Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-02
lanes River and What 1t May Be


The present condition of the James river
nj high tide, as reported by the engineers
in charge of the Government work, is that
there Is an available draught from the sea
TO City Point equal to 1915 feet; from City
Point to Kingsland Reach, IS feet; over
Kincsland, II feet from Kingsland to
Richmond, 1616 feet
The work of improvementisth the Joint en-
terprise of the United States and city OF
Richmond.
The aim is TO obtain depth of twenty
two feet at low-tide from Richmond TO the
sea, and the work of the engineers consists
IN regulating the width of the river and in
securing and deepening the channels by
blasting and dredging. Experience has
shown that these improvements are per-
msnent, and We cannot doubt that our
expenditures upon them are wisely made.
The great misfortune Of Richmond was that
the river was not deepened ten or fifteen
years ago. Had il been. il may be doubted
whether the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company would have considered II
necessary TO seek port at the mouth OF
the river. That they switched of from
Richmond merely because we provided
them q tunnel under Church Hill is absurd.
Without that tunnel they might have
switched of from the main stem at point
several miles northwest of Richmond.
They left here for deeper water. IL was
partly our fault and partly the General
Governments and quite as largely the re-
suit of railroad rivalries over which
neither of us could exert much influence.
Congress has ever pursued an unbusi-
pess-like policy with reference 10 our
river Improvement, and one half of the
time the work Is stopped or carried on in
feeble way for want Of appropriations. We
Richmond people likewise have never given
the matter enough thought. Twenty years
ago the prophecy was often made, and ac-
copied by not a few, that it would be idle
10 deepen the river because freshets would
come and fill 1t up again. This has not
proved true. On the contrary, the I'M
proyements stand almost unimpaired III
strength and usefulness by great floods.
Mr.. BuRawYs, the resident engineer. tells
Us that to note the effect of the works of
Improvement and US test of their en-
durance he following observations were
made and facts elected A stretch of the
river at Richmond bar, about half a mile
IN length, was brought 70 the proper width
and the channel was dredged out 10 eiGh-
teen feet at high water. This channel was
very carefully sounded by stretching O
steel wire across the river and taking
measurements every ton feet. A period
Of ten years was allowed to elapse.
during which time no work whatever was
done on this section of the river. AT
the end OF that time the same sound
tngs were retaken, and the result showed
that in this interval the channel had not
deteriorate. at all. And he adds that
"there is no railroad-bed, or highway, or
bridge. or in fact any artificial construction
over which 30 many thousand tons of
freight could have been carried, aud yet
NJ the end Of that time such passage-way
have been in as good condition as when it
was first completed. II is astonishing who
permanent the work Of improvement has
been. Further, ii is 10 be borne in mind
that the total money annually available
for this work is only what railroad CON-
pany wonld spend during corresponding
period over eqnal distanye in keeping its
track in seryicesble condition"
Hencsforth there should, DO no hack Of
interest in the river. II can be improved;
II must be improved. and thea, If We have
the proper spirit and enterprise. We will
again 500 our wbarves crowded with ship
ping.
The river is o check On the railroads.
The steamer lines afford guarantees that we
viii not be overcharged by the rail- lines.
They are competitive 10 considerable ex-
tent and together give Richmond Trans
portstion rates and facilities that cannot
b secured by cities less advantsgeonsly
situated.