The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-02
TO SAVE THE ISLAND.
The Government NJ Work to Protect the
Banks at Jamestown.

Had the Association for the PreserVa-
ton OF Virginia Antiquities accomplished
nothing else than the protection OF
jamestown Island, they would deserve
the gratitude of the future generations
who may take pride in the honored MS
tory of the old Commonwealth
by their efforts they have not ohly
saved from total destruction the fast ue-
caying church tower and the remains Vi
the old burying ground, but they nave Sc
cured the aid of Government to save the
island itself from being swept away by
the winds and tides in the river.
Through the efforts, principally OF
Mrs. j. l.. NJ. Curry Vice-pIeeiuen.
of the association, Congress, at last
session, appropriated $lO'Vo lot the Pio
lection of the island.
History as well as tradition SHOWS that
the island, as II was in 1904, began Soiie
distance below the church tower oeoP
swale or marsh indicating It's tfeh upper
or western end, and that the upper emu
of the present island, containing the
tower and dwelling, was connected WIN
and a part of the peninsula. IL IS even
stated as a fact by some mat fCcahon'aS
crossed this strip on foot airy -sHou VIM
she visited jamestown.
Mr.. +. T.. Barney, through whose
generosity the area which the socley
now owns at jamestown was seculeu'
and who has made careful research nv
every bit of history concerning lhlo No
toric ground, says that the thoIousH
fare between the island and the NAM
land did not then exist as Whoie'
Povhatan creek, which empues INTO the
thoroughfare then discarged INTO JAMES
river through the marsh before
ed. ,,s
The old map Of Captain John Srnlth ap-
pears TO confirm this statement.
ghe force of the waves in James rlVer'
dIa IA west winds which sweep down
reach Of open water for seven or e'snt
miles berhaps aided by Powhatah Green
ON the lower side, has cut through lle
connection and produced the present
island. .,.,, ,oroo
The continuous action Of tins torce
has rapidly abraded the west ehd oi tne
island and threatened to destroy the Hloo'
apparcnt relic OF the early settlement,
the old church tower, If not the lSla''N
entire. - ,,
4 COMPARISON Of the United states coast
eurvev of about 1872 and a survey maze
bv Mr.. Shirley Carter, under the direc-
ton of Mr. r.. r. Barney, IN ls9l' sHo"S
that an average of 80 feet OF the "es'eiH
front was washed away in this interval
and amounting to $50 feet at the extreme
northwest end. The recent survey SHOWS
that this destructive action Is sun III
progress. .,,. ,,ro-
The length of front which needs pro
lection ie about half mile. the lslahu -
low. and IN high tides, caused 10y caS'eily
gales two or three swales are subneIBeu
two or three feet in depth. forming small
er islands for the time. the water, uhder
tho Influence of westerly WINDS, as
charging into the thoroughfare. Inc 'lue
of October. 1894, rose TO seven ttet dDoNe
ordinary low tide
After a careful consideration or the
conditions. and controlled by the Hmlleu
amount of the appropriation, 1t was ue-
cided to raise a dyke along the "es,el
front. two feet higher than the IeFel vi
this tide, as far as the dppropi Id ioi
would hermit. The river front OF the dyke
win he protected on its natural slope by
granite paving stones eighteen inches
mick al the base and nine inches at the
ION II Will be founded in a bed or yell
low CLAW. and protected with rlp-rdp
of loose stone and with cypress PIE
groins extending 100 Ieet into the river
This bed of clay extends several hundred
feet before deep water Is reached
This is to be done undet the direction
Of Colonel William p. Craighill, engineer
of the United States army. VINO mas APP
nointed Mr.. II. d. Whitcomb, the emil
nent engineer Of this city, TO supervise
the construction.
The resident inspector Is Major D. w,
Goodwin. well-known as the engineer OF
the Norfolk and Western, the LynchDurB
and Durham and the Petersburg belt line
railroads.
The contract has been awarded 10
Nessrs. Eggleston & Montague, OF thls
city. who have quarried considerable
amount of stone near Richmond for the
work and have begun the earth work OF
the dyke.
The Association for the Preservation or
Virginia Antiquities. OF witch Mrs. Jos.
Bryan. of this city. IS president. has &C
tive branches in the other cites OF the
State. and they all take deep interest IN
this their most important Work. Inc
jamestown Island committee, OF "hlcn
Mrs. Parke G. Bagby is chairman nave
been unremitting in their efforts 10 pre-
serve the island. Mis-. Bagby has been
ably assisted in the work BY Miss Mary
Jeffrey Gait. Of Norfolk, who for the
past wear has resided in the old Gait
mansion in Williamsburg. and has been
enabled 20 make frequent trips 10 the
island 10 look after the interests OF the
association there
The association has expended a consid-
cradle sum in enclosing the tower and
church yard with high wlre-woVeh
fence. and also in fencing their twenty
two acres OF the island with ribbon wire
preparatory TO starting hedge. Inc
plants for the hedge have been promlseu
by the United States Agricultural Depart
ment through the efforts OF Mrs. GeheTdi
Harry Heth.
MANY valuable relics are being unearth-
ed on the island, and the land has Deen
posted to prevent them being carried on
Preparations are also being made 10 pun
the grounds In grass. Mrs. Ban. vice.
regent from Virginia at Mount Vernon
has kindly promised such flowers from
that place as may be needed when the
time comes for setting them out.
A man has been employed since last
April who resides on the island ana
looks after the property.