The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-06
CITY SHOULD OWN
OLD CLYDE WHARF
Harbormaster Hopkins Wants
Entire Water Front Controlled
by Municipality.

Hhrbormaster John r. Hopkins
whose opinion is sought by the CITY
Councll, said yesterday tina; If the o11,
CiFdc Line property can be ACQUIRED a
an aaVantageous price, it should be
owned by the city, 70 that tho ,punici
PaiitF may own and control the entire
water front as far as practicable Tho
committee on Dock, River and Horbor
mas asked the City Council 10 aconiro
bF purchase or condemnation the do
serted wharf, which fronts sos feet on
we river directly adjoining the now
Clty wharf, and which would make the
puoho holdings nearly quarter OF a
mile IN length.
Mr.. Hopkins, who was recently an
pointed harbormaster was born and
raised within a. stones throw of tho
rlEer' and has spent practically the
whole OF his life there For the past
htteen years he has been doclimaster
a position held by his father before
I MIN, and Is considered an authority on
local marine matters When the COM
mittee considered the purchase OF tho
old wharf, Councilman Garter c. Jones
requested that the matter be tabled un
I'll after Mr. Hopkinss opinion cou1d
be secured
Wharfage Facilities Needed.
The harbormastcr ia of tho opinion
that the wharf property should bt. pur-
chased, providing IL can be secured at
reasonable price. lie has been close
ly identified with the water front. and
is confident that the great possibilities
OF the James River Will shortly be
realized by the local jobbers, and that
the business VIII steadily Increase
with good wharfage facilities, this no
believes, will come in the near future
Already n large Philadelphia jobbing
house has established a branch in this
: city, and is now unloading IT'S second
cargo OF merchandise. Ono barge ar
rived hero two months ago with nearly
900 tons on board, and another Is in
port.
Tho Clyde Wharf was abandoned for
use about eight years ago. when the
line discontinued its steamers TO Rich
mond. II adjoii,s the Old BAY Line
Wharf, which was bought by the city
ana rebuilt. Several years ago a con
domination commission fixed it's value
ut $4,000 II bought II will be ncces-
sary for the whole thing to be pulled
down aud another wharf built
Channel IL Free of Rocks.
The channel in front Of the clyde
Wharf is much better than that at the
City Wharf. and would require little
or no blasting Of rock. The curve in
the river At this point acts as a natural
dredgc, and keeps tho channel free OF
debris
Few cities In tbs country owning
municipal wharvcs throw them open
10 The public free Of all charges. but
this is done I'm Richmond. and will tend
10 popularize this port with owners,
and viii decrease freight tolls to a.
largo extent y barge unloading at the
city Wharf at the present time would
/ nave netted the city about $50 had
( 1t come into the dock, which ~ also
municipality owned.
! business along tho river front has
steadily increased since the opening OF
I nc dock This wAs closed for repairs
, L'T eighteen months. ana there was a
iainns off Of more than half in the
ahippins While the municipal wharycs
naturally get considerable paying bust :
mat would come into the dock.
The extra hauling expense about cv.ns
UP inatters ana for many local con-
Germs The dock IS the cheapest md
Inos' desirable place for unloading car