Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-26
COL. RUFFIN'S VIEWS
ne TALKS ABOUT THE PROPOSED RE-
MCvAl OF THE MONITORS.
Rlohmoad, Tic Thinks, Is n Better Place
for Them Than City Point-Why
Brought Hero.

Colonel Frank G. Ruffin returned TO the
city Thursday evening from Lexington.
Knowing that he had taken prominent
part IN securing tho removal of tho moni-
tors from City Point to their present loca-
ton DISPATCH reporter called on him at
the Capitol yesterday afternoon and asked
him if he had seen the article in this paper
of Thursday headed the Monitor Fleet"
Yea, SIR replied Colonel Ruin. 81
saw IL thursday on my way down from the
jackson ceremonies"
" Can you tell us anything moro about IL
than Is there stated % was the next ques-
ton.
Yes. sir; several things. The plan of
removing the monitors rs near to Rich
mond as they could be brought with entire
safety originated several years ago with
myself or Mr.. Burgwyn. I forget which,
with the object Of forwarding the policy OF
deepening James river. This was several
years ago. But hearing that Captain Iul-
lens-l think that was the name of the
commander of the feet at that tlme-wa5
opposed to 1t, we dropped the subject.
SECURED THE REMOVAL.
Subsequently early in 1893, I learning
that my very good friend, Commander
McCuriy, VINO had succeeded Captain
Mullens, was II favor of the removal, took
up the matter again, and at the request OF
the Chamber Of Commerce, Of the Council
Committee on James-River Improvement,
and Mr.. Ashton Starke. the president OF
the Exposition society. obtained an in
terview with Hon. ". G. Whitney, Secre-
tary OF the Navy, and laid the case before
him. He at once wrote to Commodore
Brown, then commandant AT the navy
yard at Portsmouth, with instructions to
examine into and report upon tho pro-
pretty OF tho change of location. After
making the examination, which was done
without consultation with any civilian or
officer IN charge of the Improvement OF the
river, he recommended the change, which
was made at tho expense of the city of
Richmond by Mr.. Burgwyn under the or
ders OF Commander McCurly.
TAXING THE soUSDIsGs.
After the site was selected Commo-
dore Brown ordered Commander McCurly
to invite MIR. Burgwyn, Captain Cunning
ham, the wcll-known pilot, and myself TO
| join him in making the necessary sound
ings. TO this commission / took the lib
erty OF adding Mr.. Lewis d. Crenshaw.
chairman OF tho improvement Committee.
/ We then ran three lines of soundings,
keeping IA far OF from the channel as
| Commander McCurly directed, so that the
monitors could neither hurt nor be hurt
| by the passing of ships and steamers:
These lines extended the whole length OF
the anchorace-ground between quart CT
and half mile, and Commander McCurly' g
report being satisfactory. the monitors
were ordered up"
MISTAKE ABOUT DREDGING.
"What about the hole that Colonel
| Brady said had TO be dredged to 1Oat q
number Of the monitors 2"
Why that 10 a mistake Of some sort.
| There was one, possibly two bumps, where
! the dredging contractors had surreptl-
/ tiously dumped their loadsin order 70 save
{ time. These were dredged in few hours
/ time. The average depth of the water
| both at, above. and below the monitors
for about three quarters of Il mile IS IS $40
| feet at low tide, and upwards OF ID feet at
| high tide, and "a the monitors draw II or
! II feet the absurdlty Of the statement IS APP
parent. That the water should shOal about
some of the monitors IL not surprising. 1t
will do that anywhere. 1t did 1t at City
! Point. and / understand that when the
vessels were moved not only did one or
more of them have TO be dug out OF the
mud, but that ono or more anchors and
some chains were so deeply Embedded IN
! tie mud that they had To be lett there"
| WILL NEVER De USED.
How about the necessity of removing
tho monitors for immediate use, as Colonel
Brady suggests?"
why this: They will never be used again
I for any purpose OF war. They are totally
unscawortny, as | al informed. and a.e
not broken up and sold as junk because OF
the sentiment IN the case.
AS to the economic advantages - moving
them to City Point dllGs Petersburg, have
nothing to say; nor as 10 the political Gd
yantages TO be gained by that course. Il
is natural FOR parties TO try and help them
selves in that way. They Were brought
| here upon two arguments: One mads bJ
the city that their presence az or neal
| Richmond would DE good advertisement
not OF tho city, but of James river; the
| other. made by the officers who wanted e
come here, was that for selt-evident reL
sons tins proposed location was better
than the comparative desert at City Point.
( Those who favor the movement can make
their own arguments
AN ADVISABLE MOVE.
what do you think of the propriety Of
the monitors moving up TO Richmondr"
AS far a. police is concerned 1 think II
would be advisable: on social considera
lions it would be desirable. AS practlca
matter / am not entitled TO en- opinion
! and therefore have nothing TO say but thls
Go where they may. IN the James or Apo
! mattox, the water will shoal around them
if they stay in one place long enough
Commander Graham is heartily IN fayol
! OF bringing tho ironclads ND closer e
Richmond and he will CO. operate with oul
people III their efforts 70 secure this end.