Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-01
WORK ON THE RIVER.
BRIEF OUTLINE or WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE IN TWELVE MONTHS.
distractions In the Channel Being '"' ""'
and Wing Dams Constructed-Giancc
Into tho Future.

The funds for the improyenentof James
river are furnished in part by the United
States end in part by the city OF hicn-
mond, Colonel w. p. Craighill, Corps 81
Engineers, United States Army, having
charge.
The work done by the city is directed oy
the Committee on James-River Improve
ment. Mr.. W. II. Curtis, chairman; Colo
mel w. +. Cutshaw, City Engiueer, execu-
tive officer. and Captain Thomas cunning
ham, Sr., superintendent.
The work done by the city ~ az present
limited 10 the harbor ana above the Cedar
works, thence 10 the river mouth the
work IS done by the United States Govern
ment. MIR. II. u. Whitcomb IN charge as
resident engineer.
CAPTAIN oURrIs's CONTRACT.
The contract made with Captain John
A. Curtis under which he began work De-
rember /. 1892, has been steadily prose-
outed. The additional widths IN rock cut
ting near Richmond has in the main been
drilled and blasted, and large part OF the
material removed and placed on the wing
dams.
There is good reason 10 expect that the
channel in this rock cutting. from the city
limits across Richmond bar, at least 80
feet wide and Is feet deep at low tide, Will
be completed by December /, 1894;
Captain Curtis has practically COM
pleted his contract for wing dams, except
at Varina. and the benefit TO the channel
due TO them is apparent. There Is already
a channel of good width with a mini
mum depth of II feet at low tide from
the lower end Of Riehmand bar 10 farlna,
where for q short distance II Is l6'8 feet.
Except at two narrow places there IS
channel not less than 50 feet wide OF Is feet
depth and more. ,.
Nothing has been done a. yet under this
contract below City Point, but the amount
necessary 10 be done there is compare
tlvely light, say two months WORK with
one dredSe.
CUT AT GOODIES ROCKS.
There is no additional depth available
for navigation TO the city limits 10 report,
nor has there been tor several years past.
This IS due to the unfinished cut AT
Goodies rocks. ledge OF solid granite.
where a cut distinct III position from the
channel bIIherto and now used by vessels
has been under construction since the en-
larCement of the project OF improvement
authorized by Congress IN ISL lhls cut
was 50 feet wide last December ana Is now
being made 20 feet, with the expectation
OF opening IL 10 uANlEdbAbh WIN tH-.
width. The project calls for width OF
2g0 feet. This cutting IS BENG made TO y
feet depth at low tlde.
IL is therefore confidently expected
that channel of Is feet depth at moan low
tide Will be ready for navigation Ia year
from this time from the city limits 70
Hampton Roads.
As the range OF tide ia from feet near
jamestown to So feet at Richmond, the
depth available for navigation az high tide
should be 20 feet.
The available depth TO the city limits
now is 49, feet at high Tide. IL was tut 10
feet in 1870.
No dredging has been done IN sand and
mud or other soft material whore the river
width has been regulated by Ning-dams
or trainIng-walls. The channel there Is
improving Ia depth and width with every
considerable rise III the river. The chan
mel ut Dutch Gap IS being cut u IS feet at
low tide.