Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-13
LOCAL ENGINEERS PLAN
LAID BEFORE COUNCIL
Makes James River Port Of
Richmond Instead of
West Point.
s2,571,00O is NEEDED
Project Will Be Presented
Waterways Convention at
Savannah This Week.

After several months of invcst!-
CATION and study Il committee com.
posed OF William IL. Ba ties! chairman
H. Il. Beck. Cecil r. Reid. A Scriv-
chor and Edwin Workman made q
detailed report to the Richmond
Chapter OF the American Association
OF Engineers. on James River Yer.
gus York River for "a Richmuond
Terminal" The report has bean
read before the local chapter II
engineers. also before the Dock.
River and Iiarbor Committee of the
city Council. and II will be embodied
IN n petition TO go before the Deeper
Waterways Conference this week IN
Savannah. Ga. and later to .hc A.
iGntic Inland Waterways Congress In
Washington. It will also he places.
In the hands Of virginia Senator'S ana
congressman. The report in detail.
fellows:
James River versus Yori: River
for Richmond terminal:
Transportation for Richmond's ac-
ttvitieH In commercial life Ii the most
important subject for all civic or
PLANTATIONS In this city to keep be-
fore it's members.
The Richmond Chapter OF Amer,-
can Association Of Engineers. reaii:-
ing the value OF water transporta-
ton. appointed i committee TO re-
port on the most feasible dcep-watsr
port for Richmond.
Your committee. after months OF
icscarch. has carefully investigated
the present status OF the transporta-
tion facilities OF this city towards
the ocean, and they are firmly con-
WINGED that untold benefits can be
obtained from the proper improve
ncnt OF all the existing arteries OF
transportation. at cost which Is
within reach OF this community.
backed. of course. by the assistance
o. the Federal government in water
transportation development.
Charts. maps. reports and other
data have been carefully studied OF
that area lying between Richmond
and City Point on the James River
and Richmond and West Point on
the York River. inbracing the coun-
ties Of IIcnrico. Chesterfield. Prince
George. Surry, New Kent and King
William.
York River.
With reference TO the proposal TO
project chip canal from New YORK.
IL Richmond, we find tho topography
Is such as to make this ship canal
not practical for the following rea
sor:
The first stretch In the York River
project Is UP the rnmunkcy Rive"
IN a westerly direction from Yves:
Point for "a distanc. Of about ia
tHiies to Cumberland Landing and
would require the excavation OF APP
lroSimataiy 3.ioo,o00 cubic yards II
river bottom and marsh lands for
= channe! 20 feet deep and 200 feet
vide Al the bottom. also providing
;ho RICH, OF way OF $50 acres OF
marsh.
The Chickahominy River lies be-
tween the laiuunkey River and Rich
Inond and Il would then be necessary
for the canal TO Cross the ridge sep.
prating these two streams 100 feet
above the tide level. The lowest gap
IN this ridge is at point about
2 IL miles west Of New Kent Court
house near the heudwaters of PUN
ley Marsh. which draws south into
the Chickahominy River near Provi-
d,pcc Forge. The average ground
level OF the Chickahominy 1T this
point Is some 10 feet higher than the
tide level OF the Pamunkcy River.
The distance from the Pamunukey
River to the Chickahominy through
this ridge At the lowest elevation lis
81 miles.
The difference in elevation of u
feet would necess!;ate a high land
canal, locks and gates in order To
reach the level Of the Chickahominy
and would require the excavation II
vide n right of way OF 560 acres.
The CLicknhCminy.
The Chickahominy has rise "
70 feet in 81 miles between point
near Providence Forge and point
Just north OF Richmond, or q total
rise Of so feet from the pamunk.v
River to n docking basin & miles
north Of Richmond. In order 10 over
come this rise. four dams with locks
and gates Of Il 20foot rise each are
necessary. Each dam with the nee
essary locks. gates, valves, concrete
core walls, etc, is herein estimated
and included in the approximate cost.
The land inundated by reason 81
these dams would cover some 22,4OG
acres of valuable river bottom farns.
Notwithstanding the waters Inn
pounded by the dams, it would also
require q channel up the Chicka-
hominy and q docking basin, and it
is estimated that in this stertch of
81 miles some 9.550,0OO cubic yards
would have to he removed for this
channel and docking basin.
The existing railroads. highways
and private roads interfered with
by this canal must be taken care OF.
which would involve their reloca-
ton and construction. as well as the
providing for proper drawbridges
and their continual upkeep.
Tho FOUR locks would also nave 70
90 maintained and operated and It
Is certain that dredging must be al
most continuous in order to main
tain the minimum draft in n channel
that Is without current. IT il con-
coded by the proposers of this pro-
ject that there Is an insufficient SUE
ply Of water available for feeding
the docking basin, and upper levels
OF the canal in ordinary seasons. and
in the event OF protracted droughts
1t Is certain that operation of these
locks would be impossible.
Tho promiscuous traffic which this
canal will be called on to accom2-
date certainly increases the contlng-
cncy of accidents to the locks. AMI
in order to provide continuous and
uninterrupted service through the
canal double set of locks is abso-
lutely essential to prevent delays