The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-11
HOW RICHMOND
WOULD PROFIT |' {! 1
What the James River improvement.
Means to This City.
VISIT OF HOUSE COMMITTEE Nj i ::
Representatives Of National Govern
mcnt will Come Here and Learn
What is Needed 10 Encourage
Com M rec.

It Is expected that the House Commit
tee on Rivers and Ha1'bors will visit this
city on March 18th, and according to
present plans spend three days in learn
ing what Improvements the James River
should have. The committee will arrive
In this city one day and go down the river
from Richmond to Newport News the next
day. They will return by rail to Rich
mond the day following. and will be.
shown about the city.
As yet, however. the day has not been
definitely fixed upon, but will be within
a Short time. At that time they will be
the guests Of the city and will make the
hontas.
1t is stated that about S15Oo00 yet re-
main unexpended out of the appropria-.
ton of last year. The city Of Richmond
appropriates about $4,000 to harbor I'M
provement. but this sum would be in
creased proporionatcly, it is understood,
were the national government to make an
appropriation sufficient to give this city
proper outlet to the sea and improve
the navigable partitions Of the James.
TERRIrORY AFFECTED.
The cities OF Richmond and Manchester,
practically Que business community,
would be directly benefited, but not alone
them, as a much larger class in Virginia,
West Virginia, kentucky, Tennessee and
North Carolina, having now an aggregate
population estimated at $3.50, 900. would
also be affected, many of the citizens OF
the States finding market for their pro-
ducts and buying manufactured articles
and merchandise which may be secured
at Richmond or at markets which may be
reached via Richmond and the James. In
addition to this T. should also be reme1n-
bered that in addition to the tonnage
handled on the river, its influence in reSu-
ladun OF railroad rates extends to All inn
portant degree and wide extent in deter
mining many questions relating TO tref-
&c to and from Virginia.
Some idea can bo gained of what the
James River Improvement means to this
city when It is borne in mind that the
various manufacturing establishments In
IRA o1n1ond give employment to approx
Snately 10000 men and turning out pro
ducts to the value of over s335.O0o, 000 From
August /. 1893. to August l. 1S99 the total
number Of vessels entering the port of
Richmond was 1o23. but the value to
commerce of tho river is measured by its
tonnage. and this is greatly restricted
by the lack of deep water, and where
Improvement has been made in some other
instances The increase in a few years has
amounted to several hundred per cent
WHAT RICHMOND NDEDS.
:. What Richmond needs is a harbor that
will be able to accommodate the modern
freight carrier. and to do this channel
OF q foot depth at mean low tide is re-
quared. According to present plans 1t is
proposed that this depth be allowed. and
that the width of the channel should be
between Newport News and City Point
400 feet;-between City Point and Drewry's
Ruff, 800 feet, and between Drewry's
Bluff and Richmond, 200 feet. A basin is
proposed for Richmond harbor.
OF GREATEST BENEFIT
This river Improvement together with
the Improvement of Richmond flarbor
would prove OF inestimable benefit to this
city. One salipbuilding plant is already
established, others and kindred industries
would soon follow in the wake Of river
Improvement
The uttorances of Admiral Melville and
President Irving NJ. Scott, OF the Union
Iron Works. San Francisco. fully sus-
tain any and ell claims made with
respect to the Importance of the James
River and its facilities at Richmond for
shipbu:ldins.