The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15
Gap c,,t-off IA a sure Indication OF the
success which would be achieved Should

Gap cut-off Is sure indication Of the
success which would be achieved Should
the others be attempted.
TABLE III.
,r, Dsta !. , Approx s,,s cost.
cutoff bend. Miles 27-foot
Devils Reach 90 I'll liz 1897 900.
Turkey Isl'd. o.s 80 s.s $4,000
Burwell's Bay 90 ~ 21 cls,ooo
Totll .....7.2 so.e 1874 sI,s53,ooo
Were all these cut-offs made the
distance from Richmond to Newport
News would be S71-2 miles by water,
against as miles by rail.
sells after they arrive at Richmond, g.,
the second inherent rcason. 4 made
several years ago q very careful study
of the problem. The results were EN-
Mr.. W. II. Adams before the twenty
second meeting of the American Socic-
ty Of Mechanical Engineers, The
meeting was held in Richmond. Mr.
Adams concluded as follows.
cannot do better than quote
freely from the able articles which have
been. written by Mr.. Burgwyn on the
special subject of the inland basin to
be located on the west bank of the
James River at Richmond.
"There are few localities in the
world where the water facilities or
frontage are better While the pres
two. feet at low water, 1t is quite prac-
teal. within reasonable limits as to
cost, to obtain channel thirty feet
deep at low water from tho. sea ns
Drewry's Bluff the project is to have
lock gates. and n basin and canal fed
by water from the James River. AS q
series of basins could be constructed
n MI fypttt 1,S fttl Inc nj
the excavated materials upon the
levees between them and the river, and
as the level OF the water In the. canal
at Manchester is just about what is
in the grand basin, above low tide in
1.-THE river. 1t follows that tho construc-'
ton Of such basins are feasible, are
economical and are possessed of many
charged from the opening of the locks
can be utilized in charging hydraulic
examinations, storage batteries and
for other purposes. The level of the
in the river, dry docks can be con-
structed which will empty themselves
by gravity, While the water in running
out can be utilized for many purposes.
The water in the high level basins
will also afford n cheap power for
manufacturing purposes.
- around such basins, elevations
can be constructed with the necessary
packets. etc, can also be provided for.
Back of these basins model homes can
be constructed for artisans, mechanics
and laborers. and upon the level pla-
niflcent size, discharging its sewage
under the basins into the river, where
1t would be carried without further
trouble or cost.
study of the Maps.
"'"Careful considera ton is called to
shown in detail how such a plan is
feasible, how readily 1t can be carried
out. and what a legacy nature has
bestowed upon the locality. BY an
examination of the profile of the chan
mel of the James River it would he
seen that the carrying of the depth
to thirty feet at low tide will in al
most all instances merely necessitate
the cutting through of mud bars. The
mud in these bars is so soft that iron
rods have been run into them. sinking
from fifteen 10 twenty feet into the
mud, simply from their weight. The
procuring of depth of thirty feet at
low tide instead of Twenty-Five feet,
the present plan, would require the re-
moval of only about t29,0G0,0OO cubic
yards of material. BY skilfully locat-
ing brush dykes these channels. once
obtained. can he maintained at little
cost on account of the securing. action
OF the tidal currents. With high level
basins, as above described. and with
a highway to the sea of thirty feet at
low tide, it is held. as proved, that
Few localities surpass the county of
| Chesterfield in its physical location as
regards deep water transportation. 1t
is stated that at the Panama Canal
the machines have moved since the LIST
of January. 1888, material at the rate
of a million and a half cubic yards
per month. At this rate 1t would take
less than two years to make the ex-
cavation. Material of this nature in
the vicinity Of Norfolk has been let
to contract as low as ten cents per
cubic yard. 1t is believed that this
extra depth can be procured at a cost
of $4,000, 00O"
Table showing number of vessels of
given tonnage accommodated per acre
Of dock area:
No. of No. of
vessels vessels
Tonnage. per acre. Tonnage. per acre.
100 40 $50 60