Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-12
OUR sHOcKOE CREEK.
Discussion Of How to Protect the Stream
from Overlooking.

OUR sHoCKOE CREEK.
Discussion Of How to Protect the Stream
from Overlooking.
The Committee on Shockoe Creek had a
meeting i'm the City Engineers once ht
o'clock yesterday evening
The following members were present;
Messrs Higgins chairman, Courtney,
Carter. Murphy. and SitterdlDg;
Mr.. Sitterding succeeds MIR. DlckersOn,
the president Of the Board OF Aldermen.
Mr.. Pleasauts sent a message regrettlng
thai be could not be present. as other en-
caeements made his attendance lmpossi-
Die.
THE OBJECT.
The Chairman explained that on account
Of the recent destruction OF property from
the overflow of ShockOB creek II had be-
come necessary 10 take some action look
inc to the protection OF the district SUD-
ject 20 overflow.
RESOLUTIONS.
The resolution adopted by the Council
npproprmting l0.0JO in - per cent. bonds
to the credit of Shockoe creek improve
meut was read. as was also the resolution
Of Air. Gamers referred 10 the committee AT
tne meeting of the Board of Aldermen
Monday night instructlng the City Engl-
ncer To report upon some plan to protect
the property from the floods.
THE mayors RECOMMENDATION.
The message Of the Mayor TO the City
Council. also referred 10 the committee,
was read. lie urged the appointment OF a
commission Of engineers. who, under the
guidance Of the City Engineer, should de-
wise some plan for tho Improvement OIL
ShOckOe creek.
ASOTHFg PLAN.
Mr. Nurphv's resolution. which was re-
fnrred To the Committees on Finance ana
Shockoe Greek. was also read, as follows :.
Whereas tine recent oyerflowlng OF
Shockoe creek with IT'S attendant evils mas
demonstrated clearly that said creek "a
uuenual TO the demands made upon II IN
rainy seasons. and that something ought To
b. done 10 avert the very frequent lnunda-
tione of that section of the city through
which it meanders: therefore he 1t
.s9'red by he Colmci Of NE C1y Of Rich
,po1d fhe Common Council cOncurrlngh
That sum Of money equal 10 the amount
of the taxes annually paid 10 the CITY on
the real estate embraced IN the dlsirlcO
lying between the east side Of Fourteenth
street and the west side of Eighteenth
street and between James river and the
cOrpOration line, computed to be about
S3O.00l boz and is hereby appropriated Tor
the improvement and enlargement OF
Shock0e creek, 10 be expended under the
direction of the Engineer OK the city ana
tine Committee on Sh0ckOe Creek. SAID
appropriatiOn of $4,000 to become avail
able this year and 20 be continued every
wear until sufficient protection against re-
curing frcshcts Is afforded ihe merchants
and residents of said district
WHY READ.
The resolution of Mr.. Murphy will be
hereafter considered by the two commit
tees 10 which 10 was referred. 1t was read
at the suggestion of a member so that an
idea could bee had of what 10 IS proposed
10 ask IN the way of a larger appropriation
THE cosnu SION.
The proposition 10 employ assOciate cngi-
nccrS for the officer of the city 10 consider
and report upon measures for the improve
mcut of the creek was discussed.
Mr. Murphy thought all that was neces-
earv 10 be done was TO furnish the CITY
Engineer with the means and the stream
would be attended TO. lie thought the
bridges should Zoe elevated and the walls OF
the stream built higher, and tins improve
mcut would remedy botn the overflow from
water coming down the stream and Jack
water rom the river.
Mr.. Murphy remarked that he never saw
such an overflow of the creek as that OF
last week. He remembered one some years
ago. when the flood came down in the night
time. and the police had 10 arouse the m
habitauts in the district subject to inunda-
ton. but the Hood was not near 50 great as
the late one.
OTHER VIEWS.
Mr.. Sitterding conceded with Mr.. Murphy
i'm the belief that il was not necessary 10
employ assistants for Colonel Cutshaw, as
that officer is fully competent for the work
proposed.
MIR. Courtney wanted to know how it
would do to spend some Of the present APP
preparation in clearing out the creek, and
the City Engineer thought the suggestion
a good one.
THE TSGINEEE's IDEA.
Colonel Cutshaw was asked to express
his views upon the matter under consider
alton. and said he had always contended
that the money spent on the Church HI
tunnel should have been expended 10
make the line of ShOckoe creek route
through the city for railroads, and he
thought this might yet be done. which
would necessitate the widening OF the
creek-bcd, raising Of the arches and walls
and the streets where they cross the
stream. In case of floods the running OF
trains would not be stopped longer than
tWcutv-four hours at the most.
The Colonel remarked upon the number
of floods in the last nineteen years, ana
said he thought some action looking 10 the
protection of property should be taken as
early as possible.
ASSOCIATE ENGINEERS.
In regard % employing assistant engi-
neers to make recommendations 10 the
Council Colonel Cutshaw said he thought
it good idea, as the citizens would feel
better satisfied for him to have associates.
He recommended three citizens for tins
work-all of whom, he said, were peculiar
lv fitted for the p0~ition-MaiOr +. i. u.
Myers. whom the Colonel said he regarded
rs second to no engineer IN this section
Major II. d. NhitcOmb, whose connection
with the railroads and former connection
with the JamcS-River Improvement espe-
cially fitted him for the position; and Mr.
Reuben Smrreds. whose acquaintance with
the James-rIvcr wGter-pOwer between
Richmond and Clifton Forge made 1t de-
s!rable TO have his counsel.
THE ACTION.
Messrs. Sitterding and Murphy said that
if the idea was 10 have our own citizens
who are Interested in Richmond's welfare
as Colonel Cutshaw's associates IN the pro-
posed work they were heartily IN favor Of
the move. aud on motion OF Mr.. Sitterdlne
ii was unanimously agreed 10 authorize
the City Engineer to invite Messrs. Myers
Whitcomb. and Shirrefs 10 act with Colo
mel Cutshaw on the commission.
The meeting then adjourned.
CIRCUIT COURT MATTERS.
Case Compromised-Convi Sentenced
for Second Convictions, &c.
The first matter taken up in the City
Circuit Court yesterday was the case OF
Dabney Patterson's administrator rs ID.
Axtel. receiver of the Richmond and Ale
chanv Railroad Company, for $4,000
damages for the killing in January last Of
Patterson. who was a brakeman employed
H., the corpnanv The trial of this case be-