Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12
JAMES RIVER.
COLONEL FRANK RUFFIN BEFORE TIE
RIVER AND HARB0R COMMITTEE.
The Advantages OF Richmond as a Ship
Building Point Set Porth-Oaps
Charles City
fco,ro.nonaopcc OF The richmond Dispa,ch.l

Correspondence OF INC lNiCnilonu UirptlSnl
WAsHINorox, d. c., Feb. II, 1883.
Colonel Frank Ruffin, appeared before
the River and Harbor Committee yes
terday morning in behalf of the James
river Improvement. He exhibited plat
showing the present condition of James
river and the proposed improvements.
lie stated that Richmond was most
fayorably situated for commerce, manu-
features, and -buildins, being the
natural focus Of the finest ship-timber
in the country, and occupying the
same relation TO the United States
that Glasgow did to Scotland. Glas-
gov had expended, in her effort
to reach the sea, twenty times
the amount that was asked to open
the way from Richmond TO the ocean.
Richmond was now 126 miles from the
capes the proposed improvement would
reduce the distance to 100 miles. 1t
would he necessary to increase the depth
of the river two feet for about twenty
two miles. He claimed that Richmond
was nearer to three fourths Of the West
than New York, Philadelphia, or Baltl-
more. and nearer the western centres OF
trade Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louis
ville-than any OF the seaboard cities
north of it. lie urged that the position
of Richmond at the head of tidewater
on the James, fanked on one side
by the Chickahominy and on the
other by the AppomattOx, was the
most suitable in the country for
ship-building, dock-ysrds, and other
Government works because OF its i'm
pregnability with Drewrys and Chains
bluffs guarding the approaches by the
James river, and exhibited military
map to enforce bis position. In add
ton to this 1t was the converging point
of seven railroads radiating in every di-
rcction, north, south, east, and west,
which could bring the resources of the
whole country. if needed, to Richmond.
He urged a liberal appropriation for a
sufficient amount to carry on the work
promptly and successfully, and said that
il would take forty years TO complete 1t
Mt the rate of only 100000 per year,
the greater part of which would be lost
in the damages caused by delay or
in the work. He referred
TO the objection raised that it was I'M
necessary to improve the James river,
because Newport News could be used as
Richmond's seaport, and said that New
port News was not safe harbor, and
could not be made so, except 10y ire
mendous expenditure. He declared
that tug would haul 5000 tons from
Richmond to Newport News for $3.50,
while the cheapest railroad freight on
the same amount would be S9l5. The
improvements, if completed as cOntem-
plated, would put Richmond practically
on the sea. He showed, from reports
made in 1886, 1874, and 1886. that every
foot gained in the James river nayigs-
ton had been held, and that there was
no danger of the channel filling up when
once dredged to the required depth.
T. II. b. Browne, of the
Accomack district, called the attention
of the committee to the harbor of Cape
Charles City, Nomini creek, Rappahan-
mock and York rivers, Totuskeo creek,
Urbana creek, Mattaponi and Pamunkey
rivers, and Onancock creek. He re-
commended the latter specially to the
generous consideration of Mr.. Wise, of
the committee, who, he said. was born
on the banks of that creek. Representa-
tive William J.. Scott, of Pennsylvania,
president of the New York, Philadelphia
and Norfolk railroad reinforced Mr..
Brownies appeal III behalf of Cape
Charles harbor. He said the Govern
ment had never before been asked for
a dollar. When his road reached
the southern extremity of the Virginia
peninsula they found there was no har-
Dor there. They went to work and made
one which cost them between $3.50, O00
and 10000 They dug ship-channel to
Cape Charles City, and now trains from
New York run through from New York
and Philadelphia to the far South with
out change. saving twenty-four hours
time in the transit. At Cape Charles
City the trains were placed on al iron
steamer and ferried over to Norfolk.
All they asked now was that the
Government would protect the harbor
they had made at their own expense.
To do this it would he necessary to
run ont piers on each side of the
channel and to light these piers for
the benefit Of shipping bound for Cape
Charles City AS there was no report
rom the Engineers Department on this
subject the committee decided they could
not recommend an appropriation with
)ut it, but they promised Mr.. Scott to
insert a provision in the bill for a survey
md report to the next session of Con-
yress Mr.. Bowden, OF the Norfolk dis
rict, made a supplementary statement
% the committee in reference to the har-
Dor Of Norfolk. stating that he had seen
General Benet yesterday, who had ex-
planned to him that the amount of $4,000 |
would be needed in addition TO the $l0S, |
100 lapsed appropriation for the improve
nent Of the outer harbor Of Norfolk. The |
whole amount estimated fer Norfolk and /
approaches is S457, 74460.
Mr.. Wise, AS the Virginia member OF
lie committee, is expected to lend a
helping hand in all these appropriations,
md he assures noe that be will do his |
,est to obtain liberal appropriations in
ii cases properly recommended. He is
ooking after them all very carefully.