Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02
WORK ON THE JAMES.
AHorHsR CHAPTER ON TIE IMPROVE.
MEET or THIS STREAM.
Interesting facts About the STRUGGLING
Period from '36 TO 20, and soms
Characters Who Figured
Prominently.

In last Sundays Dispatch appeared
tho first OF series Of articles on tho
James-River Improvement, giving a
history Of the work from its incep-
ton up TO 1885, when really very lit
tie had been accomplished, AID when
boats drawing over six feet could not
pass over Richmond bar al low water
This was read with great deal of in
terest and the following additional chap
ter, covering the period from that timc
mp 10 1871. and little later, the data Of
which Was furnished by Mr.. G. y. L.
Burswyn. engineer in charge of the
work, will afford even greater entertain
ment, as !, treats of events that will be
readily recalled by the older residents,
and will furnish valuable information 10
the more youthful generations:
srANIsBrBY's SURVEYS.
While tho results OF Stanisbury sur-
Veys and reports we're 70 collect n large
mas OF material. which has proved valu-
able as standard Of comparison, they
amounted 10 nothing else, as the neces-
sary money was not appropriated for this
purpose. Dissatisfied with the manner
in which Congress dealt with tho subject
at that time certain citizens procured
from the State Legislature the ect OF
March ., 1876. incorporating a
company 20 render James river ca
pablo OF being uaviQated at any season
al high water from Rockets to Bermuda
Hundreds 10y vessels drawing eleven and
and half feet OF water, aud allowing
the company IN consideration Of its doing
this 10 charge each vessel a sum of from
Sli 10 $SS, accordingto the number OBJECT
II drew. Congress on the I'd of March.
lS47, gave It's consent 70 this act. with q
proviso, however, that Congress might
at any time repeal or modify the act
giving It's consent Nothing was done
under this law and the charter expired 10y
limitation.
CoMPARIsOv.
The revenue that would have accrued
e. such a company, based on the present
tonnage of the river, would amount to
over Sl00. 000 annually. whereas the APP
preparations that have been made for the
river have averaged much less than that,
snd these appropriations have secured n
gam OF seven feet OF water instead OF ono
aud half Ii was, however, most for
tunate that thus company did not succeed
IN fastening such an incubus upon the
commerce Of the river.
The agitation of 1876 resulted in little
except proiusion Of words, and the i'm
provcmeut Of the river remained in abey-
aOce until 1852. when Congress voted an
appropriation OF SD, 500 for this work.
The United States work was put under
the charge Of Colonel De Russey, who,
acting in harmony with a committee APP
pointed by the Council Of that day, or
gained very successful plan OF opera
ton. A dredge and tugboat were pur-
chased and the excavation of a large
quantity OF material was accomplished.
BEFORE THE WAR.
The United States, however, did not
continue the appropriations, Colonel de
Eussy was transferred to Government
work 10 the far West, and the city OF
Richmond wss left 10y herself to carry
on the improvements. This the city
did and the Council came forward
handsomely with the appropriations.
which, considering the light population
and resources of those days, now APP
pear wonderful. The work, however,
vas too much for the city TO accomplish
unaided, So it languished. and finally
died ont at the beginning Of the war.
Boon after the war the city went at 1t
AGAIN, aud IN 1870 two new names APP
pear upon the records. which names
vii he handed down TO posterlty as
long rs the records of the improvement
arc matters of history. One OF these
names was that of Albert Ordway, who
was chairman OF the joint committee
from the City Council.
COLONEL oRDwAY.
Colonel Ordway put such energy and
enthusiasm into the work that 1t obtained
there and then a foothOld which it has
never lost since.
He advocated most strenu0usly at
Washington the claim OF the river for
recognition as a national waterway, and
70 bis individual efforts are largely due
She Appropriation made that year.
These appropriations have been made
by the United States at somewhat irregu-
lar intervals ever since, while each year
the city has come forward and added Its
quota.
COLONEL CRNGBUL-
The other name was that Of William
j. Craighill, at that time a major of
engineers in the United States Engineer
CorEs, Int who has now risen to the
high rank Of colonel IN that distin-
enished corps Colonel Craghill i'm
meiiatelv on Assuming charge, IN 1870,
organized u scientific course of work.
lie caused careful surveys to he made,
and in conjunction with Captain IL. j..
Minor, the city engineer for the i'm
provemeut Of the river, elaborated
plan for the utilization Of the city ma
ehinery, 4c., 10 the best advantage. On
CAPTAIN Minors death Colonel CraighilIs
appointed Major Walter G.. Turpine as
ms assistant, Who also died in harness.
Both Of these gentlemen entered into the
Improvement Of the river with their
heart in their work, and while their
short time Of life did not enable them
10 carry out the plans, they Afforded
Colonel Craighill an aid all the more