Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-31
RISE OF THE WATERS.
ERESHEs IN V1RG1x1A RrrERS.
Ao"sr Wharrss Mere TIsodea-Iiam.re Dane
20 RAiirOus.-zsirh water In tine Kappa
banDoek


nigh water N the james published In
the DispGtch and bulietined On our
boards yesterday morning prepared
our people so expect a considerable
ireshet. and they were not disappointed.
Inc stream was heavily swollen early
IN the morning. and continued &c rise up
TO late hour, when it was over the
Philadelphia steamslnp wharyes and
well up IN the wharves OF the Old. Do
miniOn Steamship Company.
The timely notice given OF the ap-
proach Of the freshet enabled those per-
SONS who had goods IN exposed local
ities TO make safe disposition of them.
and the loss here viii not be great.
Many Of the residents Of Rockets
prepared to vacate their premises and
save their property.
AT the lower gas-works the water
was watched with some anxiety, bat
late last night telephone message was
received from there by this paper stat.
Ing that they were in no immediate dan
ger.
Colonel bnrgwyn, engineer OF the
James-river improvement, Is Of opin-
ion that the worst Is now over.
AT Columbia, where there was q rise
OF twenty-five feet. the river Is con-
fined within q narrow channel. That
water has already reached here.
THE FREsHET AND THE SCREW
DOCK.
The screw-dock which was recently
built by Mr.. {. ?. L. Burgwyn, civil
engineer for the city Committee on the
Improvement Of the James River. mas
proved the excellence Of It's construc-
tion IN passing through its experience
ii the present freshet.
The heavy dredge, which mas been
undergoing repairs, was resting on the
girders, and when the report Of the
twenty-five feet rise at Columbia wa
received it became matter Of alarm
10 some how the dock would bear up
against the food with such a large sur
face for the water 10 act against.
This contingency mad been anticipated
in the original construction of the dock,
and It's successful resistance TO the force
OF the water IN the present emergency
must be gratifying to all those connected
with the work. As the water rose the
dredge was quietly lifted of the girders,
and without trouble guided between the
piles. "A sunken lighter came down the
river and struck against the piles which
were driven to protect the dock. They
prevented the shock from coming upon
the dock proper, and forced the lighter
of to one side. The dredce has been
carried inside the shIp-locks, where the
repairs will be completed.
A some croakers had prophesiel
that the screw-dOck would be destroyed
5v the first freshet that came. the
above facts may increase their know
ledge upon such subjects.
ALLEGHANY ROAD.
The damage done the Richmond and
Alieghany railroad by the high water.
as lar a. heard from W 70 IL o'clock
last night, was slight. except the wash
ing away Of the bridge near Lexington.
The water from the canal oyeriiowed
the track at several places between here
and Scottsyille.
samage Io Railroads Near ChRrlOftes-
vile.
fspecia telegram 70 the Dispatch.
CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA. October
30-ThIs sect OF Virginia mas not
been visited by such a great fall Of rain
since ISL Creeks and rivers have
overhOwed their banks, sweeping away
fences and bridges. Railroad property
especially mas suffered Charlottesville
mas been cut of from mai communlcs-
ton with other cities since Wednesday
night. This afternoon the tirst mails
arrived. but they were only Local. and
brought only a part OF Thursday 5
mail. The Riyanna Is very much swoi-
len yet.
The iron bridge over il two miles
east OF this place was swept out Of DOsl-
ton. and ct late hour this afternoon
The water was still so high a. TO pre-
vent the carpenters from beginning the
work OF repairing.
The bridge over Mechuhk creek, near
keswick. is gone.
There are washOuts Oh the Midland
road. and also Oh the Shenandoah Val
ley.
Il is the belief OF rAiiroad-men here
that II will take long time for the cars
10 run again according 10 schedule.
The Flood n fredericksburg.
Especial telegram 70 the Dispatch.
FREDERICRsBURG, October 3u.-A
hood prevails II the Rsppahannock, and
is very destructive.
The river al tins point Is about fifteen
feet above high TIDE. and the water is
still rising. Emory q bergman hal
about : .OOO railroad-tIes swept away
from the steamboat wharf here, and ".
y. Conquest & Co. about 1900. The
Weem--I.Ine warehouse, which Is full
Of freight. j. almost completely suo-
merged. The streams for miles around
are impossible. The damage here will
amount 10 about 10000.