The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-25
BARGEs REST ON BOTTOM
WHEN TIDE GOES OUT
Manager Of Rockets Wharf Will
Appeal to Administrative
Board for Aid.
WANT CITY TO DREDGE mAHBoK
SOntIIside Landing Accommodate Ell
Ninety-One Vessels Last Year,
With Cargoes Valued AT S1,75O,-
700 and Weighing 0J.O2i Tons.

Backed UP with charts and figures
showing actual conditions in the port
of Richmond. II. H. Curtis. clerk in
pany wharf on the Chesterfield side OF
the river, will appear before the Adj
ministrativc Board tomorrow morning
with the request that the channel In
that part of the harbor be dredged by
the city. Uniting with Mr.. Curtis in
his request will be "a number of ship
pers and concerns which use the wharf
regularly.
Mr.. Curtis. who has been in charge
of the wharf. known by the name of
Rockets. for many years succeeded mis-
father in the business, after the latter
had presided over it's dcstinies for forty
(, years. From this lengthy experience.
he feels that he can show the Admin
| istrativc Board tho justice OF his re-
quest. Speaking OF conditions ycstcr-
day. Mr.. Curtis said:
Rockets noY handles ten vessels
TO every one docking at the municipal
| wharf, and it's business is growing
every year. The wharf is free to all
classes Of boats, and the railroad facili-
ties are uneQualled in the port, but
/ the channel in it's present condition
/ is not favorable to the big ships that
are beginning to come here. Unless it
is made deeper in quick time, many
| VI tnCsS NFSocIS VII HOl SOhe
! AS an example Of whae he meant,
Mr. Curtis called attention to three
| big seagoing barges which were load
Ing at the wharf yesterday. 1t could
! be plainly seen that they were rest
| ing on the bottom. and were embedded
in the mud One. laden with $4,000
railroad ties consigned to New York.
was listed over to one Atie, and was
in dangerous condition.
! ut is this that we fear" said Mr..
these vessels sufficient water and il
any damage is done them while in port,
traccable to low water. the shipper
can be held responsible"
! While he was talking, William y.
Taliaferro, OF Taliaferro & Co, who
was sending out two barges, joined
| Mr. Curtis. and spoke OF conditions
here Mr.. TaliaferrU said that he was
: in daily fear that harm would come
To one OF the barges wien il grounded.
and that his firm was running risk
IN using the Richmond harDoT al all.
The Southside wharf is constructed
OF stone. and is fully equipped with der
riclts ami stationary engines for load
ing and unloading. 1t has a number
OF sheds for storage and eight cars can
be brought up TO the sides Of the ships
at one time.
DIG BUSINESS DOM:
DURING YEAR 1913.
! During the. year 1913. ninety -onc YES
Eels, used the wharf. some for unload
!. ing, some for loading, and some for
both. These boats mad total regis
tered tonnage OF 3S,9SS CONS, and had
double that capacity. The value Of
/ the goods handled at the wharf during
that period was sl.71O,100. The cargocs
CONSISTED of grain, barrclled fish. can
ned goods, pulp wood, staveS. fertilizer
material. scrap iron, lumber. railroad
ties. coal. oil and other articles of COM
fIl t,rl. .
goes was Gt.02i tons.
The wharf is used by the Standard
Oil Company forts big oil barges,
each with capacity of 565,00D gallons
Two of these boats come into port at
least three times = month. with an av
erage load OF 100000 gallons of oiI.-A
tug brings them up the river, and ly
ing at their side ii pumps the oil
through sn eight-inch pipe distance
OF more than one mile TO the plant Of
the company In South Richmond.
! In addition 10 these regular boats,
Richmond has a barge line operated by
the Larimore Barge Company. This
Richmond, barge of $50 tons register.
! This vessel is the largest craft ever
Z owned here. and has capacity OF more
than 1900 tons The line also owns
the barge Safety. OF SIS tons register
and a capacity OF HOO tons. II. r.
Larimorc is master of tire first and W.
T. Bell OF the second
/ These boats have a draft Of fourteen
! feet, which is reached here at high tide.
Al low tide the water reached ten feet.
making ii dangerous for them TO lie
| in port with a cargo.
The channel could he dredged. Mr..
Curtis believes. by the city drcdge at
Il small cost The channel is free from
rock. and is almost pure sand, which
could be sold at 4 price to almost pay
the cost Of the dredging.