Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-11
TIDAL OBSERVATION.
A Work Now Going On in the River that Is
No Picnic.

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dlspatch.l
DUTcH Gar, Va, August 10.-There is no
locality in the United States where more
history was made than in this section.
Every inch of the ground and reach OF
the river is historic. The work of history
making here commenced long before the
late war WAS fought or the Infamous Ben.
Butler was born. This man, however,
gave the section a worldwide reputation
by the canal he dug at such an ex;
pense of blood and money. The United
States Government in 1875 recognized
its importance to navigation and
established here q light station. On
August LIST the Government under the
supervision of Colonel O. p. f. Burgwyn,
engineer of the James River Improvement
also established here tidal, observation
station. At the mouth Of Dutch-Gap canal,
q short distance out in the river east OF the
light-station. is water-gauge, where inc
observations are taken al intervals OF every
ten minutes during the twenty-four hours
from skiff anchored to pile.
NOT PICNIC.
These observations are TO be continued
until the lst of September a job that's no
picnic to the observer who has to sit
in his skiff through the livelong night IN
the lonesome shadows of the narrowing
events of the time of the construction OF
the canal and the war; breathing the mi
asmatic air Of the neighborlng swamps,
and subjected to the heavy dews OF this
season of the year.
These tidal observation stations" are
at various points on the James river, COM
mencing at Richmond and ending at Cape
Henry, and are made for scientific purposes
and more comprehensive study Of the
tides. which are mysteries that have long
baffied the scientific world.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF 1T.
However. q neighbor who visited me in
his skiff said the long and the short of the
matter was that the whole thing could be
accounted for on the theory that 1.-The
world is only floating island"-a theory
from practical point Of view that might
be classed with DR.. Jasper's "sun-do-
move" theory.
Dutch Gap" has gone down into his
tory as slaughter-pen, unequalled by
even the "back hole Of Calcutta Yet
il is most captivating point for those in
terested in war history, rs from 1t can be
seen 1.-THE Hewlett House." Varina,"
and many other historical localities. The
gap cut by General Butler is 400 feet wide
and about the same length, forming an
island about two miles long, and shOrtens
river navigation by at least five miles.
which is the distance around the island.
APRoPos OF TIE NAME.
Apropos of the name of the place. it is
said by neighbor to have derived that
from the fact that 1.-THE reach" of the
river on the eastern side of the neck of
land was the scene of boat race between
Dutchman and an Englishman. The
Dutchman. instead Of rowing around the
land paved Yankee trick" on the credu-
lous Englishman. u nationality by the way
that is not often imposed upon. and
dragged his boat across the narrow strip OF
land where the canal now is, and thus
saved distance of five miles and won the
wager on the race. Whether this be true
or not, it is the legend OF this section. and
is perhaps rs true as most of the Virginia
lore, not even excepting the pretty Poca-
hontas story. which the iconoclasts now
seek to destroy.