The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-29
ON RIVER BANK.
An Enormous Amount Of Work Was
ECing Done

The substantial progress made by Rich
nond IN every branch OF commercial and
industrial development this past decade
mas not been without few minor side
nsh's IN the way OF petty discomforts
for the past year the ears of the people
nave beeii saluted with the detonations
incidental to the extensive and valuable
Improvements on the river front made by
the contractors for the Richmond viaduct
and terminal work on the Chesapeake and
ONO Viaduct in the rock-ribbed bed of the
river from above First TO Thirtieth Streets
The heaviest firing has been in the bed
OF the old Haxail supply canal, from Sixth
TO twelfth Streets, for the Virginia Flee
tr!cal Railway and Development Company.
other than the death of foreman Tor
the contractors from premature blast
last January, there have been no fata-
ties, and the casualties are the racking
of nerves Of those in the vicinity, and the
breaking Of window-panes and the sudden
and frequent perforations OF the roofs OF
the warehouses adjoining or near the scene
OF the blasting
More recently the 'Tblanketing,'' or
placing of lumber over the point Of the
blast, has prevented the larger stones from
being thrown to any considerable distance.
but a few months $50 stones as large as
fifty pounds were thrown TO Byrd Street,
a distance Of 400 feet from the bed of the
canal.
That more damage has not been done is
very much to the credit of Messrs. Winston
&c Company. the contractors. 1t should be
remembered that the 5000 pounds OF dyna-
mite used on the 5000 cubic yards OF stone
50 far cxcavated, if properly placed, would
demoish Chinas capital city, or if thrown
into the Chinese army, could place hors
de combat several millions of their blood
thirsty warriors
The contractors fire from 50 to 100 shots
per day, and as all Richmonders well know,
concentrate them in the half hour pre-
vious to seven in the morning, after
six in the evening and during the noon
hour, although supplementary discharges
are frequently made at other times.
The Free Bridge IS one of the best places
TO view the operations. The grounds of the
company are posted with this notice:
'.DangerI Keep off these premises Re
peated short whistles mean ready to blast:
two long whistles. safety.
The Chesapeake and Ohio vaduct con-
tractors, in using dynamite in the old
Stag in the vicinity Of the Tr@dsgar
Iron Works, threw the pieces to such dis
lance and in such quantity as to cause
the dwe!Iers in that vicinity to appeal TO
Justice John who on investigation, caused
the contractors 10 revert to ancient pick
and hand labor
The Virginia Electrical Railway and De-
velopment Company is making its own con-
crete blocks on the property at q consid-
cradle saving in time and money.
The walls of their structure are rising TO
the sembIance of some mighty fortress.
The supply canal. when completed will
have been deepened an average of eight
feet and doubled in width. its completed
dimensions being 13x5o feet, or $50 square
feet.
The slight Inconvenience of 1.-The bonn
bardment' will be soon forgotten in the
vast benefits derived from these improve
ments. and the belief in Richmond's capa-
bilities and enterprise that actuated them.