Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-22
TO DYKE THE RIVER.
COL. CUTsBAw EXPLAINS PLAN OF
THE JAMES RIVER COMMITTEE.
CITY COUhCILHEH ENTERTAINED.
They Make n Tour OF the Department
on Barge and Enjoy a Delight
full Repnst-The Proposition Meets
With General Favor.

James River Committee WIS as full OF
surprises as the cornucopIa Of Punchi-
nello. IT took place yesterday afternoon
under the most favorable auspices, and
the very profuse entertainment, which
was concomitant OF the more serious
purpose Of the trip. was very thoroughly
and heartily enjoyed.
The trip down the river was made on
barge moored to the city tug Thomas
Cunningham, sr. On leaving the wharf
of the Virginia Navigation Company the
boat was headed up the river, and Colo
mel Cutshaw, the City Engineer, pointed
out the work accomplished by the de-
partment, and then explained the pur-
poses of the committee.
He called attention to the ship lock and
the wharves, which, nc said, formed a
liked line, since they were as far out in
the stream as they will ever be.
He pointed to the sand bar and said IL
was the purpose of the committee TO
| build a dyke from Shockoe creek TO the
shlp-lock, or pier-head, as ii is sometimes
called This proposed dyke will be a con-
tlnuouS line from the Old Dominion
Wharves TO Shockoe creek. The dyke was
a very important project, and it is pro-
posed 10 obtain the cooperation of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
in bringing rocks down TO the river. and
a channel will then be dredged with the
city dredge. This, said Colonel Cutshaw.
VIII be benefit to the city, because it
will extend the harbor line, and il will
also be a benefit to the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company because it will |
enlarge their property.
REDUCE THE EXPENSE.
1t will, when completed, reduce the ex-
pehses OF the department, for besides |
regulating the width Of the channel the
volume OF water viii keep the sand |
moving after it has been separated from
the rocks. The river will, in fact. do its
own work when this dyke is built, as at
the present time no permanent improve
ment can be made since the sand that is
dredged this year finds it's way back again
next year.
On the other side OF the river il is pro-
posed TO start the dyking at the Dan
vile wharves and construct a bank run
ming parallel with the other.
The work. said Colonel Cutshaw. will
take some years but it should be started
at once. When the dykes were made and
the sand scraped from the boulders at the
bottom of the river, an appeal can be
made TO the United States Government
1t has already been said by the authori-
ties in Washington that if the city would
do its part the government would CO.
operate on a liberal scale Colonel Cut
shaw expressed the opinion that the
government would undertake the heavier
part and would blow the rocks out of the
liver.
The object Of the work was not only to
nave a harbor, but with an eve to the
uture Of the city, to make arrangements !
20 If at any time the expectation of I
making Richmond a ship-building centre
$ likely TO be realized. the condition OF
he river Will be an inducement rather
han hindrance. The works for building
observation-disclosures and smaller craft
night be located here at once, and the
Industry would surely grow. The matter
vas one Of general public interest. he
aid. and when completed the harbor :
would be in every way credita-.e to Rich :
nond. h
COUNCILMEN IMPRESSED. L
Colonel Cutshaw announced that the =
committee on James-River Improvement u
III ask for a small appropriation to be- b
IN the work next year, and will make a
imilar requests each year. a
The councilmen were N-ry favorably i'm
ressed with the suggestion, and a cam
as Of their opinigs showed that, with
ut exception. all favored the beginning s.
{ the work. I,
The committee then entertained their NJ
1ests to delightful repast which was te
realty enjoyed, and the boat was headed az
'r Dutch Gap. but turned about short -.
the goal, and returned to the city at &c
clock 80
Members Of the committee present were co
essrs. curtis chairman Ebel, Dono- is
De, Fl. II. Ellyson, Ferguson, Allison,
nd Crenshaw Jc
From the Board of Aldermen: Messrs. 80 80
ahen, Cutchins, Ferriter, Burton, Law in
r, Smith, Snead, and King.
From the Common Council: Messrs.
amer, Wallerstein. Pollock Gibson,
aake, Ferguson, Mills, Camp, Hobson.
oomberg Peters, Minor, West, Cunst. IT,
eal Cottrell, and Grimes. ni
Among the guests were Messrs. John se
'rtis. harbormaster; Ben. T. august, DR.
ty Clerk; Aft. Mcdowell. committee err
srk; George Ruskell, Sergeant-at-Arms: co
lionel Cutshaw City Engineer; i. Jones. IN
arner Moore, G. Wat. Taylor; II. X. 10
'llard, City Attorney; Carlton MoCar- CO,
" City Accountant and Mayor OKeefe, Tn,
Rockets. OF