The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-30
NEW CITY WHARF
OPEN TO SHIPS
Vessels Drawing Eighteen Feet
May Now Enter Rich
mond's Harbor.
REPAIRS TO OLD DOCK
Smaller Craft May Now Come
Through Lock to Eigh-
teenth Street.

Ready TO receive shipping. both large
and small, the city OF Richmond opened
to trade yesterday its new wharf Oh
James River. ana Will reopen ousAh6
the next few days the old snip docA
the lock gates OF which have recently
been rebuilt
The Council Committee on Improve
ment OF the James River yesterday al
ternoon, after an inspection with Mayor
Ainslie and other officials. formally ac-
cepted the new wharf from the contrac-
tors, II. NJ Airport l. Son. The new
wharf stretches along the river front
for go feet from the mouth of Gillies
Creek to the foot Of Nicholson Street
After accepting the wharf. the COM
mittee. accompanied by CHAIRMAN
Grundy, of the Council Finance Com.
m!ttee, City Engineer Boiling and
others. visited the old Richmond Dock,
recently acquired by the city. Con-
tractor T. ]. Nuckols reported compile
ton Of the repairs on the lock gates.
and was instructed to make an aaoi-
tional gate. to be used In emergency.
to replace eventually one Of the old
ones, found almost beyond repair.
Dredging Still to He Done.
A great zeal oi dredging and otheI
work remains TO DC done before the
dock property Will be III good Oroef.
The stone work must be repointeo, ana
the distractions placed by The old W ~
liam X. TribS ShlpbuildinS SohpdhS
must be rem oNed, but this can De done
while the property is in use. and the
gates will be thrown open to craft
drawing fourteen feet or less by inc
end of this week. Until the Couhcli
adopts a new schedule Of tariffs. the
old tolls formerly charged by TIE Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railway Company Will
be charged on the tonnage OF vessels
entering the dock.
The c1mmittee then boarded the CITY
tug Thomas Cunningham and steamed
for four or five miles down the river.
viewing the harbor and channel work
now being done by the United States
government which is expanding SloO.eOo
In Improvement Of tho shipping facii-
tiles Of the upper James, most OF the
work being within the Richmond har-
Dor.
Wharf Cost $23,090.
On the tug meeting Of the Com
mittee on James River Improvement
was held to receive reports and APP
prove pay rolls Assistant Engineer
Fontaine Jones. who has had super-
vision Of the construction Of the new
wharf. reported that the work was
first-class, the best Of material having
been used, and the wharf was formally
accepted. The total cost of the wharf,
not counting the property acquired by
the city several years ago. has been
$23,39950. The committee ordered pay
ment of $3.0l7 to II. NJ Airport & Son
in final settlement.
City Engineer Boiling reported that
the government had consented to allow
its contractor. the P. Sanford Ross Com
pany to remove the rock ledge In
front of the wharf. and the machinery
was found in place yesterday. The
work will be completed in few
weeks. BY agreement with Colonel
II. Yonge, United states Army engineer
IT. hn M a
government inspectors during the pro
Sress of this work. The City Engineer
reported the purchase of diving equip
ment for the city tug. to facilitate the
making Of soundinss and surveys OF
the river bottom.
VIII Provide Wagon Way.
Mr. Boiling was authorized to en-
ploy additional labor to handle mate
rial pumped from the channel by the
city dredSe, which material Is to b.
placed back of the new wharf, making
wagon way for the handling OF
freight. Arrangements were made for
water plugs and connections for sup
plying city water to vessels at the new
wharf.
Refreshments We're served or boaro
the tug by H. NJ Airport & Son. who
had as their guests a number OK prom
inent men, in addition to the city OFF,
Gals and members Of the committee.
The United States government chan
mel at this time UP to the Richmond
harbor is eighteen feet at low tide, to
be eventually deepened to twenty-five
feet. When the small rock ledge to
which reference has been made - re-
moved, large vessels drawing eighteen
feet may tie UP directly to the new
wharf and unload to cars on the ada
cent railway tracks. Plans are being
prepared for a wharf house for storage
Of freight and other arrangements f,r
the convenience OF shippers.