The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-06
COMMITTEE WENT
DOWN THE RIVER.
A Regular Tour of Inspection Was
Made Yesterday.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR.
The City Engineer Explains His Plans
in Eull-l,emoval OF the Sunken
Barge More Lights aud
Buoys Needed.

The Committee on Improvement OF
James River met on board the city tug
Thomas Cunningham, ST.. yesterday az
ternoon at 8 o'clock and made the first
inspection OF the harbor and river since
the recent ice gorge and freshets. After
boarding the tug, the captain was IL
structed to steam up to the lock gates
of the dock While Off this point the
city Engineer explained in detail TO the
officers of the Chesapeake and ONO kshi-
wav COMPANY and of the ". r.. Trigg
ShipbuHding Company the proposed inn
provements for the harbor In the way
Of dyking.
These improvements have been under
consideration for some little time. and the
committee anticipates a. no late day To
begin operations.
The head of the tug was then turned
down the river. and the harbor and river
as far as Dutch Gap were inspected.
BUSINESS DISPOSED OF.
The committee convened on board the
boat and disposed Of the following items
of business:
The captain Of the tug submitted his
report for tine month Of March wnlch
showed that the department was idle
nearly the entire month so far as dredg-
ing was concerned. caused by the two
freshets during the month. The amount
of work done was the removal OF 900
cubic Yards OF sand. gravel, &c. The
crews of the tug and dredge were engaged
during the high water IN making neces-
sary repairs 10 the property of the de-
partment.
The clerk submitted the following re-
port OF the departments finances: Ap-
Precipitation. sll2j0; expended. N90i.s''
balance. Sl2 25W
The payroll and bills on account OF
March. amounting 10 S50l5, We're ap-
proved an ordered TO be paid.
The captain reported that the bottom
Of the tug needed painting. occasioned
by the work done during the gorge. He
was instructed TO have the same taken
10 Norfolk 10 Doe painted al such time
as tho chairman may think proper and
advisable.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved. that I'm all cases of emer-
cency requiring the service or the CITY 5
tug outside of the harbor limits, That
the same shall be done under the direc-
ton and discretion Of the chairman oil
the committee and captain Of the tug.
g. That all repairs. dykins and other
matters pertaining to repairs of floating
be done under the direction and super
vision of the city Engineer
CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
The committee decided that hereafter
no pay shall be allowed employees OF the
department for time lost on account OF
sickness unless physicians certlncate
shall be presented to the captain and by
him approved.
The city Engineer presented correspond
| ence with Nj. j. W. McCarrick, or the
CLYDE Line steamship Company, as 10 the
difficulty OF operating their boats owing
TO the lack OF buoys and lights at points
along the river IL was decided to COM
munlcate with the National House Board
| AZ Washington and urge that Immediate
attention bee given TO this question.
The old subject of the sunken coal
| barge In the harbor was again consider
| ed and the matter referred 10 the CITY
! Attorney for u4s opinion as 10 the rights
Of the committee TO have the barge re-
moved. The chairman, city Engineer
| harhor master and attorney will meet
| Friday morning and final steps for the
removal of the barge will then be decided
upon.
The members Of the committee present
were. Messrs. Curtis. chairman Allison
| Christian. Donahoe Ebel, Ellyson. Mayer
| and Mosbv. city Engineer CutshaW. SER
! geant-at-Arms Ruskell, Council Commit
tee clerk 4. r. Mcdowell.
| Among the invited guests present were
Nessrs. George W. stevens. general
manager Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
| COMPANY. p b. Isaacs. william X
| Trlgg. Joseph Wallerstein, Harbormastel
| I A. curtis. Thomas J. Starke and a
Archibald cary.