The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-12-09
.RAPPAHANN0Ck
RIVER
Improvement Of the hannels by
u. 5 Government
OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION

formation in reference TO improvements
to the Rappahannock river from the re-
port of the chief of engineers to the
secretary of war, for year ending June
30, 1909. Dam
hammock river is generally VIDE anu
deep body of water, having the charac-
teristics of tidal estuary rather thah
of fluvial stream.
The distractions to navigation before
Improvement was undertaken consisted
of 9 bars in the upper portion OF the
river between Tappahannock and FRED
ericksburg, over which the ruling
DEPTHS were from i to 10 ID IT. Seven OF
the bars were in the II IL miles OF the
river below Fredericksburg. or these
bars Fredericksburg bar, with least
depth of 4 feet, and Spottswood bar,
miles below Fredericksburg, with
least depth of 6 feet, caused the most
DELAY to steamboats, and vessels.
The project for this Improvement
modified in 1905, provides for securing
a channel II feet deep and 100 feet wlde
between Fredericksburg and Port Royal
and II feet deep and POO feet wide be
tween Port Royal and the mouth OF the
river, this result to be obtained py
dredging and the construction oil diKes,
the latter being also designed TO secure
the eXcavated material deposited behlhu
them.
The total estimated cost Of the re-
vised project was 1868, Us. 80, exclusive
of work properly chargeable TO NAM
tenance and estimated IN 1909 TO cost
$3S, 500. The project on which TINS es-
innate was based was adopted by Con
gress by act approved March z, 1917.
This act authorized an expenditure oil
SOC. 900 i'm excess of the amounts there
in and Heretofore appropriated. THIS
makes the limit of cost of the revised
project $393, 633. II, including all neces-
sary work properly chargeable to nam
tenance on June 80. 1907. The contract
authorization of 500, 900 has since been
appropriated The estimated annual
cost for further maintenance 10 SlO, OOO.
The expenditure has resulted IN the
completed improvement of band in the
partial improvement Of seven bars be
tween Fredericksburg and the mouth
of the river by means of dredging and
rock excavation, construction OF bikes,
and removal of two wrecks winch OBJ
structed navigation. About l,OJs, 90
cubic yards of material has been dredg-
ed, 1887 cubic yards of rock excavated,
80, 1876 linear ft.of dikes constructed, =
290 linear feet of dikes repaired, 9l5
linear feet Of riprap dixie constructed,
and $50. s cubic yards of riprap stone
used.
The entire project is now about 80
per cent. completed, but IT is estimated
that $40, 600 per annum is required Tor
maintenance. The work carried on dur
ing the year resulted in completing all
the dikes called for by the approved
project, in completing channels TO the
| full projected dimensions through Is
bars. in partially completing channels
through three bars, protecting spoil
banks from freshet erosion, and in other
miscellaneous work The incidental eX-
penditure was sos. 02O.5l, of which SlI,-
079. 70 was applied to maintenance.
Dredging was carried on under con-
tinuing contract.
The maximum draft that could be
carried June 80. 1909, at mean low water
over the shoalest part Of the locality
under improvement was about nine
feet. The mean range of tide IS about
3 fl. Fredericksburg. LOG miles above
the mouth. is the head of navigation for
steamers and barges.
The principal articles of commerce
are railroad ties, lumber, farm produce,
grain. cordwOod, fertilizers, -four, canned
goods. coal. manufactures and general
merchandise. The receipts and ship
ments during 1908 amounted to about
395, 842 tons. and were estimated TO be
worth about $6,4S5, 1871.
The work done has been of benefit to
commerce. and it is understood that
freight rates have been reduced.
1t is proposed TO apply the additional
appropriation recommended toward the
maintenance of dredging, of dyke con-
struction, of work already done, ana
work that will be completed with funds
now in hand.
At Fredericksburg bar new deposits
of sand are formed by each recurring
freshet, and shoaling is also constantly
taking place. though less rapidly at
some of the lower bars. This explains
the estimate of $1,000 being required
annually for maintenance.
July J., 1909, balance available, So
39l. 80.
July ]. 1909. amount covered by I'M
completed contracts, SIS, 403.67.
Amount (esiimated) required for
completion OF existing project, S',352.-
81.
Amount that can be profitably ex-
pended in fiscal year ending June 80,
l9ll, for maintenance of improvement,
exclusive of the balance unexpended
July /, 1909, $50, 10000.
The shipping statistics were furnished
by Messrs A. P. Rowe, j. NJ. Cold
smith and w. d. Scott, of this city.