Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-02-07
From the Block Rock Beacon Of Jan. I.
BLACK ROCK nAkROE.

not only from the circumstance OF It's
forming the western termination OF
tho Erie Canal, and of course the
common rendezvous and place OF
trade and interchange between boat
and ship navigation; but from the
novel and bold design Of its con.
struction, that We feel it our duty,
living as We do On the spot, to advise
the public, from time to time, Of its
progress end situation.
The Black Rock Harbor is to be
formed in the Niagara river, at it's
Tread or junction with Lake Erie;
and will comprise longitudinal sec.
tion of tho river, taken from the east
,ern or Amtrican side. aud extend
from the the lake 2 i2 miles down
fhsriver, with an average breadth
q 40 yard ;.
The artificial works which. ac-
cord;sg to the plan prepared by the
epgineeS, n. 3. Roberts. Esq. and
aaspted by the Canal Commissioners,
are 10 constitute the hSrbor, will
consist Of
,st. A mole or pier. 1895 yards
in length. and averaging eighteen
feet vide and IS high, to connect
Birds I>(and in the lake, with Squaw
Island in the river. This pier will DO
formed of square timbers strongly
fram-d and secured together. and fill-
ed with stone, 4 will be sunk in the
bed of the river in a line parallel With
lit current, where the average depth
Of water 10 from 10 to 10 feet, and
the bottom principally rock.
Sd. An embankment Of earth a
long the eastern border Of Squav Is
land. 1880 yards in length, . het
high, so feet broad at the base, and
s 1t the top.
s.. A dam ts4 yards long, to -.
mite Squaw Island with the AmeFi
carshore. Phe structure ofthe dam
will b. similar to that 'ef the pier.
ard the whole Of these works will be
sufficiently high to sustain the wa
tiers of tho harbor on level With the
lake. Tho perpendicular descent OF
the river, from the lake to the foot Of
the harbor, is 4 feet--of course the
works st the lower, end Of tho har-
Dor, must sustain . head Of 4 feet a.
hove the adjacent waters of the ri
yer; which head will constantly di.
minish as the work recedes towards
tho lake.
The Erie Canal, which in its
march to the west, reaches the Nj
agara river at the mouth Of Toena
wanta creek, (ten miles below or
north of,lakc Erie and thence ad
vances sou,heriy along the margin
of the river, will enter the .arbor a;
it, lover ex,re;uity, 2 l-2 miles
t,3m the lake.
Fne contract for the execution of
the works was entered into be-
twten the canal commissioners aud
the Black Rock Hsrbor Company in
Albany, on the esd July last; and
although the company were not able
t. commence their ope, ations until
near TIE middle OF August, when tho
best art Of the season was passed,
We have tho satisfaction 70 Inform
oa. ruaders that sa3 yards Of the
pisr, and llss yards Of the embank-
meas have already been constructed
--lesving ssSs yards Of pier (inclu.
sivs Of the dam) and s75 yards OF
enbankment to be completed next
season. There will be required for
the work that yet remains to be exc
cuted $4,000 cubic feet of square,
and about the same quantity Of round
timber, 100000 Cubic feet Of stone. ;
The whole of these materials have
been contracted for, and q consider
abie proportion Of them already deli
vcred, and are now On hand. In.
deed, the progress Of the work has
thus far answered and we believe OK
ceeded the expectations OF the con.
tractors; and We have no doubt tn,
whole will be completed by the lot |
Of Daosmber next the time limi.e0
by the contract.
These works, since thoir com
mencement, have been visited and
critically examined by q great as.n-
ter Of intelligent strangers from eve.
y part Of the union, among whom
Ne observed some Of the principal