Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-13

provided by way of james River route
ut less than one-fifth the cost OF the
suggested Cnickahominy- Pamunkry
lock canal route with it's expensive
operation and maintenance and m
apprcc liable saving ia distance by the
use OF the artificial canal which
would more seriously be effected by
:ny adverse climatic conditions.
James River should aiw. $ he con-
/ s.dcred as i,ichmond's most valuable
asset. largo part Of our commerce
las always been handled over is
course. Notwithstanding; the rail com
petition. he freight rates have and
Will continue to nc governed by the
commercial value of Jaincs River.
Therefore. its economic value To
the NE and t:IdH CT the territory
travcTs'.d 10y thu James River is
wcii-nlsh indispensable and we fuzzy
realize the great necessity of not
only Keeping the river i'll it's PCS
cnt condition. but are fully aware
that untold good can result from the
completion Of the improvements set
out In this report.
The United states Army engineers
have estimated an amount required
for completion OF existing project as
provided by acts OF Congress sc,T5l.-
Geo, which includes n chanc! % feet
toned for the entire length of 1898
miles. With the exception of one or
two shoals below City Point the bulk
Of the work to be performed to
complete existing project is between
! Richmond and City Point.
! The new canals we have recon-
mended will greatly reduce the work
! 10 be done to improve the present
/ chanel. certainly in proportion to the
! distance saved
/ Considering the estimate OF new
I improvements 20 conform to the eX-
! listing project for the entire navi-
! gable distance would amount to 81
/ .3I. 0oc. The damage that will ac-
/ Crue 10 the fertile river bottom ianIe,
/ cut on by the three canals. have been
considered in our deliberations.
! In the past. miles OF dikes have
been constructed TO protect these
/ river bottom lands from frcshcts at
enormous cost 10 the private own
| crs. Excavations from these canals
would furnish ample material to pro.
! vide permanent dhOs and rebuild
/ the existing bikes which are in need
! Of repair. Many thousand acres OF
| fertile river bottom land would he
| reclaimed for Agricultural develop
ment, and the benefits derived would
| possibly offset the damages TO these
| farms.
The canals would cut these farms
into islands providing exclusive res
ervatiou or seclusivc farms In close
proximity to Richmond. Tho city as
| well as the State could have isolated
reservations for prison or welfare
purposes completely surrounded by
widc channels Of water and ncccs-
siblc only by boats
These considerations. however. are
secondary to the NIL ?imporsant ben
cfits to he derived from the general
good that would result from the
STRENGTHENING OF the river channel
for navigation and In the reduction
of the high water fluctuations at
Richmond In times OF frcshets.
Railroads.
Your committee asccrtoins that the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad con-
structed the Newport News division
i'm 1850. and since 1900 has revised
the original location and double
tracked the entire division. while tho
Southern Railway constructed tho
West Point division about 1870.
Both Of these rail arteries nre
necessary means OF transportation
to meet the Increase trade ana. as
future demands Justify, will no
doubt DO further improved by these
corporations and your committee
fully appreciates the value ana SER
vice rendered by these rail- connec-
tions from Richmond to deep water.
Highways.
Truck transportation to the near
est existing deep water terminals
have been considered in our DELHI
erations Cnd through routes pro-
jectcd We are of the opinion that
the highways to West Point and City
Point especially will be constructed
in time under tho present State
road system. These routes are pro-
vi,ied and improved under existing
Virginia acts. We do not consider
it good policy to recommend sep
aratc freight highway when In time
the present projected highways VIII
In all probability serve the require
ments of future truck transporta-
ton TO NIL existing deep water term
| inals.
Your committee purposely avoided
suggesting terminal or dock inn
provements or any details calcula-
ted to raise an issue determined TO
our general consideration OF the
most feasible or practical rort term
Inal for the city OF Richmond nor
have we attempted to complete sta
| tiatics to show the commercial or
sentimental value of one port ar
riyer versus any other port or river.
These questions can he handled by
organizations better equipped to deal
with snch values.
Our aim Is TO show from nm en-
Gineering point OF view the physical
conditions, the constructions ncces-
sary to meet these conditions at the
least possible cost and To show the
permanent benefits TO he derived
ior future economical handling of
the various transportation problems.
This report we hope. Will FUR
uish n basis OF concentrated cooper
alton oil the various civic organlza-
tioas tu promote tho development OF
Rich,nonG's most valuable artery Of
commerce--IameS Rivcr--and we
trust will lie q means OF preventing
serious consideration by influential
organizations Of any project adverse
to the future use and Improvement
! OF natures most valuable gift tn tins
grand and glorious old Common
wealth, anil this community In par
ticulnr.
tSicnsdl.
WILLIAM BERNARD RATES
tCha!rman).