Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-13
JAMES RIVER WORK.
GOVERNMENT CAN DO NOTHING IN
uARBoa UNTIL LAW IS CHANGED
MEETING OF COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.
senator Martin and Congressman
Lamb Asked to Have Act Changed
city Tug 10 Be Rcpainted-s'ight
Curtail I'm Expenses TO July LIST.

Curtafi I'm Expenses to July is''
The Committee on Improvement Oh
James River held q meeting upon the
city tug Thomas Christian, ST" at
o'clock yesterday afternoon. A tour OF
inspection was also made OF the river as
far down as Dutch Gap. Those on board
were Chairman James 7. Vaughan and
Nessrs. ]. r. Montgomery, +. ID. StarNe,
n. Thomas Mosby. 4. A. HARRISON,
Thomas Christian, +. II. Ferguson. w.
II. Curtis, James II. Capers, and Frank
Picot.
After the reading Of the minutes OF
the previous meeting the report OF MI
HARRISON, as a subcommittee 10 present
a statement of the expenses ana pay"
ros. OF the James River Improvement Tor
the months OF January. February, ana
March. 1897. which step was taken simply
10 prevent the department from running
beyond one half of the appropriation ior
this year during the first six months TINS
beng required by the CITY COUNCIL M1S
presented and briefly discussed. Inc
supplemental report of Colonel Cutshaw'
the CITY Engineer, which covered the
month Of April also.
TO PAINT THE TUG.
Mr.. HARRISON offered motion that the
city tug be taken 10 Norfolk 10 be paint
ed, at cost not TO exceed $780, ana Inc
captain TO put of all unnecessary he.p
during the period the tug is away. This
was carried.
Captain Cunningham submitted his re-
port of the operations of the James River
Improvement during the month OF April.
which was received and filed.
The bills and pay-rolls and bills or the
river work. amounting TO $72s.2i, were APP
proved and ordered TO be paid.
1t having been shown that the expenses
and payroll of the plant TO July lst
would probably be a little in excess OF
one half of the years appropriation
which was 5000 Mr. HARRISON moved
that the captain of the tug be required
10 so regulate his payroll and expenses
for this month and June as TO bring the
total for the first six months OF the year
within $500.
GOVERNMENT WILL DO NOTHING.
Clerk Mcdowell then read the follow
fng letter relative TO the efforts of the
committee TO have the government aid
in deepening the channel within Rich
mond harbor, for the purpose of which
n subcommittee was sent to Washington
TO ccafer with the United States Engi-
neers. Senator Martin. and Congressman
John Lamb
Washington. d. c., April 10. 1897.
Messrs. John A. Curtis Warner Moore
j. e. Vaughan. and Edgar Ferguson,
Richmond Va:
Gentlemen,-We enclose herewith a copy
of a letter just received from General
Wilson. Chief of Engineers expressing
the opinion that under the existing laws
the appropriation for the Improvement
of James river cannot be used above
the lire where the city limits cross the
river. We cannot say that this conclu-
sion Of the Chief Of Engineers is with
OF: reason. and we do not see any other
way 10 meet the difficulty except by
change of the law.
In the mex. regular appropriation bill
for the Improvement of rivers and har-
bors. we VII, endeavor to have the change
made. II will be impossible as things
stand now. to have the change made by
a special act Yours very truly.
1Signed) THOMAS g. MARTIN,
JOHN LAMB.
WHAT THE CHIEF ENGINEER SAYS.
Office of the
Chief of Engineers. u. S. Army.
Washington. d. c.
Hon. Thomas S. Martin, United States
Senate:
Sir.-Acknowledging the receipt OF your
letter of 1st instant concerning the i'm
provement of James river at Richmond,
Va. l have TO say in reply mat the
original project for improvement OF
James river proposed to secure depth
of eighteen feet at high tide. or fifteen
feet at mean low tide, from the sea
I'D TO the ship locks at Richmond the
locks being about $3.50 feet above the
lower city limits.
Under this project. narrow snip
channel with a depth Of about fifteen
feet at mean low tide was completed by
the United States in 1884 TO point about
$500 feet aboye the city line.
In 1852 "a project and estimate was sub
mitted for a channel OF twenty-five feet
at full tide from Richmond 10 the mouth
OF the river al a cost OF A,5OOOOO.
The act Of Congress OF July .. 1854,
made an appropriation for this work as
follows:
"Improving James river, Virginia:
Continuing improvements on the plans
for deepening the channel to twenty
two feet at mean low tide, $1,000
of a channel from Richmond TO the
mouth Of the river" The report in TINS
survey states that the term "Richmond'
is construed as meaning the line where
the city limits cross the river, and all
The estimates are based on such line as
the upper limit of work This project
was adopted by Congress in the act OF
July 6, 1884.
The depth of eighteen feet up to the
city boundary has been secured under
the effect project, but under the present
law II does not appear permissible TO
extend such work of increasing depth
above the city limits. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
JOHN NJ. WILSON.
Brigadier- General, Chief OF Engineers,
United States Army.
ASKED TO CHANGE THE LAW.
On motion of Mr.. Guy, the chairman
was directed TO write TO Senator Martin
and CONGRESSMAN Lamb ard request
them to use their efforts to have the
necessary change made in the law when
Congress again considers the rivers and
harbors bill. This was adopted. and the
communications were received and filed.
the committee then adjourned.
The tour revealed that, generally
speakjng. the river was in gratifying con-
dition.