Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-04
To tho People or the city OF Rich'
mond.
[oUsB OF REPRESENTATIVES
IrNITEn STATES.

UNITED STATES.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 30, 1854.
F.llow.C Citizens deem it to be my duty
a. your representative to call your attention
10 what has been done In the Senate IN re-
ference to the improvement OF the james
river. a work In which you are so deeply
interested, and In aid OF which you hare
made such liberal appropriations from the
treasury OF your city. In this connection
| will add what said upon the door OF Tue
House OF Representatives when the riveranu
harbor hill was being considered IN tnat
body-ihat "this Improvement Is In the
interest OF cheap transportation lot tue
products Of rich and growing section Oh
our country. teaming with an industrious.
prosperous, and progressive population. II
is not for the benefit OF the people OF our
State alone, but rs well for the farmers anu
industrial classes OF Kentucky. Onio' in-
diana. Tennessee, Arkansas, and otner
states ~ the Union. The proposed appro-
priation Is TO be expended in the deepening
and Improvement OF u river which forms
mart Of n connecting line between the Pi-
CHIC siope and the Atlantic coast. by which
III. productions OF thousands OF acres I'M
surpassed in fertility have easy access to
the markets OF the world" In behalf OF
fins important work, so intimately con-
nected with the development and growth
of Richmond, and upon which ts
welfare and prosperity so largely de-
pend, | have, in conjunction with sew
eral OF your prominent citizens, Ia
bored earnestly and persiStently, omit
ting no occasion to urge its importance
upon the attention OF the committee hay-
ing It in charge, and Of the House.
The great point to be gained WAS the
committal OF Congress TO the project OF
securing depth OF % feet at low or %
feet at high tide. The original project OF
Improvement was for IS feet ST high tide,
with a channel-width Of $50 feet from tho
Richmond dock to below HarrisOn's bar.
Az directed by Congress, o survey was
made TO determine the prscticability and
cost Of procuring \ channel - feet deep AZ
full tide from the city to the mouth
Of the river. The survey demonstrated
the practicability OF the project, and that
was reported TO Congress, with estimates
OF its cost. The Chieioi Engineers in his last
annual report says "In the stste OF uncer-
taInty whether Congress Intends to author
izc a change OF project from depth OF ti-
teen TO TWENTY-FIVE feet at low water, 1t has
not seemed judicious to do much work on
the small project, as some OF IL would be
not only useless, but injurious in the
larger. 1t is hoped the opinion Of
Conqress may be plainly set forth
IN the merit appropriation for this river"
Being familiar with these proceedings and
recommendations, and knowing the great
interest you felt in the progress and con-
dsct OF this important work. L labored AS
siduously to procure the authorization OF
the larger project by Congress, and to have
fo- ,t,t Ia m mi
and succeeded. The river and harbor bill,
as it passed tho House Of Representatives,
contained an appropriation OF $4,000
for continuing the improvement OF the
James river, "On the plan OF deepening
the channel 10 % feet at low tide" In the
Senate this all-important provision has been
stricken out, snd the appropriation for your
river for the next fiscal year has been d.
minished to the extent OF $4,000. while
that for the AppomattoX, a mere tributary
Of the James, has been increased 6Gj per
cent.
have and will vote for liberal sppro-
priations for all the rivers and harbOrs OF
my State, and have not mentioned the APP
pomsttox to manifest to the proposed in
crease for it. II proper and necessary, it
should have been taken from redundant
treasury instead Of diverting portion Of
the appropriation from the object OF i'm
proving the James river. 1t il appa-
rent that this attempt Is not the sug-
gestion OF wise and liberal policy,
but the device OF gentleman whose con-
duet Is shaped by personal considerations.
This is the work OF one OF Yirginia's sena-
tors who delights more in venting his
spleen than in employing his energies for
the promotion Of the weliarea and prosperity
OF his native State. have appealed to Mr..
Riddleberger to make opposition to the
proposed amendments in the Senate, so far
as they relate to the James river, and we
shall see what his action will be in the
premises.
You have been told that you were TO be
blessed by liberal policy, snd here you
have its manifestation. l shall appeal to
the House to refuse concurrence in the
amendments affecting the James river, and,
believing that a sense OF justice will pre-
vail. do not doubt OF success-at least |
shall spare no effort in this behalf, and will
give every energy to its accomplishment.
] make this communication that you may
take such action IS you may doom to be
necessary, and to give the people, who are
the source OF all power, knowledge Of the
action Of their representatives In reference
to their interests. Respectfully,
GEORGE d. WISE.