Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-19

ring the present year. have been conduc IN part
eoniracors IN part by irregular body VI annual hire
hnss IN the immediate service of the company; and
part by extra abourets called in for short pe;iod
upon special emergencies fequirin. rapid execution
and consequent cmcnta,ion of force. The resuis
annual force consisted of about $50 men, distribute
among the four subdivisions into which the d,visio
was reduced, and placed under the superintcntcr
of repairs, who established nj central position
mud was aided Ivy an assistant with i sui,abl
number Of oversccrS, boats and implements, IN eac
OF the subdivisions.
In the coarse Of tho year various additions an
improvements have been introduced upon the frs
division Of the canal which appcrtan properly &
the original construction of tho line, and constitute
| IN the aggregate n large amount OF work.
! Neat and substantial ratings have been anneNe,
10 all tic aqueduc,s, except tina, over Porrids
creek, and 'am1 rs and lamp posts have been crecte,
4, the side Of al the 81 locks the line of the di
vision.
Spacious road bridges have been place across
the canal at the corner otthc public warehouse, anC
at the armorv in the city OF Rchmond likewise
towing path bridge across the feeder below lock Nc
!, and foot bridge across the basin nj Lynchburs
The outlet locks ut the head OF the Joshua fall:
| nond have been finished; and houscc with suitable
rore and machinery have been provided for the es-
tabliShmcnt OF rope-icrry, os q substitute for a
towing path bridge the river at that point
the line.
Head gates have been placed n the entrance OF
the feeder the lower or first level of tue canal;
wal has 'tfU uult ~ me SuuNu OuuUuCnl OF Nn'
Nlaidcn's Adventure dam, to sustain the bank and
procc, !: from the abrasion of the river: additional
feeders have been provided n, the Maidcn's Adven.
ture and tho Lynchburs water works dams; and 4
feeding dam has been thrown across the northern
arm of the river a! the head Of the Seven Islands
feeder.
Lock houses have been built At the folowir =
locks, VIZ: for the accommodation OF locks Nos
l, and 6 at each Of the locks Nos. 10 and -:
one ut the guard lock at the I've river feeder; one
at the combined lDrS n tho head Of I've riy
rond; one a, each OF the locks Nos So s., 49, II,
~, 49, 81 and IS; one ut the guard lock at the
Joshua falls pond; one a. the combined locks Nos.
10 and ~; ut lock No. IS; and at the guard
lock al the Lynchburg water works dam; making a
total OF lock houses bull. IN tie present
year OF which the four situated ut locks Nos g. )
and +, TO- ., and the guard lock ut the LynchLurs
water works dam, are completed; but the remain
lns Is require each small portion of work before
they will be finished. Al the locks on the line OF
the first division now furnished with suitn bic
houses except locHs Nos. %, so. 81 and 81, where
they yet to he provided. Wi h the exception of
of few oi the postions NJ some OF the combined
locks, these houses are cheap wood buildings costing
from $3.50 10 $500, but they furnish sufficient &C
commodation, and will last for many years tc come.
In the course of the spring, with view 30 the
more convenient iracKasc Of boats the rip rap rock
along the bank of the Maicn's Adventure pond
was broken and the slope vas put in good ORDER
and likewise AZ the I've river pond, the slope Of the
bank was placed in good condition, and the top WAS
graded and repaired.
Waste we;rs or top wastes have likewise been
provided, IN the course Of the year, on the following
levels OF the first division VIZ: four on the 7h eve
two on the 18th, and two on the 5l>,; and also one
each on the 5'h, 9th, llth, l2ih, II h. l6.h, l7th
18Th, 90 $50, 2l;h, 26,h. 9Th, % h. SIS, S2d,
35h, SSth. seth, 40,h, i2d, 49,, Ain, 18th, ISM an
49ih evelS, making to,al number Of 81 waste
weirs made during the present year, and leaving
only one other 10 be constructed the 5lst level
in order that every level the line OF the frs: div.
sion may possess one or more OF these valuable anu
important appcndagcs to tie canal
In addition TO large amount of labor employed
in the course OF the year, in M king or improving
outlets from the cUverts under The cana. across the
low grounds 10 the river, and 10 clearing and en-
larsrs insufficient drain bitches which had formerly
been cut, a very considerable amount OF new dtajn
dchinS has heen laid on the upper lower sides Of
the canal IN oroer 10 prevent the wash from the
hills and to protect f.om d,mlse the lands and
crops OF the afliceni propre,ors; and the bank Of
the canal having sunk below the proper height
has been raised at various places Hong the line.
OF the list OF minor addition, and Improvements
property apperalnios 10 the original construction OF
the canal, which has already been enumerated as
having been provided dUriog the Present year. these
connected with the Mldeus Adventure and I've
river towing paths, sad also % OF the waste y=ers
and very large portion OF the diichns. were made
by The company's force. The residue was done Ly
small contractors along the line.
i'h AttH t".iiffttI iNs-+ VAS NItil CNtUy en-
ployei in the annual repairs Of the work which this
year have been very considerable, and prorably
much greater than they viii be for many years 10
come This has arisen mainly from various breaches
IN the entertainments, some OF which were OF extra
ordinary character, and required IN their repair
much time and large concentration Of force One
OF these occurred IN the latter part OF April at the
Rockhsh Gqueduct, where large part Of the wcsl
abutment gave way and was thrown into the river
along with immense mass Of earth excavated bv
49, f-o1 -
the canal | regret 70 state t.ct The opening made
IN the work on tnis occasion, disclosed considerable
defects IN the material. and construction Of the abu,
ment which doubtless contributed to produce the
breach. The interruption 20 passenger boats was
short and inconsiderabie but TO The reish, boats il
continued Tor three weeks; and occurring at the ne.
Rod OF the spring shipments to The western country
was injurious alike to the revenue and reputation Of
the canal.
On the 2lst Of June n storm Of extraordinary and
widespread violence ragged upon the upper parts Of
the line, and producing vast rise Of the tributary
streams, 1t caused considcrlh damage al seven dit
ierent places within the 80 miles Of canal which lie
between Bent creek und Lynchburg Four of these
places were on the north and three on the south side
OF the river; those on the north side being al popi
4 little above and lock No 80, at the double
culvctt no l. x creek al the frs; culyort below lock
No. ~, ana ~ pom: just above the last men
toned lock, and those on the south SIDE heinz
Mt the large cuyert over Gypsum creek, al
cuIveri Immediately opposite to Dukes mill The
culveu hrs; below lock No 10 sunk 50 as to render
1t necessary TO take 1t up and rebuild II on better
I foundliiOn; wooden trunk being substituted for
the purpose OF passing the boa during the prosre
OF the work. The masonry OF the large doub E cuI.
yer. al Elk creek stood firm and unin, Irsd althou.
lt was put 10 q scvCre test by the washing away Of
the enhancement on its upper side, end by the
shock Of vast accumulation of materials Of mil
dams and houses, which were swept from theu
foundations by the violence and mlgntude Of tie
flood. The large culven ut Opossum creek bcira
in like manner chokcd up by the Fragments OF bridge,
| brought down by the torrent from shove, the &C.
cunuia'cd waters rushed over it, carrying away tie
embnnkmeni OF the canal and large portion OF the
masonry Oi the cuiYeri, consisting Of part Of the
arch md the whole Of one offs wings. The darn.
age at the other enumerated points, was confined tc
| the mound Of the canal, and was produced by The
| pent mp waters Of suddenly swollen tributary
stfcims breaking over tho canal md sweef,lny of
| portions OF the embankment 10 their course. III,
various points Of injury n this extensive scene al
damage be.ug promptly attended to 10y forces %
adequate amount, the interruption TO the pnssige o
| boats was fortunately Of but shor. Duration and
produced bat slight Inconvenience TO the trade on,
| travel Of the line.
On the lsl October, n heavy breach took place or
! section 10, below lock No. 50. where, from cause
unknown, ebou; 20 fee, Of the cmbankmsnt gag,
way and were swtrt into the adjacent river TIN
part Of the canal being located along the face Of :
rocky prccpce Of considerable extent tic Necessary
supplies Of earth for nonilng tho breach were il
part temporarily borrowed from the emJsnkmcnu
above md below m order 10 lessen the delay o
bringing 70 from the back lands 1dd ttfowing
down thc cliff. On this occasion, also, the possig
Of freight boats was stopped for about three wctks
! during winch time, NUMEROUS wagons coming from