Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-29
SURVEY OF THE CANAL.

addressed to the Chief of the Engineer Corps Of
the United States Army, on the construction oil
the first 4S miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, has been recently published bv order OF
the Stockholders, in a pamphlet of tour and TWEEN
ty pages. 1t was elected by an order of the Sc
cIetary of War, at the request Of the President
and Directors.
The Engineers seem to have scrupulously per-
formed their duty. The length Of their report,
in some measure, precludes the insertion OF II,
at large, in our paper. With very little to dis
approve, they seem to have found much to ap-
plaud, and they finally say, as follows:
eve are fully aware, that, after all we have
said, we have not given an adequate idea OF the
great and interesting work we have been direct.
ed to examine. The difficulties which have been
surmOunsed-the quantity of labor it has receiv-
ed-the vast amount OF rock excavatlon-the e.
tent and excellence of the walls Of dry masonry
the durable aspect Of all the structures-the
great and imposing dimensions of the canal-the
ludicious adaptation of the excavations 70 the i'll
lings and embankments-cau be duly aPPreciat-
ell only by visiting the work.
The trade Of the canal in the part now in use
is very active; there is, however, a necessity tor
a system Of regulations to govern the boatlnen.
The use on the canal of the iron pointed boating
poles should be entirely and Immediately prohi-
bited.
10 our examination we were accompanied BY
Mr.. Purcell and Mr.. Cruger, resident engineers,
and Mr.. Vanslyke, superintendent OF repairs.
Mr.. PURCELL accompanied us throughout the
extentunder his charge, from the basin atGeorge-
town to three miles beyond the Seneca; and Mr..
Crugcr, who Joined us at the Great Falls, re-
mained with US until we completed our examina-
ton at the Point of Rocks. We are under many
obligations t. these gentlemen for their polite and
intelligent attentions. They drew our notice to
every part Of the work-were anxious that it
should undergo the most minute inspection, and
peinted out to our ~cttentiOn those parts at which
Some defects had been discovered, with the con-
Ifdcnce of men who were conscious that all usual
care had been bestowed in the first instance, and
that any liberal and intelligent mind would at
tribute these defects to their proper causes"
In a pricr part of their report, they speak of the
mode Of passing the Canal by viaducts beneath it:
+" We cannot forbear here expressing our de-
cided appreciation of this method Of. crossing ca
nal lines, over tho more usual method by bridges.
Its many conveniences to those who use these
road-ways. as well as to the canal, should. in all
cases, give to them a preference, where the
ground is adapted to their construct ton"
Of.the Canal, not an use, above Seneca, they
sly:
- 1t may be proper to remark, that, in the
whole length of the Canal, from the aqueduct
over the Seneca to that over the Monocacy, wher-
ever the embankment touches upon the river, il
is carefully protected against its action BY extern
sive and well constructed walls Of dry masonry"
OF the canal, ia use, they thus speak:
Lock No Is is the last in the extent of the
canal, now filled and in active use, constituting,
in its present condition, a distance of about TWEEN
ty-one miles Of canal navigation. We have al
ready remarked upon the appearance and execu-
ton of the work thus far, and have spoken gene
rally Of the dry walling. We were particularly
struck with the extent and excellence of this part
of the work, and the judicious collection in plac-
es Of the superfluous stone. forming masses pro.
iecting into the river, and aiding to turn its cur
rent from the walls. But there were places where
the superfuous stone were thrown indiscriminate-
ly over the wall, and allowed to take whatever
course they would, covering the wall irregularly |
from its base. This had a very unfinished APP
pearance, but it was the most economical dispo-
sition which could be made of the stone, and aids
the wall in its resistance. The stone were thrown
over in a manner to avoid %injuring the wall; and
where this method of d~isposing of the stone was
observed, 1t was at places where any violent ac-
ton OF the river is not to be apprehended."
Speaking of the other masonry, as lock-keepers'
houses, aaueducts, locks and culverts, they say:
All Tic iuSh-hSCpSiS uotSSS u SOou lOiiC |
structures, with one exception, and this is a good
frame house.
..The ~tow-path. throughout the entire line. is
upon the embankment next to the river, and Is
nowhere less than twelve feet wide.
eve have already spoken. in the course ct
this narrative, of the method pursued in build
inc the aqueducts; we will now add, generally,
that which is followed in relation to the culverts
aud the locks.
s.In all cases where a rock foundation can be
conveniently obtained, it has been resorted to:
the rock carefully cleaned, its loose and defective
parts removed, and the required extent Of sur
face leyeIled to receive the masonry. Where
the rock was not accessible, and the earth, after
excavation, did not appear sufficiently firm, it was
carefully rammed and paved with stone, before
the timber Foundation for the masonry was laid.
Where the earth was Judged to be sufficiently
firm, the timber was at once laid upon it without
further preparation. And in proof that the foun-