Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-26

igorously prosecuted during the year. IL
S proposed 70 make a channel 20 1cet
wide, and 20 feet deep.
Ia deepening tho Nansemond river NO.
20 has been expended to date. 1t IS
proposed to give the river a channel 100
rel wide at the bottom with mean
depth OF II feet
Operations in the Appomattox river be-
tween Petersburg and City Point were
continued. The plan Of Improvement con-
templates a channel 90 feet wide, with a
depth Of u feet.
INLAND WATERWAY.
The amount expended I'm improving the
inland waterway from Norfolk 10 Abe
marie sound through Currituck sound,
from 1890 to the present time. is S2},7s7.s5.
Nine shoals in the Elizabeth river have
been dredged. and work performed all
along the line.
The report cOmnends strongly the pro-
ject Of improving these waters. and urges
additional appropriations. 1t Is purposed
making a channel feet deep from Nor
folk TO Albemarle Sound. The compile
ton of the work can be accomplished at
comparatively small cost.
From North Landing river 3i4 sunken
logs were removed during the year. and
the wreck OF a vessel near North Land
ing bridge was also removed, leaving the
channel unobstructed. s7Si35 was ex-
pended on the work. No further appro-
priation for the river is asked for.
In Occoquan creek. four bars have
been dredged. giving a channel 80 feet
wide and from TO feet deep. The
amount expended on the work TO date is
sls.S9S.el. No work was done during the
past year. but 1t is recommended that the
tn. ha
AQUA CREEK.
While no work was done in Aqua creek
during the year, the engineers believe
that the appropriation OF $500 made at
the last session OF Congress will be sufii-
cient to complete all necessary improve
ment. A channel 50 feet wide and from
s TO feet deep viii then have been OBJ
tanned from the mouth Of the creek to
the Narrows, a distance Of four and one
half miles.
In the Rappohannock river the con-
struction OF dykes at Fredericksburg bar
was continued. Dredging on this bar was
commenced in October last, and con-
tlnued until April Of the present year.
The width OF the natural channel was
increased about 50 feet. and a channel
100 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and COO feet
which had formed just below the steam
boat wharf at Fredericksburg. A draft
OF feet or more can now be carried
over all bars below Fredericksburg. ex-
cept Spotswood bar, where the ruling
depth is feet. 2 inches. At Freder-
icksburg bar. the head OF navigation; ow-
ing 70 the deposits OF sand following each
freshet, only a depth OF feet. 3 inches.
is maintained. There was expended du-
ring the year 1891. leaving an unex-
pended balance OF sli .22365
YORK RIVER.
Dredging operations were continued du-
ring the year In the York river. and
90 $50 cubic yards OF material were re-
moved. The channel was deepened 10
q feet at low tide, with a width OF 80
feet for distance OF 6.lo0 feet. Very
little was accomplished at West Point
bar. owing TO tho lack OF contracting
works. The completion OF the channel
here and at Potopotank bar. and the con-
structlon OF dyke at West Point bar
have yet 10 be finished. The sum OF
$1,000. the report states. can be expended
IN continuing the Improvement OF this
river.
POST-OFF1cE DIFFICULTIES.
The Post Office Department Is constant