The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-01
GOOD .'E!: !: S, ]! !. T !
TALKED .[O. DEATH.
Congress Expected to Adopt APP
pomattox Diversion Scheme.
THE PLAN FULLY ENDORSED.
Tie Shipping from Petersburg Has Grown
to Large Proportions, and by Diverting
Freshet Water Good Depth
Can B. Maintained.

Gan BE Maintained.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)
PETERSBURG, VA, November 30
| There is every reason to believe that the
next Congress will make an appropriation
| for the improvement of Appomattox, un-
less some Carter, or. wellington appears
upon the stage in the closing hours of
Congress to talk to death ...e River and
Harbor Bill. Diligent work had been
done toward securing this appropriation
I at the last Congress and through the eff
forts of the Virginia congressman and
| the untiring work of Senator Martin, a
| bill authorizing the appropriation of $780,
| OC0 for the AppomattoX river improvement
| was incorporated in the River and Har-
Dor Bill. Sepator Carter, OF Montana,
| for personal political reasons, associated
with him Senator Wellington and the
! two talked the bill to death It was
Carter who was speaking when the hour
| came for Congress to adjourn. His act
| in thus defeating the bill was considered
! inconsistent with the dignity Of a United
| States Senator and his Legislature three
days afterwards repudiated it by electing
another Senator to fill his position. His
| speech, made for personal political rea-
sons, caused a deadlock in the State Leg
The name of Wellington, of Maryland,
has recently become well-known through
out the Union.
FULLY ENDORSED
The annual report of the Chief of En-
gineer, just made, contains favorable re-
ports upon the proposed appropriation. In
the report Of James B. Quinn, major
Corp of Engineers, is a letter written to
Major Quinn by prominent citizens of
Petersburg setting forth briefly the plans
and the reasons for the proposed i'm
provements. The purpose is to divert the
freshet water just above Appomattox
bridge, carry it to James River through
the old channel and prevent any sand
or mud from accommodating in the river
from Petersburg to James River. BY do
ing this a depth Of water equal to or
greater, if necessary, than that at Harri-
sons Bar in James River can be secured
and vessels Of the largest size would be
able to come to the harbor in Petersburg.
Captain Carter R. Bishop Captain N. T.
Pattesor. Jr., Bartlett Roper and Charles
Hall Davis in their letter to Major Quinn
| set forth the fact that the internal revenue
receipts for Petersburg amounted to 81
| 900, 0t0; that fifteen million pounds of leaf
| tobacco are received each year: that ten
| million pounds of tobacco are nanufactur-
! ed and eight million pounds Of this are
/
! cent. of the total amount of manufac-
| tured tobacco exported from the entire
| United States; that twelve hundred trunks
and fifteen hundred travelling bags and
! cases are made in Petersburg daily; that
| this is the Spanish peanut market of the
world, and the crop is valued at over
| 100000; that twenty thousand tons Of
| guano are shipped each year and ten
| thousand bales of cotton are consumed by
| rGr Of iS 81,
| ped to China; that the granite supplies
are inexhaustiblc; and the ship building
! 'as now become one of the industries, and
the present shipment Of fifty million feet
| Of lumber per year could be doubled if
largo vessels could reach the wharves.
! Or the hundred and thirty-six different
manufacturing enterprises in Petersburg,
| lumber is the only product that finds its
outlet by water. The thousands of shot
md shell manufactured here for the Gov
| eminent are shipped by rail.
| TO DETECT THE SAND.
| Major Quinn, in his report to Brigadier
| General John NJ Wilson. Chief of Engi-
| ncers, strongly urged the proposed in
| provement. In it he says The Apo
| mattox River at Petersburg forms the
harbor, and the difficulties attending it's
maintenance are due to volumes of sand
| deposited by every freshet.' He recon-
! mends that dam be constructed at the
! bridge of such height that even extreme
| floods may be DETECTED
| Major Quinn has been favorable to inn
| provement ever, since the matter was
brought to his attention. and he has been
| enc of the most persistent workers in its
| behalf
P. C. Hams, colonel. Corp of Engineers,
| in his report says: This plan of defect
/ ing the upper water of the river near
Petersburg Is feasible, and will. in my
| Judgment, ameliorate the existing con-
| ditions'' and he further says that opera
| lions could be carried on more eSpedl-
| tiously if the amount appropriated is suf-
fcient to allow the work to go on prompt
/ ly without Interruption He adds that
the stream is worthy ofimprovement, and
| recorm ends that the work be done
! John NJ. Wilson, acknowledgements. Chief
of Engineers, in his report to the Secre-
/ tary of War, recommends that the local
engineer ioe directed to prepare a plan
and estimate the costs Of Improvement.
Elihu Root, Secretary of War, approved
the report as recommended by Chief
! oftEngineers Wilson.
RAPID IMPROVEMENT.
l Major Quinn, in his report to- Engineer
Wilson,, says:
THE city of Petersburg is improving
rapidly. and is more and more feeling
the necessity of having water: Transport
taClOn Tor any arLlcleSf winch are pro-
| duced in its vicinity. There is q large
amount of lumber under present adverse
conditions. and this business would be
greatly benefited by better facilities than
those now offered. The granite quar-
ries in the vicinity would be greatly bene-
flied and the manufacturers would also
be greatly favored. A shipyard is al
ready under course of construction. and
TO such an institution navigable water is
celf-ayidpnt necessity,
Food Values.