The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-20
new DRE.DGE TO Be
PURCHASED QUICK
James River Improvement Com
mittee Takes important Action.
INsTRUcTs CITY ENGINEER
Colonel Cutshaw Will Take Immediate
ST. ps Looking to Construction of
the New Dredging ECU pment.
O.her Important MATTERS.

At meeting of the James River I'M
prove1nent Committee last night, after
much time had been killed and lot OF
talk INDUCED In, the City Engineer was
instructed to take steps looking to the
Immediate letting of the contract for the
construction of dredging pant, to be
used in the hal Dor. The equipment it not
to cost over s3S,D0, the amount appro-
priated by the City Council for this spe-
ci1iC purpose
In taking this action last night the
committee passed upon q matter OF vital
importance to the merchants of the city,
and one in which nearly every citizen is
deeply interested, for it msans much to
the shipping interest Of Richmond. The
harbor Will be cleanSed Of the accunlua-
ton of mud and sand, which has lately
flied in so rapidly as to make the situa-
ton alarming.
Present at the meeting last night were:
". H. Curtis (ciairman), e. II. Fergus
son, A L. Phillips and Gilbert *. Pol
lock, from the City Council; Messrs. l..
D. Crenshaw, Jr., E. L. D. Myers, Jr.,
John F. Mayer. Virgnius Newton and
Z. D. StarSe
OPPOSED TO ADVERTISING.
Much time was used up and much de-
bate precipitated among the members,
when Councilman Pollock offered a reso-
luton instructing the City Engineer to
advertise for bids and specifications for
the dredging plant A majority of the
members were opposed to any advertls-
ing, thinking that the matter could be
bstter attended to by letters to the moro
reputable builders of such equipment.
This idea finally prevailed.
Under the instructions forwarded to
the City Engineer by the committee, he
will take up by letter with the better
known dredge manufacturers the con-
s,ruction Of {, combination dipping and
pumping dredge, suitable for dumping
refuse upon the shore. This variety is
regarded as the best that could be used
in the James River harbOr, although it
is still possible that a slightly different
Plant may be ordered.
II is estimated that it will require at
least five months in which to complete
the equipment after tbs contract
awarded, and this sill be Goae at the ear:
ilesl pracLcaule date. In other WoIu
it will be fully q half year bSfore the
condition Of the harbor receives any
great Improvement at the hands OF the
city.
MAY RENT THE TUG.
Another matter of more or less impor-
lance passed upon by the committee was
recommending to the City Council that
the committee be authorized to charter
the city tug, Thomas Cunningham, ST.,
at a II times when she is not IN active use
by the city. In the meantime. there VIII
be posted in the Office of Assistant United
States Engineer S. II. Young a small
piacard, notifying all bidders for gov
crnment contracts that the tug may be
rented or chartered at reasonable cost.
This was authorized by the committee,
who have every reason to expect favor
able consideration from the Council OF
their recommendation to lease the tug.
This matter was brought up by Mr.
E. T. D. Myers, Jr., and Mr.. z. H Fer
gusson. acIt was; shown that until the
new dredging plant has been completed
and turned over. to the city, the city will
have practically nc use for the tug and
there was no good reason advanced why [
during this time some revenue mlSht not
be derived from her.
Before either of these matters We're dis
posed Of however. AIR. Young, the gov
eminent engineer, was heard from in re- |
gard to the need Of the government of /!
certain land in the vicinity Of Dutch |
Gap. He said that should the city plu-
chase three acres on the left bank of the |
river great improvement could be eff |
fected by the. government contractors. lie |
added that he was not making this state |
ment as a representative of the govern
ment, but said that it was usually the |
policy in such cases to make such i'm |
provement only after the title to property |
had been acquired by the government.
When the committee was called to or |
der by Chairman Curtis. it was evident |
that their proceedings would be slow. |
and careful. the sea thing |
criticism of the Health Committee by the |
chairman of the Finance Committee no |
doubt being fresh in the minds of every
member.
WASTED MUCH TIME
Even before the minutes of a previous |
meeting had been approved. there was
a halt in the proceedings. Mr.. Turpfn |
making a careful inquiry into the expendi- |
ture OF certain money, which was eX-
planned satisfactorily to him by Mr.. Cur |
It's It seems that in selling the old dredge |
for $3.50. an expense Of sl02 was incurred
and this struck Mr.. Turpin as being
ra Their excessive.
For an hour or more members debated !
a proposition which had been brought be-
fore them. finally taking test vote to
ascertain just where the body stood |
learning to their establishment that all
We're Of the same opinion.
During the course Of the meeting Mt |!
Turpin asked to know if during the FIVE |
months in which the dredging plant was |
being constructed, the city tug was to |
be keot in commission at an expense cf |
over $500 month. 1t was on this that |
SO much time and talk was wasted
It was finally decided that the tug
should by all means be kept in commits
sion with a full staff of officers and en-
ployes. This same question was decided
at a previous meeting of the committee