The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-18

Dellllllltl tIe use OF a larger NAChH4tA Will
carried 10 Mt Vernon during the calandar
year 1890, about $1,000 people '-'
occoQUAN cEgrK
This stream is navigable from its mouth at
Sandy Point tO he town Of Occoquan four
miles Navigation was 'obstructed by four
bars which have been improved by dredging
and dkes 30 as O. scctro depth Of SIX feet
at low tide. Last Congress appropriated sl0,-
Don. which Is now being expended M dredging
and widening the .cbanHel .lt VIII require
$4,000 20 complete the work, and that sum
AQUA. CREEK.
Work was done on this stream from 1872 to
1878. In 1889 new stfrvey was made and the
channel formerly qredged was found to be
80 feet wide and 4 10 feet deep. Dents
landing was pronounced the highest point to
which navigation could be maintained with
Dut great expense Fhe distractions below
that were a long shOal of soft mud and a sand
bar. The last Congress appropriated 100000
and this IS being expended in procuring a
channel so feet wide and feet deep 10y dredg
ing At the close of the fiscal year the chan
mel had been made % feet wide and feet
deep for distance OF 2.670 feet IL Will re-
quire $4,000 10 complete the work, # which
$4,000 can be prolta0ly expended next year.
NoAINE CREEK.
This is an important tributary of the Poto-
mac. Tue preliminary survey IN 1872 showed
the mouth obstructed bv a bar 0f oyster
shells and sand The difficulties of passing
the bar were increased by strong cross tidal
currents iust outside the mouth. % % 1881
appropriations aggregatrng t32.53o had been
made The money was used IN dredging, aud
3 channel 700 feet wide, Q feet deep
and 400 feet long was secured
IN 1882 - ZOO more was appropriated, and the
last Congress added 5000 more THIS has
leen expended in dredging and the channel
outside Of Whites Point is 80 feet wide; inside
$50 feet vide with uniform depth Of feet
at low tide. There IS a dixie across the chan
mel mo B0shfeld Bay The iettes are yet TO
he completed and more dredging must be
done The total amount needed TO complete
tic work 10000. and it can bc prohtably
expended next year
rApPAHANNOCE RIVER.
The Obstruction to navigation lie between
Tauulauu0ck aud fredericksburg sixty
three miles The project contemplated
channel through ,he various bars OF 200 foet
vide and 10 deep between Port Royal and
gqppahannOck, aud 100 feet wide by lO deep
from that mp. these channels TO be, maintained
by a system ~ wing-dams and training dikes.
The first appropriation was made IN 1871.
Altogether fourteen appropriations, aggrega-
ting slg9 800 have been made. The last Con-
gTess eppropr ated $4,000, which has been
used in repairs Of difes at lTederlcks-
Castle Ferry and Spottswood These re-
pairs were made necessary by the
freshet After being repgred, the dikes
mattressed at the end Several If them were
raised ia height. a contract for dredging was
made and it IS proposed 90 dredge o channel
ten feet deep and as wide as tho funds Will
permit AS the com lined stealn-derrick boat
and pile-driyer purchased IN 1881, was worn
out il was necessary % purchase @ new plant
A contract o. construct this plant, to consist
Of one combined stoam-deruck boat and pie
driver one scOW aud ten fiat boats have been
awarded 20 IA. 4. Morrison q Co.. OF Peters
burg. for 96.l2g.7 TO- The plant was 20 be com
pleted July 18th, One-half of the cost VIII he
paid from theappropriatiou for Rappalannock
river Ono-fOurth from that for the Mattaponl.
and One-fourth from that for the Pamunkey
river. Ii will require ,l67 ,09O to completeth the
work, ofwhlch $4,000 is wanted next wear -
UBBANA CREEK
This is a tributary of the Rappahannock,
and appropriations aggregaung -i5,0OD have
been made From 1853 TO 1888 work was sus-
pended. A channel l40 10y 10 feet had been
dredged. The last Congress appropriated
$4,000. II was determined 20 expend II III
widening the channel and IN constructing ad-
ditlOnal iettles TO arrest the movement of
sand along the beach and consequent shoal-
ing Of the channel. contract for dredging WAS
made for s $3.50 The etties Will be built by
the RappahannOck will be used. 1t viii be
first used on the Mattaponi and Pamunkey
and later IL the season taken 10 the Kappa
hammock. Owing 10 the exposed condition OF
the outer bar IL will be difficult 10 maintain
channel through II. Steamers are afraid to
use the channel but land at wharf over
mile from town. If says the report, the I'M
proyement IL to benefit navigation the exposed
locality must be protected 10y expensive
works II will require Sl3 0SO TO complete II.
and II is recommended that il be appropriated
IN one sum.
YORK RIVER.
Originally il was proposed to dredge chan
mel 200 by 70 feet through Potopotank and
West Point bars. but the Increased trade
prompted an amendment increasing the chan
mel O. a width of 400 feet Ii WAS further de-
clded To construct dixie along the right
bank at West Point 10 prevent the deposit Of
silt in the dredged channel 1T was esti-
mated that the whole improvement wouid
cost t3Os. 800 The last Congress appropu-
ated $50. 900. A contract TO dredge West Point
bar was made for S25 2s7.50, but after work
ing several months the contractors declared
that the formation 4 an embankment with
the dredged material. as required by the
contract. was imDractlcanle. because OF the
soft nature Of that material and asked 20 an
null their contract. A supplemental agree
ment was entered into the contractors ofer-
ing 30 do the dredging and dump the material
at the most convenient places for $40 900 less
than their first bargain This was accepted,
and it was decided 10 employ that $4,000 to-
wards erecting a dixie instead of following the
fruitless plan Of attempting 10 build It of
dredged material.
1t Is proposed to complete the dredging ard
build the dixie. Occupants Of oyster beds OBJ
lect 10 the dixie. claiming IL Will lnlure the
oysters. Ii is estimated that Sl50,OOO Will be
needed 10 complete this work, and slOO,OOO Is
wanted for the next fiscal year.
MATTAPOHI RIVER.
Up 10 1893 the amount Of $4,000 had been
expended on this stream. Snags, wrecks ana
oVerhanging trees were removed for dis
tance Of thirty -four miles. The work remain;
ing IS 70 complete dixie at Robinson's bar ana
construct some at LGtanes bar 10 drodge the
channels at all the bars below Ayletts. IS
Innate 70 complete work $52,e0O, OF which
SlO,OOO - asked for next year.
PAMUNKEY RIVER.
1he stream is navigable up TO Hanovertown
or DabneY's Ferry, ffty-nin miles There
are nve bsis the stream has been freed from
shags. logs and oyerhanging troes from Han,
oyertown 70 Garlicks Ferry, twenty-five and
8 nail miles The last Congress appropriated
$5,OoO and as the amount was too small 10
warrant dredging operations Il was applied 70
rsinos,ng snaes and other obstrnctions- IL y