Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-16
PORT OF RICHMOND.
1rs VALUE rNcREAsEDP IVEFoLD IN A
SHORT PERIOD.
n.s,.ninp the Channel Of James River nj
fects This Grand Rosult-How
II Was Done. &c.

nsepsuing the Channel Of James Hivor HI
fec,s THIS Grand Rosult-HoW
1t Was Done, &c.
Fellow will be found the fourth OF tie
series of articles on the improvement oil
James river. which great work IL under
,bo immediate charge OF Mr.. G. +. T..
Burgwyn, one of the most thorough
practical engineers in this country. Ih'S
1bsntor contains much that IS both IN
toresting and instructive, and u, IKE Tue
former ones, will be read with pleasure
and profit.
The law o.! the consistency OF low-water
ereas. "a applicable to the section OF tne
lanes river in the vicinityo OF Richmond
vos discovered by Mr.. WhItcomb, VINO IN
fms conferred an inestimaole ben' NJ
mon the Improvement OF the stream.
trovinp It's area. winch is the product
of its width multiplied by IT'S average
deutl 10 Obtain any given depih' ana al,
viiingthc same by thercqulreddeptn' VIII
,,,ye es "a quoti,nt tine width % which the
rlver must be brought. 1t Is upon this
t.Dorv that The work Of improvement IS
now heinz conducted. In everyday
language. the narrower the uyer, the
doeper the water. Such is the general
plan in It's simplicity.
Tactical QUESTIONS.
The problem, however. IS made lar
more COMPLICATED in practice by other
uu, etions arising Among these IS
First. What Is the effect OF the curya-
ture Of the river upon the cross-sectlon
area aud It's proper form 2
Second. What will be the proper ratio
Of the greatest depth to the average
denth
Third. Asthe quantity watcrcoming
down the rlyer varies from J to POO the
product If the cross section multiplied
iv tlc dcpth must vary II equal mnnner
bat ms ony great variation IN the velocity
Of the water would result in tearing
everything 10 pieces, it follows that the
CAPACITY tor such variation must be IN
tine cross section. = ms part of the pro
bIcln. then. ia to calculate such width
of river ami such "a form Of section that
as the ,olume Of water IN freshets in
$500, ,ha s,ction vill increase. and will
admit Of the How Of the water without
any very great change in Velocity.
Fourth. This form Of section must 0e
srcb HAT fine water will not back up in the
c.t. of Richmond. bat will run off
r..ilIv In other words the section must
be- SO designed rs not TO impede the how
of t,o fr,eh,.t WATER.
7,ioL t-ul.ss euace il provided in
IL tho lnrrout can deudsit the ma
,,r;ai = eoo,rs tLo rlv.r will not do
;.a n,0 ,ro,l,
sch Ta.ohbon1G tidemust
1,o ,,r~vi,lcI for Many ueople are not
49,. t1.,4 ..ol,etts is ON the same level
o.. &orfol,, and that the tide rises and
falls Loro Li,,h.r than II does I'm Norfo t..
.'C.y.,.+b tutb.enust he done and the
uort .to1oeJ eyery other wear on a.
c.rrt of f,ilure of approDriatious.
'- -. ,i-r.. roxr
"'''
with bo lnuGI 10 c9u''u" AGAINST "i,'
WIN an irregular "H'' 49, ~ 49,
hull'{ 10 49, -..'.,,,.,.I;sb.5
y! va .'...-.,r.. st,t.9 that tho veIue of q
,.o~t ,ari4e as does the cube Of the
lr.t.r Jc,th ApplviDq this rule ana
t,k,ro tom feet as the initial depth AMI
s.'~"nt.,n feet the ures.nt derth. the
volps If the improvement viii hc as ten
crh.J I'm seventeen cubed. which is about
oro - five
To colcnlato CORRECTLY the various
tins tI,at the cross section must take it
10 ,ocos.orv tbot fine form which the
80, In. and n. various depths should
~ ocrrro,oiv known. For tins rurpose
!. has baen thorcuebly. svstemaiically.
ami continuously sounded. All the en-
..,,e.rio, work I'd he done must bee done
,.;tlo,,t .,,ir.,it opI fine task conpltt.l
.s ID, ,,oro in tbn dark To gqlg know
e'51. = tIo y,r,ons leptbs soundincs
~. t.t., eomotim,, ID inO in the space
g. f.v 1ovs These eouudings are
put upon maps with their positions care
a. .'.. t. over tbey are filed
o.,.ov for ,urur. reference and comparl-