The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-22
TO Divert CHANNEL
OF APPONATTOX RIVER
Delegation Before Rivers and
Harbors Committee.
U.R G.E.D APPROPRIATION
Want Two Hundred Thousand
Dollars to Expend on Work.
WERE GIVEN CAREFUL HEARING
Senator Martin and Representatives Lassiter
aud Swanson We're With the Committee
and Spoke in Behalf OF the Scheme.
hir. Burton Piled Dele.
CATION With Ques
! tious.
WEREGIVEN CAREFUL HEARING
(snccial Dispatch to The Times.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. GA dele
CATION from Petersburg was given d near
ing this morning before the House Com
{m1ttce on Rivers and JIarbors in the in
tercsts of the improvement of the Apo
mattox River. The delegation consisted
OF State Senator Robert Cabaniss, Cen
eral Etith Boiling, j. E. Rockwell. r. II.
su;liln James In. LlulcK, 1Ai1reo trlenu,
Jr. Bdrtlclt Roper, w. II. Saur, N. il
l.altcSon anu senator Martin, and Repre-
Sen,aIlyeS LaSSlter and swanson were
present at the nearing anu spoke IN be-
nalf of the interets of PetersburS.
me cnlct speakers from petersburg
We're Senator McIiwainc and Mr.. Bishop
and their able pleauinSS were listened TO
most attentively by Chairman burton and
the remainder Of the comnnttee. These
gentlemen dwelt on the feasibility of the
present plan, as endorsed by Major
quinn and Colonel Haynes, of the en-
snecr corps and stated that in asking
an appropriation of two hundred thou-
sand dollars they were gong below the
estimate of Major Quinn, VINO had named
two hundred and sixty thousand as the
amount necessary to make the desired
diversion of the -AppomattoX at Peters
burg.
Mr. Burton and several other mcnbe
Of the River and Darbor Committee ptle.i
the visitors with questions in regard to
their case. Among other things, Mr. Bur
ton asked what effect the work done III
the past had produced upon the river,
and to this Mr.. Bishop replied that while
Colonel Haynes says the river is no bet
ter to-day than it was before, the work
was begun, he himself believed, that, al
though the system of jetties had proved
a failure, the work done i'll the past had
brought matters to q condition from
which with tho two hundred thousand
dollars asked Petersburg could carry
them on to the desired point. II the work
of the past had not been done, a great deal
larger appropriation than the one asked
would be necessary
MISTAKEN POLICY.
Continuing, Mr.. Bishop said that for
twenty-five years d mistaken policy had
been pursued in the river work, but that
now that the originator Of that plan had
ceased to have control over the work,
and that new men were in who approved
of the new project Of diverting the stream
above the city, he felt that if the Gov
ernment would give Petersburg two hum
dred thousand dollars she would be able
to take care of the river always.
Mr.. Burton then asked him if the dele
CATION was prepared to promise that If
this appropriation were given the city of
Petersburg would never ask for any
thing more Senator McIlwaine imme-
diately replied that they had no authori-
ty to make any such promise nor to bind
the people Of Petersburg to any such
agreement. The delegation all expressed
the opinion, however, that under ordi-
nary conditions and in the face of gene
raj contingencies Petersburg could take
care of the channel once it was put in
proper order.
MONEY EXPENDED.
Mr.. Burton also asked that a state
ment of moneys expended by Petersburg
OH the river be placed before the COM
mittee. Mr.. Bishop said he would see
that such statement was sent. Mr..
McIlwaine stated that Petersburg had
been spending between three and five
thousand dollars a. year on this work
and was prepared to continue doing so.
Mr.. Burton asked how these funds
were raised, whether by general taxa
ton or by special assessment against
property on the river. Mr.. McIlwalne re-
piled that the whole amount was raised
by direct taxation.
Senator Martin then addressed the
committee, calling attention to the ship
ping Importance of Petersburg, and
touching upon the hard struggle its peo
pie had had since the war. He said he
knew of no more meritorious claim that
could be presented to the committee than
that of Petersburg.
Mr.. Swanson spoke also drawing atten-
ton to the fact that Petersburg was a
great tobacco export point, and that it
was the water terminus of two rail
roads-the Atlantic Coast Line and the
Norfolk and Western