The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-17
OUR RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Reports Of Tho improvements Proposed
10 30 Made.
PROGRESS or KORE on JAMES RIVER.
Norfolk narbor and Approachcs-W Water
Route TO Albemarle sound-Tho Apo
mattox aud Other Streams.

ulAtlDA Nuu VthcT aiftahlss
WAsHNoToN. d. c., July 16 16lSpeciaLl-
For some reason which nobody has yet been
able 10 explain the War Department officials
his year dumped the river and harbor re-
por,s suddenly and without notice IN a great
mass upon the newspaper men. The follow
ing facts and figures are culled from reports
relating 70 Virginia improvements
JAMES RlgrR.
Colonel Craighin's report as to James river
states that the work was commenced IN 1870
with an appropriation Of $4,000. ia 1890
an appropriation Of 500 900 was made.
total expended 70 July /. 1891, el.-
22l .505. Sc. In addition Richmond has ex-
pended 10000. When first undertaken nayi-
cation WAS Obstructed by vessels slnken
during the war. The project was to secure
adepth Of eighteen feet at full tide, correspond
ing 20 14.5 feet at low tide 20 Richmond,
with channel 10 8eet from Hariison's bar
10 Richmond docks the excavation ~ rock to
be 1sts feet ~ full tide. This plan was we'll
advanced when Congress IN 1885 adopted the
project of az feet az mean low tide from Rich
mOnd 10 the sea. During the past year Oper-
atiOns have been conducted in accordance
Herewith. In carrying It out further large
amount OF excavation IN sOhd rock Will Ds
- Z
A balance of$7-5.S7 remained on hand at
the beginning of the fiscal year which. added
10 the appropriation. gave the Work zoo, 7S5.ol.
During the year s578zS22 was spent IN
completed contracts amount 20 SlOl,0B.s3,
and outstanding liabilities to 50 600 Esu-
mated for completion of existing projects
50. 736.O70.45, Of which 100000 can be profit
ably expended the next fiscal year.
As TO detail Of operations the report further
states that for the past year II consisted IN me
further prosecution of the survey IN removing
the bar at Richmond. IN widening and deepen
ing the channel from Richmond 10 Sieains
Dyke, and from Stearns' Dyke 10 Goodies
Rocks in the construction Of wing dams at
Wilton. ID the construction OF training wall
and ia dredging the channel at King island and
ln the removal of a part OF the slide at Iutch
Gap. The work has been greatly retarded DY
freshets. but the improvements have not been
greatly damaged by the high water.
NORFOLK BARBoR.
CAPTAIN Z. j. Febeger reported as to the
harbOr at Norfolk and its approaches, OF the
Nansemond AppomattOX and ChlckahOmiuy
rivers. Hampton creek and bar inland water
route from Norfolk to a bemarle Sound. n.
c. North Landing river, COmstOck Sound
and other improvements. Az 10 Norfolk. the
last Congress appropriated $3.50 900. Oi which
$4,000 was % he used for improving ap-
pT0aches 90 the inner harbOr Ivy Increasing
anchorage between Lambert Point and Fort
ia the project adopted In 1855 and WAS not
included IN former estimates. Tie estimate
for this anchorage IS $50 900 and therefore
tho estimate ior completion of the whole
project should bo increased by that amount.
In December ~. %. proposals were invited. hut
a. all were too high they were rejected and
another advertisement published. A con-
tract WAS made with the National Dred-
ging Company OF Wilmington. work
was begun IN April, and at the close Of the
fiscal year Z73O22 cubic yards had been
dredged from the bar al Sewalls Point and
the channel widened about 400 feet Under
the existing contract the channel through
Sewalls Point bar viii he completed, one
third Of the anchorage dIedged and
the slOal removed from the mouth
Of the Eastern Branch The work Of
the greatest importance under the exist
Ing project IS the completion of the anchor
age between Lanborts Point and Fort
Norfolk. Daily complaints are made Of the
obstruction TO Navigation 10y vessels III lhS al
anchor on Lamberts Point coal piers Next
in Importance is the completion of the
work in the inner harbOr near the
junction Of tie Eastern and Southern branches
where the channel is much too mar
row 10 accommodate the passing vessels with
out great danger Of collisions. TO afford i'm
mediate relief by dredging 20 the commerce
of Norfolk will cost about s0OOJ9 1t
is estimated that 1t will require 60 com
plete the existing project ri0l.f4. .yb ana that
S19l. 900 can be prottaDly expended during
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898 AS 10
the Improvement of Norfolk hHrbOr. except
ing that portion between Lamherts Point
aud Fort Norfolk Lieutenant fiebere writes
that he has no changes to report. lie urges
the importance of that harb0r extension. The
OBJ ect at Norfolk is 10 secure a channel fOO
feet wide aud - feet deep at ordinary low
water 10y dredging The desired chan
uel was secured IN July, 1889. since then no
dredging has been done. Surveys show very
little shOalng of the dredged channel 10 not
probable that dixie will be necessary for
the maintenance of the channel. tie money
estimated for the diko could be more advan-
taeeOusly expended IN removing the sboal on
the east side of the channel near Lam bert 3
Point, that being a continuation OF fofmer
dredging To complete the EXISTING pro
ject of improving Norfolk harbor proper, not
including the dredging and deepening Of the
inner harbOr, 100000 is needed. and that
amount can beprohtably expended during the
next fiscal year
NANsEMoND RIVER
The object is to secure l2-foot low-water
channel from Suffolk 70 Hampton Roads.
For this 80 900 was appropriated oy the last
Congress. A contract was made Tor dredging
al twenty cents per cubic yard Work Will
be carried on during the coming winter. 10
complete the existing project -l3Z,oOJ Will be
needed. and of this .32 600 can be prohtably
expended the next fiscal year
AT APPOMAT1OX MYIR.
For this $4,000 was appropriated. and un-
der the project adopted crOss-secuOns were
taken of the river every 100 or 200 ieet from
Petersburg to Sunken Island distance Of
seven miles. The survey shows channel
eleven TO twelve feet deep from the deep water
al Point Roads to Petersburg obstructed by
these shoals. then one below Richmond dixie
Il upper end of Puddeduck cut. and within
the city limits Over these shoals the depth
is to 10 feet AZ high water marx. To remove
these shoals II was decided 10 rebuild Rich
mond dam, and thus increase the freshet flow
through the main channel of the river TO con-
struct eighteen ietties between Richmond
dixie and the south channel jettles. and thus
concentrate the freshet action 10 dredge
channel forty feet wide and twelve feet deep
through the shoal at the upper end Of fud-
dleduck cut: to repair the closure dixie 70 con-
stnct and repair training dIkes at Lieutenant
Run and Magazine Bend During November,
December, January and February, with the
Government plant, hired labor, and tho
dredge belonging 10 Petersburg, BOP cubic
yards were removed FROM Puddieduck
shosl and deposited behind tho closure
dixie Al a - g0l[ yar IDic ward. IN