The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-28
SHIPPERS CLAIM
DOCK is UNSAFE
Assert in Petition to Chamber
That Condition OF Outer Gate
Imperils Shipping.
FRESHET MIGHT BE FATAL
High Water, 1t Is Feared, May
Render Valueless City's New
100000 Property.

100000 Property.
Responding to a petition signed by
some OF tho leading business firms that
ship and receive freight by water. the
Chamber OF Commerce Committees on
inland Trade and Outward Trade will
meet Mt noon to-day for tho purpose
! OF taking some action to demand the
| improvement, OF the Richmond DOCK.
when has been practically out of com
Nlssion for more than a year 1t is
said that both tho inner ana outer
| Sates are now in such condition thar
they cannot DO used. that this state of
affairs not only cripples tho water
oornc commerce OF the city. but I'm cnse
Itself.
The communication was directed to
| PRESIDENT r. VI. Darlington. Of the
Chamber Of Commerce. ana the Joint
mectine was called Yesterday after
Loon 10y " T. Reed. acting chairman
OF the Committee on Inland Trade and
Chairman G. u Coleman of the Com
nitiee on outward Trade.
Petition To Chamber.
Tho text OF Tho petition is as fol-
Tho Undersigned patrons of the
Richmond dock. on account Of tho
great inconveuionco ana loss to witch
ihcy have been and are subjected in
their business. and also I'm the interest
OF the water borne commerce. OF Rich
mond beg to call your attention to
the very serious condition of tho lock
Sates OF said dock. to request an In
vestieation of the situation by tho
proper representatives. OF Tho chainber
ana INVOKE Its active corporation
IN securing tho most speedy rcllor pos
siblo
For over q year the dock has been
cut OF commission for the reason that
ono OF tho onter gates was in such
condition that IL could not 90 used. ana
after long delay, provision was made
for its renewal IL now transpircs
mat the inner gates are IN such con-
dition 'hat the, cannot I've used
THIS last development not only en-
'"iis much further delay. which "a
most Injurious TO tho commercial I'M
forests or tho city. but in the event
q frcshct. might subject tho dock
ITSELF 10 tho most serious danger Of
Partial destruction
tsl. for Conference.
We ask the chambers operation
In the matter on account IF tho great
interest 1t has heretofore manifested
TN this important part or our harmon.
and suascs, tina, &, invite conference.
with tho lanes River Improvement
Committee and the city Engineer nav
ns charge OF the c!ty's water torni-
1als. TO tho md that every Influence
may he combined ln securing speedy
and effective action
This is hy no means the hrst time
that complaint has been made OF the
condition OF the dock There were
mans during tho years that 1t WAS a
private enterprise and there have been
others since 1t became the property of
tho city Recently the Council. appro-
prlated TIN" sum Of $4,000 TO he used
for repairing the gate. but nothing. IL
seems. has been done
= member OF the chamber who is
also larS" shipper said last night
that h knew from personal experienced
the condition OF the dock and stated
that the committees probably would
rake arrangcmt AS soon as l-ossihle
tor conference with tho Committee
on Improvement Of James River It
is hardly possible. however. that sucn
a meeting could be arranged untM
after the organization az tho new
Council
Said 20 Bc BEYOND Repair.
The defective condition Of the dock
property was known when The city
acquired II q report OF Expenditures
needed TO restore II 20 proper condition
being made to the Finance Committee
at that time by city Engineer Boiling.
asking 10000 for new gates repoint-
ing stone work. dredging removal OF
construction of the old Trigs Works
and other repairs on investigation
within the past few weeks City Engi-
neer Boiling has reported that tho
lower gates are beyond repair and that
tho upper gates are In equally dccrepit
condition