The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
.R|CHM0ND's HARBOR
!. COMING INTO ITS OWN
With Intelligent Handling, Traffic ON
Rivcr Ii Being Greatly
Developed.
GREAT NEED FOR DREDGING
government Gives Eigllteen-Foot
Channel to City, but Harbor Cam
not Now Provide Fourteen-Foot
Berths in Front OF Wharyes.


Wide-awake as Richmond unuues
touably is It's greatest potentinlit,
water trade. has suffered for years 10
want OF Intelligent development. an,
~ Is only recently that 1t has begun t.
come into It's OWN
Richmond. situated 125 miles from
the ocean. has. perhaps. tho creates
natural water advantages OF any cit,
OF the world at such "a distance inland
Al Hs very doors is u navigable high
way, permitting vessels of sixteen foo
draft to reach It's landings, ana vet
win these Chances for coastal and for.
eiSn trade tho city has heretofore neg.
iected to 0seize it's opportunities. and
business has suffered as n Consequences
III inc past few years, however larp.
sums or mony have been spent by III,
CITY on improvements. and, while tho
larger part went for the acouisitin,,
or property. start in the RICH, dire.
ton has been made. and the NEXT few
years may sec q revival OF Tho ,n,,.,,t,,a
giories of this port. which Ir .,n.n
neiioni days was one of the greatest
marts In America for South A,ncric,n
goods.
The James River Is a manifold al
vantage 70 this city and State. II
Is grand pike through the 'ridc,y,,or
district OF Virginia. availabl, fn,. ri
sorts or small craft. II affords a means
70 build up foreign trade. even IN :,
united way. and is Il wonderful aycnu.
Tor the development of coastwidc TRADE
freight rates.
GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT
LARGE SUMS ON JAMES RIVER
For several decades the United
o.a'es government has spen, large
nuIiS on the James River. and TO-DAY
it IL ready to handle any vossel OF or
binary size. Before, however. the hi,
cratt can begin coming here. the CITY
must make vital improvements on us
ns.nor. which In no way Is suitable for
ehe Facilities offered by the river IT.
The government has succeeded in
"'dening and deepening the channel
uht'i today II offers a highway TO the
nea OF eighteen and one-half feet io
depth When tho harbor Is brought, to
she same uniform depth, and not be-
fore. will Richmond on the James he
practically Richmond on the Sen .ro
nrins the harbor to thi. depth is no
iole dream. and. when II is done the
dlsa dVantage of It's hundred and odd
iniies Inland will be Offset by it's prov
'!n..y 10 the populous interior. and adj
vantage VIII then he taken of its con
'enlence as distributing port miami
Haroor improvements must be made /
Immediately, ~ Richmond L. 20 become I
port or consequence. as II is naturally I,
oestihed to be. There are now nine
private Wharves. not open TO the pub
TIC TWO are municipal property. two :
are private wharves open to the hubble.
ana an! The other has fallen into decay from
disuss 0'
NUCLEUS HERE FOR
GREATLY INCREASED nIsISESs
With these dockage facilities &,
would appear that Richmond has a
nucleus for wonderful water bus!-
ness. Its trade lie big. but nothing TO
compare with what II will be when
there is an Intelligent outlay OF nonev
by the city.
Tho four private wharves are owned
~ tne Richmond Guano Company. the
richmond Chemical Works. the Rich
mona CEDAR Works. and the Old Donin-
on steamship Company. They are all
coated on the north side of the river
ND answer we'll the purpose for which
hey arc maintained, and do an enor
nous business for the owners. who use
hem entirely for the conduct OF their
wn shipping. On the same side OF the
Dor 10 the old Clyde Line wharf now |
allen into decay, the City wharf and :
he City Dock. Opposite this chain OF l
;harves ID the Southern Railway Com :
any wharf. and farther down. on the /
Ienrico side is the James River wharf !
Wned by the Chesapeake and Ohio a
Hallway Company. !
The City Wharf and City Dock ARC
owned. The wharf was
'rmerly the old Bay Line property and 5
'as purchased and put In shape by the $
ty year or so ago The City Dock q
ms also purchased and Is now omen l
Or use. Those two properties have COST
10 city about 100000. and both are '
tcellent investments for the future
nth the acquisition of the Clyde Linz c
which Ia now pending before !,
10. City Council. the city will have
harfaSe facilities to accommodate -
ige trade providing the harbor is i'm y
owed proportionately. g
UST TAKE STEPS
TO DEEPEN HARBOR.
The chief Improvement necessary he
mo tho control of the water front is
the depth Of tho harbor In front OF
Q wharvea. The Southern RaiIwav
,rnpany is preparing to ask the Adj, 4
illustrative Board to dredge in front
its property. This wharf now han
es ten vessels to every one using Tho
her Wharves. and It's business ia
owing rapidly. but here, as at tho
her wharves. the channel is not suf-
iently deep to accommodate loaded
AT. ana q number OF ship owners. az
one experience here, have declined
return.
Their position is a natural one. with
ssels drawing fourteen feet OF water 4
Is big risk to como into mort
iere there is possibility OF strand 4
high and dry with a heavy cargo 1
] Il