The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-13
THE POET OF RICHMOND.
A Deep Chsnnei TO tho Sea and Many
yesseis Entering.

! Wishing 10 learn whether it was not fact
| that in the last twelve months the tonnage
of tho port OF Richmond had largely H.
creased. and TO get some other facts and
/ figures, called on Dir. John A. Curtis, the
| harbormaster, yesterday, who gave me the
| information in his usual hearty ana forcioie
way. Said he -
| ouiry. Most people. or a great many OF
| them. have wrong ideas about this port.
! The tonnage has largely increased.
| Take for late instances the vessels you
| wrote about in your paper OF Sunday, Inc
! Josephine. J. Il. Teei, W. II. Oler and
/ Helen Montague.
The actual number of vessels entering
| here may not be a. large. / am not sure
/ but don't think there IN any falling OIL IN
/ the number But the tonnage has increased,
you can readily see from the schooners men,
/ toned, which we're among the largest YES
sells ever in the port.
Another point is that vessels drawing
| sixteen feet of water can come 70 Rockets
| &C ordinary high tide with perfect safety.
Asking him as 10 the outlook for the iu-
ture, he SAID: 1T is most favorable, espe-
cially in the direction OF trade with the
South / would recall the numerous car
| goes Of pyrites going, 70 Southern ports.
] L
OF phosphate rock to our fertilizer manufac-
tories, which industries are very prominent
! here, you know"
Among the great advantages Of deepen
/ ing the river 10 Rockets will be areductiOn or
freightrates on account Of The increased size
of the vessels. The masters OF these large
schooners coming here have all expressed
themselves pleased with the cheappess OF
the port charges. the steyedore charges
and the cost of supplies for the outward
They 60 away hoping 70 have cargo
hack verv soon Sail vessels should be
patronized where possible by our mer-
chants. Tor they spend their inward trelghe
money here amongst Us.
The barges bringing freight here toWed
by tug carry one man only and are OF no
benefit to a port. or are what sailors call cut
worms on a port. With the present con-
gressiOnal appropriation OfgS200.00O feel
sure that we will have seventeen feet Oh wa
ter from Richmond 20 the sea IN year.
Tho city Of Richmond is doing her part,
and with the efficient James River Improve
ment Committee IN charge Of the work the
channel is being cleaned out and IS IN bet
ter condition now than II has been IN a long
time
There is another good point TO tellsou:
At the last session of tho Legislature the
Guy cnhlLdt was diuohuoAi eifitA~ '''D ~
Council power to appoint harbor commits
sion with authority 10 look after the con-
diton Of the wharves
Previously this was nobody's business.
The harbor commission. when appointed,
will have power 20 cause the wharVes at
Rockets to be kept In good repair
From another reliable source learn that
the contractors for the United States Gov
eminent have the dredgss Matte and
Volunteer at work to give eighteen feet of
water from tho Chesapeake and Ohio wharf
TO Rockets.
At Goodies Rock. about three miles below
Richmond, heretofore dangerous place for
navigation. they have now eighteen feet of
water at high tide All these facts are most
encouraging for the future OF tho port Of
Richmond