The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-01

Work Done in the Harbor and the Chapne'
Durlpg the Year

The Improvement OF James River I'M
der appropriations from the Onited
States is from the lower city limit
where it crosses the river, to the ttrer
mouth, and is under the direction Of
Colonel w. p. Craighll. corps of en-
gineers
In tho past year the work has been
prosecuted under a contract with capt.
J. A. Curtis, begun December so, and
TO terminate In February lSyI.
The contract includes the deepening or
the channel from the city line TO the
area part Of Richmond bar. TO at least
IL feet below low tide, for a width OF
81 feet. 4 large part OF this cuttin, Is m
rock and includes the Goodies ledge
| II miles below the 10y. The contract
also includes the enlargement If Dutt n
Gap cut off. and the channel at Hart isou
Bar and the cleaning out Of The enamel
at Goose Hill Flats II also lLciudes
the extension OF wingdams ana new
wingdams between Warwick Rar and
Drewry Bun and new Wingta n al
four shoals below preWry EluH, III" Nv
est of which - at Curts Neck. ana SIN,
other work in crossing gaps in dykes.
Under this contract The tollOWiIS
amount of work vas Ipre W u I''c I'M
Der LIST 1891 1O1,i 49, cubic yards Of earth
and cobble; 42,O29 cubic yards of sotl and
solid rock 10 49, cubic feet Of WinSdams;
/ 397 cubic feet Of dykes.
OF the rock about p per cent. required
blasting There remain perhaps 1000
cubic yards of rock. soft and solid 10
complete the 80 feet Chan"ol 10 me re-
uured Is feet depth. The results, as al
fecting navigation, are that there Is over
a foot deeper water 10 the city line than
year since, and with the removal or the
1000 yards OF rock mentioned which are
in small and scattered areas, except Tor
900 feet adjoining the city lines, furth-
or deepening Of feet viii be available
to navigation.
The cEt through Goodies rocks which
has been In progress since April u ~
now ~ feet wide. and VIII be open TO
navigation in "A few days. About 5000
cubic yards have been removed from this
ledge since 1857. The channel - geher-
ally over ~ feet deep and is nowhere less
done between Richmond Bar and Cuy
Point. since 1891, except I'm charging
Dutch Gap cut OF. There are few places
on this stretch which require other treat
ment than contraction 20 produce ana
maintain the depth OF - feet required
for the improvement There are now
fully Is feet in depth In all this stretch
except at two shoals. Narina and Curie's
Neck. where there are Ii 10 lB Il feet.
Contraction by wnbdams has been made
at both points, but no rise III the river
worthy Of mention has occurred since,
and the only scour has been from tidal
currents. There has been some Improve
ment due to this. The contraction Is
intended TO secure and maintain depth
of % feet, and I, is expected that a few
ordinary freshets Will give at least Is feet.
The water way at Dutch Gap has been
made 40 feet wide with from - TO 20
feet depth. The channel at Harrison's
Bar is now 90 by 80 feet, and at Goose
Hill Flats is 100 by from Is TO 10 feet.
ne available depths for navigation
at low tide are: From the sea to city
Point Il feet thence TO Richmond Bar.
rs feet: and TO the city line. L. feet Al
high tide there are feet more in the
lower parts OF the river. and from 3 20
3 ~ feet more above city Point.
4 contract has been made recently with
Mr. T. Sanford Ross OF Jersey city, for
widening the channel near Richmond. 10
100 feet for widening and deepening that
at Harrison's Bar 10 3iOK22 feet, ard
widening that at Goose Hill 10 80 feet
Also for the further removal Of obstrua-
lions placed In the channel at Drewry's
Bluff I'm 1861.
Mr. Ross intends 10 use heavy steel
chisels I'm cutting the granite work rear
Richmond in place OF blasting. He has
used this method with success on the inn
provement OF tne Hudson river In the
past two years. and the plan is recon-
mended by the engineers in charge OF
that work.
Mr.. sanford's contract terminates In
June 1896.