Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-02-01
WALHONDTNG CANAL.

Or, traction over D per cent on lhe
cost of The canal.
WALHONDTNG CANAL.
This work is now completed, and will
be in readiness for early spring naviga
ton. Water has been several times par
tally introduced into all the levels, and
again withdrawn for the purpose Of giving
the embankments more permanency be-
fore the introduction of a full head for
navigation.
No breach has occurred by the intro
duction of the water; and so far, appear
ances indicate that the earth work has
been permanently constructed. Dana
ges by floods, we're sustained at few
points during the winter and spring, from
the unfinished state of the work.-The
most important of which, was the under
mining Of one Of the abutments of the
dam at the crossing of the Walhon-
ding This dam was originally con-
structed too short, which at the time,
could not be remedied without too
great an expense in excavation. In re-
pairing the breach, the dam has been in.
creased in length, to the extent originally
| desired.
This canal is IS miles long, extending
from the Ohio canal, at Roscoe, up the
valley of the Walhonding river, to the
junction of the Vernon and Mohican, 19a
miles; thence up the valley of the Mohi-
can 81 miles, when it enters the pool Of
dam constructed across the Mohican;
thence there is slack water II miles.
Six miles above Roscoe, the canal
crosses from the right to the left bank Of
the Walhonding, in the pool of dam,
which affords the means of crossing the
river, and supply of water for feeding
the canal to Roscoe. This dam is 3O5
feet long, and Al feet high, above the
surface of low water. The foundation,
for about one half the distance across the
stream, is solid rock, and the remaining
portion is composed Of successive layers
of trees with the tops up stream. Three
string pieces of square timber, are then
placed across the stream, bOlted secure
iy TO the rock and tree foundation; and
on these are placed continuous course
or layer of square timber, securely bolt
ed to the string pieces, forming an apron
for the dam; and oil this apron, is con-
structed crib Of square timber, twelve
feet wide, tied together by cross timhers
once in ten feet, filled with stone, and
covered with four inch plank, forming the
breast or tumble of The dam. The ends
Of the dam are secured by cribs of timber
filled with stone, in lieu OF stone abut-
ments. At the termination of the canal
on the Mohican, the dam is 276 feet long,
aud 4 feet 7 inches high, above low wa
ter. and constructed sin liar to the one
across the Wa.honding.- This dam at
Gords the means of slack water navigation
IA miles above the termi nation of the ca
nal 10 the village Of Rochester, and a
supply of water for feeding the canal tC
f The point of crossing the Walhonding
II. miles below. The total descent il
this canal, is SO feel 10 inches, which il
overcome by II lift locks Of cut s,Ont
masonry. There is also a guard lOcE
near the point OF introducing the waite
. from the pool of each dam, to guarC
= auainst the influx of water in time o
foods, and at such times. 10 serve as
lett lock.
nj For the purpose of passing the smal
streams under the canal, seventeen GU
stone cuIverts have been constructed
G besides three wood culVerts to serve a
a land drains. There are also, eleven IOa'
q bridges with wood superstructure Offift
q feet span, resting on hammer dresse'
Y stone abutments.
3 In the construction of the masonry o.
4 this canal, such Improvements have bee
3 made, as experience in the constructio
8. and superintendent Of the Ohio cana
ic has suggested. - ~
The immediate valley of the Wa
honding, through which this canal passes
o though generally extensive, is bounde
in many places, by high, rocky, and PR
cipitous bluffs, and from the serpentln
course of the stream, it became necess'
~. either 10 cross il very often, or col
IN sIruct The canal in its bed, where was
hank presented itself. The latter alte
native was adopted, and five and one hS
40 miles Of the towing path embankmer
have been constructed entirely in the b
Of the stream, with protection wall
stone on the outside, TO guard agar
q abrasion from water and ice duli
63 foods.
The other portions Of the line, are
Gated along alluvial bottom lands, for
ING a canal Of cheap construction, q
ono that will be easilykept in repair.
Subsequently TO the commencement
this canal, laws have been passed,
thorzing the board, under certain rest
tons, to construct branches Of this VIC
to extend up the valley of the Ver'
river, 10 Mount Vernon, in Knox coul