Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-19
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1899.
rHp JA,IEs RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

Tho proximity Of Glasgow to coal and
iron deposits doubtless has been potential
IN her Industrial md commercial growth.
IL is recorded. however that her great
prestige in ship-buiding is due ITO
long line Of highly gifted. ingenious, saga
cious. and energetic citizens, whose in
fluonce has not only been stamped on
local industries. but has been felt and
acknowledged throughout the entire
world"
Notwithstanding natural, and appa-
rently hopeless. conditions adverse to
the building up of an industry SO i'm
portant and remunerative as ship-build-
ing. Il Is within the memory of men now
living that that city has overcome all
obstacles, and gained a position in this
art which is regarded as a matter Of
Imperial consequence and national
pride" supplying in some years about
half tho total tonnage built in the United
Kingdom.
II has become the Industrial metro
polls of Scotland and the most populous
city in Great Britain. next to London; yet
In 1885, when the Town Council of Glas-
gov took up the question of the improve
ment Of the clyde. Smeaton reported the
depth Of water at low-tide as 10 inches
at the western boundary of the harbor,
IS inches within the harbor and at high
water feet s inches and 3 feet inches,
respectively. and the river was forbade
twelve miles below the city.
BY the construction of rubble jetties
axA dredging. in l775 a depth of six feet
81 NV water 500 feet wide was secured.
In 1895 seven 20 eight feet at low-tlde
and twelve feet at hlgh-water had been
gained. In 1910 Parliament passed an
act placing this Improvement under the
Jurisdiction of trustees.
Upon lines then laid down, the work
has progressed UNTIL in 1854. 10 feet OF
depth was gained, I'm 1861 20 feet in 1sG.
al feet, and in 1870 q feet. though vessels
OF this dreught had to leave the city
two or three hours before high-water &c
gs< 20 sea in one tide.
These results, accomplished by the use
of powerful steam dredgers. blasting
tho steam drill. dynamite. and the re
nsoval annually of million and quarte
tons OF material, have given 10 Glasgow
its well earned prosperity.
Up 10 1889 eleven millions sterling has
been expended upon this work, and th'
annual revenues of the city from thi.
harhor, which had been G1,7S3, were, at
that time. GSOo0o9, while the custom
revenues OF the port exceeded fl, 100000
annually.
We have doubtless had sceptlcal mo
ments as to the possibility OF securing
depth OF water TO command the com
merce freighted in the deep draught
large tonnage vessels Of the day. or o
creating a ship-building industry within
our limits.
II these doubts still linger with any o
us. we may quote 10 him the testimon.
recently given in this city by Admira
Melville. and Mr.. Irving Nj. Scott, tn
builder OF the Oregon. that our loca
ton. from a strategical. geographical,
and Typographical point of view. is IN
most central, convenient and impregna
Bile on the Atlantic seaboard for ship
building plants" while our railroads
proximity to coal and iron. and our facili
ties for docking in fresh-water basins
ara most valuable additions, and con
trolling factors in ali such developments
The accurate, jealous. and able secre
tary OF the Chamber OF Commerce. Nil
Richard Dunlop, has recently. under IN
authority OF joint committee of IN
city Council aud Chamber OF Commerce
prepared a pamphlet OF thirteen pages
setting forth facts of great value an
interest upon the subject Of the Jane
siyer Improvement, which should be rea
closely by every citizen in this commu
nity.
Few OF Ms know that, though the pres
eut depth OF the river eliminates iron
our commerce vessels OF present averag
tonnage, the average tonnage per yea
for each mile OF river. Is 6.C55 tons. Will
the entire railway system of the coun
try In 1898 carried but an average pc
mile OF AGO tons. giving an excess DIFF
ference IN favor of the river OF 1886 ton
per milo.
The number OF milos OF railway I'm tn
United States to each 1000 OF inhabi
tants IL 70 6-io. while each % miles o
this river serves the needs of 5000 PEG
PIE. lnasmuch. therefore as the cost o