Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-03
TO Dixie THE JAMES.
COL. CUTsHAw EXPLAINS HIS PLANS
ron DEEPENING THE CHANNEL.
TRIP YESTERDAY ON THE CITY TUG
Omcers of the william II. Trixg
tce-To Visit Washington.

mo committee on JameS-RlFer lfu-
provement Of the City Council made an
other OF its trips down the river yester-
day afternoon on the city tug Thomas
Cunningham, Sr, and had as their guests
the officers of the William r. Trigg Ship
Building Company. The trip'was in every
way a most beneficial one, and at the
same time Il was fraught with much
pleasure for those so fortunate as to be
in the party.
Colonel w. e. Cutshaw, the City En-
gineer, was on hand, and entertained the
members OF the committee and theii
guests with an explanation of what is
proposed to be done in the way Of deep
ening the harbor of the James. He had
blue print Of a drawing made in his Of
flee, showing the proposed improvements
and this he explained in detail TO the edi-
fication Of his listeners.
Dixie THE RIVER.
The boat was first headed pp stream
and ran up as high as the lower gates Of
The old James river and Kanawha canal
and from that point Colonel Cutshaw
pointed out the line 10 be followed by the
improvements. 1t is proposed TO dixie the
river with piles filed in with stone on
either side, so as to narrow the chdnnei
and force the water TO flow faster, ana
thereby wash out the bed OF the river.
The dixie on the north side is to be con-
structed from the point OF land at the
.Ower gates of the canal westward 10
point Immediately in rear OF Warner
Moore's plant near Mayo's Bridge. Inc
ell e, tn cfa NJ ntFa
down, and run up to point opposite the
lower end Of Mayos bridge.
This Colonel Cutshaw says will give a
normal depth OF eight feet, which can at
very little cost be increased to sixteen.
He thinks, too, that If the city will take
the initiative and construct these dikes.
the United States Government can be very
easily induced to spend a large sum In
deepening the channel here. He has fig-
ured extensively on the subject, and says
that the expenditure Of a million OF dol
lars will so deepen the channel of the
James that ship as large as the battle
ship Oregon can easily be floated here.
DOWN THE STREAM
Colonel Cutshaw was given absorbing
attention by the gentlemen present, and
his claims that the James can be made
navigable for vessels Of large draught
was a great surprise to all, and impressed
them very vlsibly. After the matter had
been fully discussed the tug was turned
round and the party was given trip
down the river as far as Chatsworth
Farm. The committee had made ample
preparation for the entertainment OF its
guests and a delightful dinner, with an
abundance Of liquids TO wash IL down,
was served on board.
The committee held a short session ou-
ring the trip and transacted considerable
business. The monthly report OF the
captain Of the city tug was received. 1t
showed the operations OF the department
for the past month, and set forth lhat
3 200 cubic yards of river bottom had been
dredged and three large rocks had been
removed from the channel. Bills and pay
rolls. amounting to $S16.23. were ordered
to be paid, and financial exhibit show
ing that the department had expended
S7.31729 of its annual appropriation or
$1,000 was read.
COMMITTEE TO GO TO WASHINGTON
The remarks Of Colonel Cutshaw were
considered by the committee. and on
motion of Mr.. Crenshaw a subcommittee
of four was appointed to go to Washing
ton in the near future and endeavor to
have the appropriation for the improve
ment Of James river, from the head OF
navigation down, increased. This com
mittee will consist of Messrs Curtis,
Crenshaw, Ellyson, and Mosby, and these
gentlemen will be accompanied to the
national capital by Colonel Cutshaw.
The boat reached her wharf in this city
ere the committee adjourned, and the tuy
was soon deserted, though all had spent
a most enjoyable afternoon. Those who
went on the trip were Messrs. w. +.
Trigg. E. T. d. Myers, Jr., Lilburn 7.
Myers. William c. Preston, +. b. lsaacs,
Robert S. Bosher John A. Curtis, Stroth-
er Smith, j. u. Mcdonald, Coles Col
lier of New York. j. A. Nelson of Wash
ington, Thomas Starke. ]. T. Vaughan,
j. Jordan Leake. Colonel w. r. Cutshaw,
G. c. Ruskell, A. II. Mcdowell. and Com
mitteemen William II. Curtis, w. II. ALI
son. Thomas Christian, Lewis d. Cren-
shaw, p. II. Donahoe, II. Theodore Ely
son, Edgar Ferguson, T. A. HARRISON,
John F. Mayer, T. f. Mccarthy, and n.
T. Mosby.