Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-13
WORK ON THE JAMES
FEDERAL ENGINEERS BUsILY Es-
Gagged IN PREPARING
PLANS.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOH
Deeper Water and Widening Bots
Proposed.
R,cH1osp PUBLIC BUILDING.
Captain Lamb Proposes to Put the
Ball in Motion for nm Entirely New
structure ON nn Altogether Dis-
ferent site-Narrow Escape of Sir-
stnia Republicans from Lily
Whiteism.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. November L.
(special)-Colonel Allen, the engineer OF
the War Department in charge or the
improvements in the James river Is ous-
i!y engaged in preparing plans tor ths
expenditure of the appropriation OF s5.o.oeu
made by Congress at its last session loe
the James river and the harbor OF Rlcn-
moud. half of the sum to be used In ths
ilarbor and the other half in the river
The plans are soon TO De submitted 70
General Gillespie. chief of engineers, ana
will be passed upon by him. after which
bids for the work will be advertised for
by the War Department. Although the
plans of Colonel Allen are not In shape
to foreshadow in detail. they contemplate.
it may be stated, the deepening or tna
channel of the harbor of Richmond TO 10
fe :. and the securing OF the same deptn
from the city line to what are known as
the rocks. to which point the channel IS
already of sufficient depth to admit OF
large vessels reaching there The entire
de,aiIs OF the plan will be arranged D;
Colonel Allen, who Is now at work On.
ther His purpose is to expend tho
money so as to give deep wa 'r navigsi-
ton all the way to Richmond and In the
harbor of the city. The work will a iso
contemplate the widening of the harf,or,
if there Is sufficient amount OF the appro-
pria ton left to do SO. and II not the work
will be left in such shape as to be easily
resumed for widening purposes. under
further appropriations of Congress- Colo
mel Alien is in hopes of accomplishing
much for Richmond by the expenditure OF
the present appropriation, and will leave
nothing undone to as far as possible aid
in realizing the dreams of the business
men and citizens generally of the city,
as to deep water in the harbor and all
the way out from the city.
Congressman Lamb had an interview
to-day with General Gillespie, and urged
him to begin as speedily as possible tho
work of Improvement. The result of the
interview was request from General Gill
lesrie OF Colonel Allen that the plans be
prepared without any more delay than Is
necessary.
Richmond5s Public Building.
Congressman Lamb had an interview
with Assistant Secretary Taylor, of tina
Treasury Department. relative to the ac-
QUESTION of the Shafer property. adjoin-
ing the present post office site In Rich
mond for the purpose Of enlargfnS the
Federal building there. The public build
ings bill. as passed by Congress at It's
last session. contained the rather queer
provision that the Shafer property. hav-
ing a frontage of sixty feet on Main and
Bank streets, and depth of 100 feet from
feet should be purchased for $4,000. If it
could be bought for that: If not. the
Treasury Department was authorized to
pay as much as $4,000 to acquire tho
property by condemnation proceedings
in the courts. Having learned that the
first appropriation could not secure tina
property and the second would probably
be insufficient also. the Treasury officials
have simply been doing nothing. They
have had some correspondence with MIR.
| ...oncure, the attorney of the Shafer es-
tate. and few days ago had talk
with him personally. but nothing was
done. Congressman Lamb suggested that
action OF some kind be taken so as to
| definitely settle the status of the matter.
/ 1t Is understood that the Treasury De-
| partment now make formal offer of tbs
purchase of the Shafer property for $1,000.
! Expecting this to be refused. negotiations
CONTINUED ON PAGE H.