Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-23
!S27,ii4 O9

~ dam were finished during the last season, that
from the tenth day of September, until the setting
Ill OF winter the whole line was in operation.
J In the sudden frcshct 81 breaking up of the river
which took place in the beginning of January last
breach was made in the old part of the dam, which
was built ten or twelve years ago.
| The breach has lately been examined, & is found
TO be about one hundred anG sixty feet long, and
from soundinss which have been taken. will contain
an average depth of water where there is no rise i'm
the river, of about seventeen feet
HE dam, except a few rods of the west end rests
upon brd of gravel and pebbles. This Gravel bed
| is underlaid with shistous rock which gradually
from the the west shore so that the IVES,
end of the dam, for several rods. stands uron the
naked rock which appears near the surface of the
water.
| The breach which took place in the fall Of 1922
(and which is described in the last annual report
was near the end of the dam; and through this
breach the water passed with such velocity, as to
sweep away the gravel down to tive solid rock, and
leave depth of water i'll place of more thar
thlrty-cgiIf, and all average depth of trty-one feet
| The present breach is the middle of the river
and where the rock, appears by the soundngs is
within seventeen feet Of the surface.
Where this breach took place, the dam stood up-
on gravel bed, which nearly to the surface of
the water; and this gravel having been carried a
way by the current, affords opportunity of build
ing upon the rock.
As as can be ascertained, it will cost from,
SIX to ten thousand dollars TO repair the breach,
When the Champlain canal was first put in ono.
ration between Fort Edward and Whitehall. the
great quantities of boards, plank and other saved
stun which moved from the lake TO the south was
constructed into RATS, and in that ma ,,ner .a a.
ed through the canal.
These RATS were frequently UPWARDS of a tbou-
sand feet in length; and in drawing them along with
strong team, their sides would frequently come in
contact with the bank, by which very considerable
| injuries were done to the canal
! The attempts to induce those who naviratsd tho
canal to keep the rats clear from the banks were
| found to be IN great measure Intellectual An
eXpedlent was iindliy adopted by the board which
mas IN great measure relieved the canal from, ,fis
eVii' ana winch III snort time will produce a to-
tai change in the mode oftransnortinr sn,ved In,
Der.
The toll which is charged and collected on tlis
lumber where 1t is transported RATS is double the
amount OF tine toll which is charged on t,,c eo,oe ar
iiclc when it is conveyed in boats
Under this regulation more than threc f,urtbe or
inc sawed stun has been conveyed in boats THROUGH
the canal the last season. and the injury to the h,,
has been very much diminished
IN eighteen hundred twonty -onc, il is understood
mat ABOVE ten boats were in on the ca nal and
IN eighteen hundred twcnty-three, the number is
said to have exceeded one hundred
several small breaches took place on the line
during Inc last season, but they were 50 pronn,I,,
repaired as to Interrupt the navigation but a shor.
time. N . ''i'
| Between Whitehall and Fort Edward. the canal
was thoroughly repaired; the bottom was cleared out
and the banks raised and STRENGTHENED .,1 q,
believed that this part Of the line has never boo
III as good repair as it is at present. Since its first
co Instruction.
The building Of few additional houses. for Ioct'
Keepers, will be necessary and it will also bc vol
TO construct tow-path across the Mohawk in orr
der TO faciitate the transportation upon the canal
IN me grcat pressure and complication OF business
which has been thrown upon the acting