The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-19
TO OPEN THE RITER.
Steps Taken by tho Committee on James
River improvement.

The matter OF keeping open the ha'isa-
ton of the James river is one that is
giving serious consideration to many OF
the business men of the city, especiahy
the large shippers. h..
laid an ice embargo on this port as wen
as those of Baltimore and Philadeipnia'
and Yesterday the Committee on the I'M
provement OF James River met AT noun
I'm the Chamber of Commerce 10 consiue'
the question, and take measures 10 ue
feat. IL possible, delay In water ,lans
portation, and devise means 10 PiesVne
damage to city property. which wouiu oe
compelled to follow rise In the i"ei
in case of an ice gorge
Mr.. William ii. Curtis, the chalrIfian o'
the committee. read n letter from Mr.
r. A. Dunlop, secretary OF the Nhaloer
OF Commerce, In regard 10 the mdttet'
and Messrs. Tabb and warner moore
from the committee on outward trade
from the chamber were invited 10 give
their views.
Mr.. Tabb stated that the delay IN
trade. and the damage likely to accrue,
involved very serious consequences, and
he then proceeded to cite what effect the
sinking OF a schooner across the channel
In the Schuyikiii river over year ago
had now on the trade In Philadelphia.
He said that his committee anxiously de-
sired to impress upon the James River
Committee the Importance OF Keeping
the river open, II such thing were pos
sible.
Mr. Moore followed in much the same vein
of thought, and called attention to the
great loss liable to occur TO property
in Rockets. i'm case Of an inundation.
City Engineer Cutshaw, in charge OF
the city's James river Improvement, being
asked 10 give his views. said that there
could be no opinions as to the need OF
the work. The question was. How was
the work to be done? He said. In case
Of a gorge. it would be useless to use
dynamite, for as fast as the Ice was
blown up It would fall right back. IL
would be impossible to commence at this
end of the line TO break the way, and
be useless as well. The only practical
solution that he saw was 10 notify the
tug repaired at Norfolk,a and now there,
to come up the river as early as pracu-
cable, and, without exposing the tug, 10
take such steps as might be necessary
to keep the channel free.
He suggested that Captain Thomas
Cunningham, superintendent OF James
river Improvement be heard. as he was
the best posted man about the river, per-
haps. in the city.
The old water veteran. who for scores
Of years has been acquainted with the
history OF the river, proceeded to tell OF
previous ice gorges; how the city had n
dredge anchored at Goodies rock. swept
down to Dutch Gap, and sunk; how the
Wyanoke years ago. before the Gap was
cut, was four days in the bend, and other
interesting facts in connection with past
ice gorges. The Captain had seen the
river filed with ice from the bottom, and
concluded by saying: I'VE are in di-
lemna: / don't know what can be DONE
but We ought to do something"
The following resolution, offered by
Mr. Vaughan. and seconded by Mr.. Lewis
ID. Crenshaw, was then adopted,
Be 1t resolved by the Committee on
James River. That the chairman of the
said committee be and is hereby author
lied TO employ such steam assistance
wherein his judgment may be proper to
assist the city tugs to prevent, II possible,
any ice gorge forming in James river, the
cost of such expenditure, outside Of the
city tugs, not to exceed $500.