Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-06
A TRIP ON THE TUG.
JAMES RIVER IMPROVEMENT COM
MITTEE GO DOWN TO DUTCH GAP.
MEETING ON BOARD The BOAT.
Much Business Transacted, and the
improvements Contemplated In the
Stream Made Clear by Col. Cut
shaw-Re freshments Served.

The Committee on Improvement OF
James River met on board the city tug
| Thomas Cunningham, Sr., yesterday af-
ternoon at o'clock, and made its first
inspection of the harbor and river since
the recent ice gorge and freshets. After
boarding the tug the Captain was in
structed to steam up to the lock-gates Of
the dock While off this point the City
Engineer explained in detail TO the Off
GERS OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company and Of the Trigg Ship-Building
Company the proposed improvements for
the harbor In the way OF dyking. These
Improvements have been under conside-
ration for some little time, and the COM
niittee anticipates at 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
was inspected. The committee convened
on board the boat and disposed of many
items Of business. The Captain Of the
tug submitted his report for the month
OF March, which showed that the depart
ment was idle nearly the entire month,
so far as dredging was concerned, caused
by the two freshets during the month.
The amount Of work done was the re-
moval Of 2,i00 cubic yards of sand, gravel,
&c. The crews of the dredge and tug
were engaged during the. high water in
making necessary repairs TO the property
Of the department.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The clerk submitted the following re-
port of the departments finances: APP
preparation, Ni25O; expended, a95L9l;
balance $l2,295O3. The payroll and bills
on account of March. amounting to
$S7715, were approved and 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 boat taken 10
Norfolk TO be painted at such time as
the chairman may think proper and ad-
visable.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved That in all cases of emer-
gency requiring the service Of the city's
tug outside of the harbor limits, the same
shall be done under the direction and
discretion of the chairman Of the COM
mittee and captain Of the tug.
.. That all repairs. dylIing, and other
matters pertaining TO repairs Of floating
property or improvements of the harbor
be done under the direction and supervi-
sion Of the city Engineer.
The committee decided that hereafter
no pay shall be allowed employees Of the
department for time lost on account OF
sickness, unless a physicians certificate
shall be presented to the captain and by
him approved.
BUCYS AND LIGHTS NEEDED.
The city Engineer presented CORE
spondence with Mr. J. w. McCarrick, of
the Clyde-Lne Steamship Company, as to
the difficulty of operating their boats,
owing TO the lack Of buoys and lights at
points along the river. 1t was decided TO
communicate with the National Light
House Board at Washington and urge
that immediate attention be given to this
question.
The old subject of the sunlen coal-barge
in the harbor was again considered, and
the matter referred TO the City Attorney
for his opinion as to the rights OF the
committee to have the barge removed. The
chairman, City Engineer, Harbormaster,
and Attorney will meet Friday morning,
and final steps fCr the removal Of the
barge will then lie decided upon.
The members OF the committee present
were: Messrs. Curtis (chairman Allison, |
Christian. DOnahOe. Ebel. Ellyson. Mayer. |
and Mosby: City-Engineer Cutshaw, Ser
Ruskell. Council-Commit- |
tee-Clerk a. II. Mcdowell.
Among the invited guests present were: |
Messrs. George w. Stevens, general man. |
ager Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Com !
pany; +. b. Isaacs, William r. Trigg. Jo-
seph <Wallerstein, Harbormaster j. A.
Curtis. Thomas j. Starke and T. Archi-
bald Cary.