef at Rockets and the
sand shoal known as Richmond bar had
but feet. Warwick bar, five miles below
the city, had 13 feet. The channel below
Richmond was tOrtu0us and obstructed
with large number OF rocks. mostly
bOulders, besides the ledgCs at Rockets
and Goodies.
DEPTH or THE CHANNEL.
Many vessels sunk during the war of
IsGl-'G5. especially at Drewry's Bluff. were
very serious distractions. The Dutcli-Gap
cutoff, which now saves five and half
miles Of difficult navigation, was not open.
After the food OF 1870 but little over six
~
mond bar at low tide. The original pro-
| ject for improvement was for IS feet at
! high tide, with channel-width OF 1S0 feet
| from the Richmond dock to below lIarri-
sons bar. The mean rise and fall OF
tide is about three and half feet, and
the excavations in rock were 10 be car
red TO fifteen feet ut low water. In remov-
ing sand-shoalS. where the operation is aid
ed by wing-dams the intention has been to
so contract that the scour would produce
channel OF the same depth. The only in
territorial change in plan has been to make
the channel below Warwick bar, five miles
below Richmond 200 feet by Is at low
tide, instead OF high tide. The amount
eypended bv the United States TO June 80,
1851. was Sl9S. .j3l.93. and by the city OF
Richmond $3S3,0l1. At that date. at high
water Of spring tides, the channel afforded
the following depths: % feet from the sea
to CITY Point. 10 feet thence to Warwick
bar. and Of l. feet from the latter point to
wharvcS at Rockets, though the depths at
ordinary high water was less.
METHOD OF IMPROVEMENT.
The method OF improvement from the
beginning. which has been adhered 10, has
consisted mainly in removing the sand and
/
width OF the river adjacent by wng-dams
aud trainng-walls for the maintenance OF
the depth and in removing bolders and
rock In beds by drilling and blasting.
Under the pressure Of The demands OF
commerce for immediate results much
money has been spent on this and other
rivers in quickly giving depth and width
OF channel by dredging when it was
| Al. a.
pccted through the aid OF contract
ING works. for which there had been
not sufficient funds available. Thus
the same bars have been dredgcd over and
over again. The amount expended in the
wear ended June ~. 1882. by the United
STATES has been SS1. .l0G2j. and by the city
of Richmond about $500. The results
Of last wears work have been TO extend
the depih of twenty feet at high tide in
ward from City Point to Kingsland Reach,
and 10 widen and deepen the channel in
those portions near the city where the
working j. the most difficult. The re-
moyal OF few humps will provide practi-
cable channel through rock cuttings. with
eighteen feet at ordinary high tide.
CONTRACTION NECESSARY.
To make this depth continuous in from
the sea additional works are yet required
at Warwick bar, Randolph Flats. Goodies
Rocks. and ut Drcwry's Island. From the
data furnished by recent surveys. taken in
connection with previous experience and
estimates. the cost OF completing the pres
emf project i $4,000. II is recommended
that good portion OF this sum be eN-
pended in widening and deepening the
channel in the hard material near Rich
mond. in the further Improvement below to
include Kingsland Reach, and 10 the maln-
tenance OF the depth now obtained. The
permancncc Of the improvement through
shoals OF aluyim can only be main
taincd by rermanntly contracting the
river at these points. The contraction has
heretofore been made for the most part
with timber structures, which are not per-
Imancnt. These structures are being rev.
ctted with material drcdged from the river,
much OF which is suitable for that purpose,
and permanent; but larger amount than
l. likely TO come from the river under the
present scheme will be required to perma-
nently protect the wing-dams already
built.
TWENTY-FIVE FEET TO THE SEA.
By order Of Congress survey has been
made to determine the practcability and
cost Of procuring channel - feet deep at
fuil tide from Richmond 10 the mouth OF
the river. This survey demonstrates the
nracticabiliy OF the project, and from the
data obtained it was estimated 10 cost
81. 800 900. the width in artificial channels
from the sea to City Point being 400 feet ;
from CITY Point to Drcwry's BluH, 800 feet :
and from Drewry's Bluff to Richmond, 200
feet. The present navigable depth OF the
river at high tide may be stated as IS feet
from the sea To Warwick lar, lG5 feet
thence to the wharyes OF the CheSa-
peakc and Ohio railroad, and III
feet thence to the city wharyes, but
by the removal Of few humps
the depth of Is feet at high tide can
he obtained throughout. Since this I'M
movement in the James river the trade OF
Richmond has enormously increased The
following summary OF the trade OF Rich
mond from June /, 1881, to May 81, 1882, Is
furnished by Mr.. B. G. Cook, collector oil
the port: Vessels engaged in the foreign
trade-entered vessels p, tonnage lO,O'O;
cleared vessels 30, tonnage 4O,S9i; ves-
sells engaged in the coastwlse trade-en'
tered vessels 1,220, tonnage l,OOOS2O
cleared vessels 500, tonnage 5Ss,6So. value
of imports. S123,3S3; value OF exports,
sl,sis,1l0. Ii is the intention OF the
: Government to deepen the riyerapproaehes
: TO Richmond to - feet, and in the future
probably to % feet.
BEN. BUTLER AND HIS CANAL.
The general opinion that General B. r.
Butler originated the idea OF the Dutch
Gan canal across a bend in the James river
or named II is not warranted by the iacts II
the m ease. The records show that the iirsi
survey OF the river. made by the Govern
ment in 1852. recommended the cutting oI
the Dutch-Gap canal. 1t is about eighteen
miles from Richmond. cut OF about one
. 4 L I.