The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-09
DEEP WATER N THE JAMES.

great work for Richmond 1t Is
bringing the business men closer to-
gether in their relation to the larger
life of the community than they have
ever been. II has almost succeeded in
driving out the croakerS and the
drones. both of which classes are
menace to the Industrial and CONNER
cial progress OF any community in
which they are harbored in consid-
cradle numbers. 1t is not possible, of
course. nor is it desirable, to get rid
Of every one OF them at once Tie
National Museum at Washington will
pay handsome prices for specimens or
almost extinct species Of birds and
mammals, and in every town of the
size OF Richmond some of these natural
Instructions should he preserved toll
show for the entertainment of the
curious ard the students OF the frog
lodyte
yesterday was busy day with the
Chamber OF Commerce. 1t was devoted
to the entertainment Of the Hon. James
L. Ransdell. member of Congress from
Louisiana, member also of the Rivers
and Harbors Committee, and President
of the National Rivers and Harbors
Congress. lie was accompanied 10
Richmond by the Hon. John Lamb.
member of Congress from Virginia.
and came here to see this town. He
was kept very busy all day, and vet
he did not see the half or what there
is nor hear the tenth of what he ought
TO be told about this great city. He
confessed last night in an upper room
n the Jefferson Hotel that he had been
surprised at the size of the place, the
beauty of It's situation, the evidences
of its prosperous commercial life. the
exquisite art of it's statues. and the
genial hospitality Of It's people He
promised to come back and pledged
his vote to tho present project for
the Improvement Of the navigation Of
the James River from Richmond TO
the sea, It would be worth while
when Mr.. Ransden comes into our
midst again for him TO bring the full
Committee on Rivers and Harbors with
him, so that they may learn as much
as he learned yesterday in his all
too brief stay with us.
Mr.. Ransden made very able and
instructive address to the Chamber Of
Commerce last night on the river and
harbor Improvement policy for which
The Congress of which he is president
is sponsor In introducing him. Presi-
dent Wood summed up the situation
here in compact way. In 1884 the
United States Government adopted a
project for the deepening of the James
River until twenty-five feet of water
at mean low tide shall have been OBJ
tanned The estimated cost of this
Improvement .wis. bo.r 100000. The
project Is entirely feasible The Cow
ernment engineers have said so The
project has not been carried out be-
cause the Government has not kept
its contract -At present the river
has depth OF only sixteen feet at low
tide, or about the depth OF the entrance
10 the Harbor OF Charleston before the
ietties We're constructed at that port.
The water-carried commerce of Rich
mond is g per cent. less now than it.
was ten years ago; the business of
the manufacturers and merchants has
increased during the same period 80
per cent. With the river cleared 10
the contemplated depth there would
"a
commerce Of The port man thee has
ever been, with a corresponding In
crease of the customs revenue of the
Government and tho incalculable ad.
vantage of the large. and steadily ex
psnding, territory served by this CITY
The present Congress has been asked
10 make an appropriation of s25o,ooo
for the prosecution of the work Of
Improvement during this year. and this
amount has been approved by The COM
Inittes charged with this particular
matter. This is a small amount. 10 he
sure but It Is a beginning in the right
direction, and the project is so feasible
and the reasons for it so compelling
that Il Is believed. once the worl,
is begun. It viii be carried thraurb
and that Will mean a new and a greater
Richmond. Twenty-Five feet Of water
in the James River at mean low tide
means twenty ave aud half feet ri
high tide. and that means ships OF
greater drausht for Richmond MIN
larger cargoes and cheaper rates +,
49,. g