The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-17
GREAT ACTIVITY
IN BUSINESS
What the Report of the POstOfice
Department Shows.
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT
The Engineer i'm Charge Makes Re
port-Plans for jamestown
Island-Deepening Of
the Channel,

WASHINGTON. oct. 16.-Special-The
report Of the POstoflice Department for
the fiscal year ending June 80 1899. WILL
when issued, show a marked increase In
the business transacted at nearly all OF
the larger offices in the United States.
In no section Of the country have the re-
ceipts been larger than in the Southern
States. The postofices in Virginia all
show a decided Improvement over the
fiscal year OF 1898. According TO statisti-
cal and Industrial experts. there is no
better way Of determining the condition
Of country than by a careful study Of
the postal receipts.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY.
An Increase in the postohice receipts OF
a particular locality is always regarded
as an Indication Of business activity ana
prosperity The following table will
show the receipts and expenditures Of
the two larger Offices In Virginia for
the past fiscal year, as compared with
1895:
Receipts
1899. 1895
Richmond 80. .......$23o5i2 SC S223A3 %
Norfolk ...... ........ 1o6,964 % ss05 %
Expenditures
richmond $500. ......St5tti ID >'-'"-f 'V
Norfolk. ..... ..... 40. l6l 20 1925 -
The increased percentage shown 10y
the Richmond and Norfolk offices is MAIN
tanned throughout the State. A careful
study Of the entire report further shows
g. na fl.sfl al
receipts increased more than i'm Virginia.
The report of Colonel Charles j. Allen,
engineer officer In charge of the James
river Improvements. for the month OF Sep
TENDER. has been received at the War
Department The amount expended dur
ing the past month was $l2n.73, which
was used principally in the hire Of help
and in making repairs TO the tus-boat
employed in the work of improving the
river.
DEEPEN THE CHANNEL.
In his report Colonel Allen points out
that the work remaining 10 be done uu-
der the general project is the enlargement
of the channel from Richmond city line
to Drewry Bluff from its present dimen-
sions 20 a width Of 90 feet and depth
of p feet at mean low tide the enlarge
ment Of the channel in seven shoals and IN
Dutch Gap cut OFF TO 300 feet width with
depth of p feet. and the enlargement
I'm six shoals I'm hfty-seven miles below
city Point 10 400 feet width with a depth
of = feet. The work remaining 20 be done
under the present appropriation is the
completion of the 1S-f0ot channel, 100 feet
wide from ietty b 10 the lower city line
Of Richmond. widening the B-foot chan
mel TO 80 feet through Goodies Rock ana
Richmond bar. repairing jetues and con-
structing n dixie on the right shore imme-
diately below Dutch Gap canal In speak
ing Of the condition of the river Colonel
Allen says:
"The available depth for navigation at
mean low tide IS 1S-feet from the sea 90
about 500 feet below the city lire OF Rich
mond and IS feet at high tide to the city
line"
COMMENCE SOON.
The work as contracted for, according
10 the general project, will be commenced
a soon as the contract let TO +. Sanford
Ross Is signed and approved.
No immediate improvements are con-
templated at the present time I'm the York
river. as according 20 the report Of the
engineer officer I'm charge Of that water
way. the ruling depth is sufficient for
navigation.
The available funds 10 be used I'm i'm
proving the Rappahannock river will be
applied TO dredging at Fredericksburg
and Pollock bars and 10 the construction
and repairs Of bikes az Fredericksburg.
The engineer officer i'm charge of James
town Island will devote the next month
in experimenting as to how best 20 protect
the shore of the island from being washed
away By the river.
The following forth-Class pOstmasters
were to-day appointed for Virginia:
At Chestnut Level. Pittsylvania coun-
~. r. . Thompson vice J. ID. Tyler. re-
signed: at Mount Gllead, Loudoun county,
q. =. Leckey vice W. r. CATER, resigned.