Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-03
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
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M squsduct 2st feet and various points upon the
according 10 local circumstances, from minimum Of IS
feet maximum of "a feet Al the head OF the Blue
Ridge Canal the water 20 mos extraordinary height
Consequences Of The union that point OF great floods from
both branches Of the rver.
The relative height Of In, In comparison with former
feshc~ appears 20 have been greatest in the mountain
gon and especially In the neghborhood Of the Allegheny
Ridge Upon tn ne of ths Fest Of the Blue Ridge
cersiny Surpassed any fresh that has occurred within the
Last ~ yesr, and exceeded by difference generally Of
several feet that Of the year 1915 which. Il will be rceo
ecssd formed the standard Of reference for the location Of
the Canal.
egrcst sssss tina, the result Of this extraordinary
md sudden In the river that the canal in both the
6t and second grand divisions. extensively submcrg
I'd and sustained heavy damages in addition TO considera
bic injury done the time the turnpike road between
Covneton and Lewisburg.
The overflow In the krst division occurred various
places Richmond and Lynchburg constituting al
together aggregate distance Ut "a miles, The greatest
portion OF the damage sustained confined to the en-
bankments, which broken in lO3 different
places upon the line Of the division; the food
rally coming In Immediately below the locks running down
the levels and bursting the weakest points, where the
mound OF the canal had been thoroughly settled, and
still unprotected by vegetable cover.
The shock the works OF this division
much less severely felt and the amount OF injury in
ctcd comparatively inconsdeube; although from the
character of OF the subjects Of damage and tho time
necessarily consumed in their repair proved TO be the
chief cause Of the consequent interruption to the navigation
OF the line.
AT the Joehuas Falls DAM tho current passes the
mound the Southern abutmcnt, and swept it to-
gether with and half Of the adjoining low
grounds and caused breach Of about 200 feet wide and
from 90 feet in depth below the level Of low water
mark, thus forming passage for the whole volume OF wa
in tbs river around the Southern abument Of the dam
Of low mark passed top Of the double
cuve destroying 30 feet Of the upper and onehalf Of
he lower arch. the aide next the river, and carrying
nway about 1000 cubic yards OF embankment
Al several other points the line. injury Of minor
grade sustained by other OF the works OF art
One Of the coner Of the Baekwater aqucduct having
bxu fhr
ton. partially lifted up by the upward pressure
Of the il The temporary trunk at Pudding
Hill injured and portion Of the plsRking carried
away and OF four OF the spans and the piers OF
ts I've ver towing path bridge and likewise those OF the
first farm bridge below that point, swept oil and
lodged in the neighboring low grounds.
As soon the had subsided sufficiently
tain the character and Of this appalling Of dam
for the restoration Of the work adopted
with the ponpuds and energy demanded by the great
interests stake. The general outline OF those
conduct the repair Of the entertainments by
sged companys force operating under the superintendent
OF repairs and the repair OF the works Of contrac
operating under the supervision Of the Chief Engineer
bn; the two systems were ecprocay brought TO did each
Other especially the upper part Of the division where
considerable portion Of the earth work let TO the
tractors.
The rs great object was to repair the embankments and
to reopen the Canal with all dispatch high
the Tyo river feeder leaving the beeehes above that point
fora subsequent and more gradual operation, nasnueh
that portion of the navigation could be restored until
the completion Of the work the Joshua Falls Dam.
Notwithstanding the financial difficulties with which
they had conond the Directory fortunately enabled
toseeure the prompt concentration Of powerful force
the work. consisting Of 100 procured from the
the Richmond Dock 80 obtained by the influence
OF the directors (sr. Samson) from tho Midlothian
Cospit 40 hired along the line and the Companys regular
annual force OF 80 Misunderstanding in the whoean
gregate force Of 400 men.
This force, having been suitable distributed throughout
the line of log miles, extending from the city Of Richmond
70 the mouth Of Tye river. managed with
and effect by the superintendent andh his assistants insomuch
thai although from the Of the entertainments, operations
could not be commenced Jill the 18Th o July the
repairs finished let in the water the
MIideu Adventure feeder the 2lst of the month"; and
the Seven Islands and Tye river the 9Th August and
IN few days inter those periods respectively the naviga
ton from those points was completely restored.
During the progress OF the work portions Of this maximum
force dismissed and about the middle of August de-
taehneni Of about 80 up strengthen the
Companys force the head of the Blue Ridge canal but
Notwithstanding hese reductions, there upon the t
division, from the 18th July I'LL the 10Th Sept general
Re be q sh"S It 3 9SahHass p' an, ., -
cribs Of timber with base of As feet in BREADTH which
afterwards raised TO plane about 10 feet below the
comb OF the DAM and then carried the desired height
by Of back interior and front logs and ties the lower
side with slope Of three feet base each foot Of rse and
the upper sde with slope OF to 1.-The slopes being
covered with inch plank, well secured by wrought
bolts to the nbes underneath. The Southern abutment
Of the dam constructed of stone laid hydraulic
cement; and contemplated to extend guard bank
the abuiment TO the base Of the neighborng hills.
The double cnlvert Beaver creek having previ-
ousy been injured by eshets and repeated trials having
shown Its incopacy give proper the OF the
creek, was decided luke il down the ine and
rebuild upon economical pan susceptible of speedy
execution, and calculated the recurrence OF ruch
injuries hereafter Permanent abunents Of cut stone have
been erected and upon these substantial wooden trunk Of
Az feet has been placed, giving way the
creek OF more than double the capacity Of the culvcrt for
which it is substitute.
he Bnekwater aqucduct has been readjus,ed and pro-
perry secured and the abutnonts of the aqueduet Pud
ding Hill, which were commenced last year, have been
completed, and permanent trunk has been constructed in
place OF the temporary trunk which swept away The
Iye river towing path bidge and the farm bridge which
was swept oil near that point have been renstaed with the
OF the former raised feet higher than for
meSiy, and the dimensions Ot the new piers enlarged
nus rs, o. repairs, may be proper to add, that the
Tye rVer dan having been injured and partially washed
away range OF cribs with base Of 20 feet has been
oeow tne oan and sgrInounsd with slope OF very
sohd construction at an angle OF ~ degrees
An tae repairs and demonstrations Of the works OF
haa oeen Injured oy me iresn were pressed by the
one Lngneef WIN ms w9nted energy and Skill aided by
an lnuenual Director, thr DaVis)yst the heavy jobs,
at inc Joshua Falls dam, and the eulveu Beaver