Year: 1870

To the Honorable Council Of the City Of
R;chmo,ld


Gentlemen,-The question Of the evils
affecting the navigation of the James river
to Richmond, in consequence Of the very
limited draught of water at certain leading
points, has been one that has engaged the
attention not only of the Councils and citi-
zens of Richmond but Of the State as well
as the United States Governments at va
rious times during the past forty years.


By reference we find that as early as
1926, under direction of the State, the river
was surveyed by Colonel Crozet. What
action was taken as the result OF this sur
vey We arc not advised, but we find that in
1886 another survey was made by Captain
Stausbury under the direction Of the Uni
ted States Government, and again by the
Coast Survey in 1852. .


In the last-named year the Government
made an appropriation of $4,000 for the
improvement Of the navigation of the
James and Appomattox rivers. One-half
# this amount (say 2,5O0) was expended
for the benefit of the james under the di-
rcction of Colonel De Russy on behalf Of
the Government, together with a special
committee of the Council in the interest Of
the city.


This expenditure proved of very con-
siderable advantage, as it resulted in giving
thirteen feet of waterup into the harbor,
where before there was only ten and half
feet. But of course the amount of money
fell far short of the requirement.


The practicability of establishing cigh-
teen feet of water from Hampton Roads to
the wharves at Richmond is question
which we think few will dispute at the pre-
sent day; and your committee arc fully Of
the opinion that this once accomplished, it
might almost be termed permanent, as with
very slight yearly expenditure in COM
parison with its advantages the same depth
of water may be maintained.


This fact has been clearly demonstrated
by examinations made at long intervals in
former years after the several efforts ut
Improvement.


The time is not very distant, in fact we
may say it is at hand, when this will be
matter of vital Importance to the commerce
of our city. In very short time, at most,
the inexhaustible supply of mineral wealth
Of the western portion of our State will be-
gin to pour down upon us, and the great
producing States-Ohio, Indiana, Ken
lucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas:
Nebraska, Dacotah, Montana, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin, take advantage of
''The Central routes to the seaboard.
Richmond has cause to congratulate her.
self that the completion of the Chesapeake
| and Ohio railroad is no longcra thing to be
| looked forward to at some distant day, for
already we hear the busy tramp of work
men hurrying to the scene of labor. The
leading capitalists of our country, with
their accustomed keen perception, have
discovered to their satisfaction that from
the great West uia Richmond is the short
est and most practicable route at all seasons
of the year by which the immense tonnage
of that region of country may be speedily
conveyed to market.


When we remember that the items OF
coal and iron alone will amount to count
less thousands of tons, surely is it not time
that our people were aroused to this all
important question Of our navigation


4 X


While it becomes necessary in this coun :
try and other parts Of the world to spend
vast sums of money in building canals,
here we have a natural canal (if we may
SO term it) one hundred and twenty miles
in length, which, at q comparatively small
expense, we can place in condition to float
vessels drawing eighteen feet of water !;
and il is the firm conviction of your COM
mittee that its accomplishment is not second
in Importance to the completion of the
James River and Kanawha canal and the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
sR.e Surely it is not to the interest OF this
city to see these vast freights passing by US
in sealed cars, seeking shipping at some
distant point upon our river, only because
We cannot offer deep water transportation
at our wharves, while all will admit that
the sooner these freights can be placed in
vessels and the railroads relieved of them
the lefs will be the cost of transportation
between the shipping points and the ter
mini.
a. Whilst ne win admit that this should,