Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-22
WEDNESDAY ....... MARCH %, 1899.
RECENT FREsuETS HERE.


noteworthy as having been The year when
the capitol disaster" took place when q
great freshet swept away Mayo's bridge.
and when the Spotswood Hotel was de-
stroycd by fire.
There was a bigger food in the James
In 1871. but il did not do as much damage
as was done 10y that Of seven years before
The numerous bridges throughout the
State which were washed away in 70 had
been rebuilt at greater height from the
streams they crossed. and I'm many other
respects the public was better prepared
to meet the trouble than it had previously
been.
We have had many freshots in the
James since 1877, but none to compare
with that in greatness of volume This
season there have been no less than four
rises Of the river, which intcrfered with
business here and entailed losses upon ;he
residents OF the lowest portions of The
city.
Willie our people are now usually fore
warned Of the coming of high water, and
while our merchants and others have
learned much wisdom from experience, it
cannot be denied that the fresAe.s Gre
sources Of much discomfort and less.
Happily most of our city is built upon
high hills, far beyond the reach Of any
high water, but along the river front and
along Shockoe and Gillic's creeks the in
undations are ever fruitful of mischief.
season, we may not have another for
ytars-aud then. again, We may have am
other in a few weeks. Who knows? We
may. therefore ask ourselves more seri-
ously than ever before, Can nothing be
done to avert these interruptions and in
juries to business? Is there no help
for us?
OF old our city did not suffer in this way
asimuch AZ II does now. What has caused
the change? Is it true that the destruc-
ton OF the forests in the up-country lets
the water down upon us with a sudden
ness not before known? or, is IL that the
bed of the river has been oncroached
upon too much at Richmond by walls and
''nlls" Of earth2
As to The former theory, as d theory.
We may accept II as established by the
observations of scientists; but are We
quite sure that as much Virginia land as
IS generally believed has been barred of
trees? Undoubtedly, the great forest trees
have been thinned out. but is it not a fact
that thousands OF acres of worn-out lands
are growing up in pines and oaks? These
new growths may not shelter the ground
quite as much as tho original forests did.
but they cannot be without good effect.
AS TO the second question: Here at
certainly. the river has been
greatly encroached upon. For half a cen
tury this encroachment has been going on
steadily on both shores. but particularly
on the Richmond shore The river no
longer has the area 20 spread over that
it formerly had. The result must be that
the water rises 10 a greater height and
backs 10 corresponding level In Shockoe
and Giilie's creeks.
For century or more the chief bust.
ness Of Richmond was carried on in the
OF the old Market, and we
must presume that floods were then OF
very rare occurrence. otherwise the mer-
chants would not have preferred tnat 10
cality. OF one of two things We may be
that the rivers volume did
not then swell as much as it does now. or
that having more ground 20 spread over
the river inflicted less damage than II
does now
An inquiry into the causes Of the great |
rises here may be useful TO us in de- |
Nising a remcdy-for a remedy we surely !
ought TO seek. There is a widespread |
opinion that our city would do well 10 /
make a SORT Of levoe with which a. ward 1
on such foundations as We have had this !
year. But we doubt ~ those who favor this I
method OF dealing with the evil take into 4
account the existence OF the ,vo creeks. I
the waters OF which must ind an enuy /
into the river here. II n0odgaies were
placed a, their mouths 10 stop the Inflow
OF the river those same gates Would |
stop The outlet Of the waters e.. he
creeks-and we all know that al times tho
volumes coming down them are immense
enough 20 deal destruction las ANA w.de.
u their outlets were closed. ,
The witE Is that the problem, Is a,cerv
difficult and complex one We lave 10
consider The city's financial condition. W.
nave to reckon The cost In comparison