Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-15
The Improvement or James River.

The Improvement or James River.
TO tie EditOr Of the Dispatch:
Under this heading you published
week or two since plain, business-llke
statement of what has been accomplished
up 10 this time with the meagre appro-
priations Of the Federal Government,
supplemented by the really liberal aid OF
Richmond towards making this deep
water port, equal to that Of Baltimore IN
all respects, and itssuperior in many I'M
portant particulars. Interesting as that
paper was it conveys to the minds OF
your readers but a vague impression of
the magnificent results so far achieved
and the demonstration of the ease with
which the way can surely be opened at
an early day for the largest ocean steam
ers to come right up to your wharyes.
1t was my good fortune on the 10th
ultimo TO go down the river as far as
Dutch Gap with Colonel Frank Il.
Runin and Major Burgwyn on
board the Craighill, under that vete-
ran father of James-riyer pilots, Captain
Thomas Cunningham, ST., superln-
tendent of the city work. l had not
been on the river for eighteen years, al
though familiar thitinthe past, and had
supposed myself about as well "posted "
as the average citizen Qrom reading) in
regard to the progress OF the enterprise.
But | am free to say | had formed no
conception Of the amount OF work done
Il a,t.nftEp 0f ito 70
| bad read Colonel Ruf-
fins numerous papers on the subject
that have won over to the support OF this
great undertaking the legislatures OF
many States west of us, and OF their
Senators and Representatives IN Con
gress, and will identify bis name forever
with the deepening Of James river and
with the blessings it will bring, not only
upon Richmond and Virginia, but all the
expanse Of country west and southwest
of rs as far AZ the Mississippi. | had
read, and have had them bounl, all the
reports made from year to year to the
War Department by Colonel William =.
Craighill and other United States cngi-
neers in charge of the work since 1t was
first begun after the war, and, as remark
ed above, thought myself well "posted."
But / was not. And no man can be who
does not actually 90 upon the river and
see it for himself.
Under the general supervision OF that
great engineer, Colonel Craghill, on the
part of the Government, Major Bur
gwyn, his assistant engineer, in charge
of the local government works, miles
upon miles of jetties and dykes have
been put down in the most substantial
manner. The irregular and shifting
natural channel, with its tortuous course
and sharp angles, has been confined to
narrower limits within the most beauti-
full, graceful curves, of ample radius for
the largest ships ahoat on the ocean to
be brought up or taken down without
variation of speed in eflecting changes
of direction. No railroad curvature
across the mountains has ever shown
more skillul engineering than Major
Burgwyn has displayed in this part OF
his difficult task. 1t will be a monu-
ment to his memory as long as the ono
bic James " is navigated.
But he has studied 1.-THE laws OF the
river and, so far as human judgment
can determine, has ascertained exactly
how far the natural forces of the stream
can be utilized, and in that manner to
assist in deepening its own channel and
in keeping it clear forever when 1t is
once made deep enough.
The old natural channel of tidal James
river was a succession of shadows and
deep pools Why it was not all deep or
all shallow. except near the city
where the bottom Is rocky, Was owing
to some modification of the laws
Of erosion, first at one place and
then at another, 10y local causes ex-
listing here aud there. These causes have
been most closely studied by Major Bur-
gwyn from years OF the closest observa-
ton, and III the main are now under
stood, and the engineering problems In
volved beyond the mere mechanical re-
moval Of material by dredging have been
solved so far that not the slightest appre-
hension need be felt that when an ade-
quate depth of water has been secured
the channel within its new boundaries
will ever ill up 10y deposits from above.
The detrititS brought down by every
freshet will make new land along the
shores. creating hundreds of acres be-
hind the jetties and dykes of rich mea-
dows and will complete the filling up OF
the reach" around Dutch Gap, which
has already become the receptacle of
well-nigh 100000 of cubic yards, and
after all that The rest will be carried
down to Hampton Roads, and perhaps
out to the sea. The confined channel is
now securing its own hoor," and is
to keep it clean under the
law Of grayitation and at
triton. With these great facts now
established, the work still before us is
simple, and only matter of dollars and
cents, and the amount involved is not
large for such work.
Then, let this city unite as one man to
get an adequate appropriation this ses-
SION from Congress to push the work to
The whole State is inter-
ested in ii. Let the Legislature, with
one voice, call upon Congress to do this
act of justice to Virginia. The United
States Treasury is full to overlooking.
of that surplus has been
paid by Virginia on her unjustly-taIed
great staple, tobacco. Let US demand
part of it TO be disbursed for this great
work in which half dozen States are
interested. and bring fleets of commerce
from all the world more than 100 miles
inland to receive our products here from
the railroads, and thus cheaper their cost
Of transportation to other lands. There
IS not farmer in Virginia, North Caro-
ina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Vir-
yinia, Ohio, Indiana. and Illinois that is
not directly or indirectly interested in
having great deep water port at Rich
nond. And if they all understand it
they will all aid us 10 get 1t.
We have an able member OF the Com
nittee on Rivers and Harbors from Vir-
yinia, the Hon. George ID. Wise. Let
rs "hold up his hands," as we should,
md this Congress will not adjourn with
,ut consummating this great national
work. An OLD TIMER.
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