Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-12-04

my expectations Still entertain no doub; OF tie
eon Of this portion The line during the year and
several portions III it will be opened very early in the year.
Oh the line between North river and Buchanan have 10
port the locks and DAMS and works o arr ut every desc
ton sill farther behind expectations of Their progress
this period and of the completion OF this portion o the
canal during the year. cannot speak 80 confidently,
although is within the compass Of no very extraordinary
excr0n OF energy Nv opinion, however, - That II VIII
lack very tle ii any, Of completion, and should the
b. very favorable doubt mol will be completed d'i1
ring the neat year.
III. 4 COMPARISON ESTIMATED AND Actual CosT
WORK.
The estimate of the of the canal from lyncbug 10
Buchanan ade prior appointment 10 The office OF
Chief Engineer and was pelcated upon the construction
of locks of rube masonry lined with plank, and resting on
foundations of timber and on an inner slope Of eInbank
of and half feet base foot rise and on
entertainments Of earth Ia prevent breaches nom ircsheS be-
hind the abumrnis of the DAMS and between The abutcns
and the guard locks On this plan Of construction the estl
amounted 10 S6ili6 for the completion NJ the canal
from Lynchburg 10 the mouth Of the North river ana 10
1893 Sg for the construction of the canal from the mouth o
the North river In Buchanan
When il became duty, the Chief Engineer ot the
Company examine inucy the plans and estimates
Of the work, found that the cost vi the hSs, on the plan
proposed III the estimate would be very nearly a. great rs
the ot stone locks and the former being comparatively
temporary had hesitation in recommending the adop
ton OF stone locks; and in many instances where the
estimate contemplated timber foundations resting on EARTH
upon cycavating The pits down In the proper level
for the timber bottoms. the earth proved IN be of
such lrcachcrous character that extended the foundations
down the rock changed the interior slopes of the EN-
hankments, with few exceptions, on the line between
Lynchbrg and the North river on and half 10
slope corresponding a base of feet for every foot
perpendicular rise recommended guard walls Of masonry
carried down generally rock foundations; on one side o
the DAM uniting The abutmens and guard locks and on the
other running into Tho firm clay soil AUDITING against The
rocky lining Of the hills which limit the low grounds border
ing the river in lieu of the mounds OF earth alone proyd
cd for and relied upon in Tie estimate 10 guard against
breaches behind the abuens of the dams which safeguards
unstable and uncertain best would be especially objection
able when composed sandy auvon resting on materials
OF The kind, and those again undcrad by gravel s
would be the III almost every INSTANCE from Lynch
burg 10 Buchanan And aimonsled by the great fresh
November 1871 which swept far above the contemplated
height Of the cmbankneEis they have been raised above the
reach ola similar fresh and beyond the influence at much
higher rise n c river This increase in the height o the emf
banlmcn;s invoyeda corresponding elevation o the head
walls and the wings of the guard locks and guard walls and of
the outlet locks also ascor.ancd IN my examination ol the
estimates that allowance had been made Tor the pay oil
engineers and supcrutendcns that the cement Ind been
omitted and that the wcrs, lock gates dry walls ana
paving the head of the locks dry walls at the tail OF the
locks pier heads al the DAMS and eight at the large towing
path bridges had not been included in the estimate for the
completion of the canal between Iynchblrg and the mouth
Of the North rivers and that similar omissions had been made
in the for the work from the mouth Of the North
river Buchanan. These changes and omissions combined,
with 60)0 in addition for damages nccaSlonfa by the sh
in November ISL and 10000 10 annu the old contract Tor
cement swell the Of completing the canal from Lynch
burg the mouth Of the North river Ia 6"V ana make
the of constructing the canal from he mouth oi The
North river Buchanan 39lo exceeding the estimate
for the completion Of the canal from Lynchbrg TO the mouth
of the North river by the of S69690 and being
and above the estimate for the construction oil the
canal from Inc mouth o the North river Buchanan, OF
SO amounting in the aggregate lO963o which IN
addition To the unexpcndcd balance the appropriation for
the completion Of the cana! from Lyncburg 20 Buchanan,
amounting S615,3, will bc required tho ensuing year
beg leave submit few remarks under the head OF
IN. rHE PaoGREss THE WORK BEYOND BUCHANAN.
The next step in the progress Of the embraces
by common consent The extension 10 Coyngton And rs
far acquainted with the views ri the stockholders
and the opinion Of the public there Is no difference oi Cpl
MD -
agree that the line should be carried 10 Coviug.on
The only question: therefore 10 be submitted 10 your CON
sdcration in relation 10 this part Of tho line is whether me
time has arrived for m appraiir" - Ito legislature "r nv
Without pretending cnter into the discussion, VIII
offer lew prsc,c; why think advisable TO con-
tinuc tie work on without interruption.
FIRST After the completion of the canal to buchaha' ~
whrh there il hui, little doubt during the next Year. We W"
have large number of we'll trained mechanics "ch we
have been aboring for three years to collect VINO co VI
Immediately transferred the extended WORKS. but siou
they be dsbanded by suspension o operainnsat
il will require ike longer period 10 ciec' o@
Their force efficient The further remove oil inc me hto
The interior will increase the difficulty Of mastering new
force subject greater delay than mas oeeh N
perienccd in the prosecution oi the work between
| and BuchanaL- r,
S,on.il The contractors the line, many OF whom
presuabc would take contracts are fully equipped WIN
cranes derrcks and tools which to them would be 80 cl
active capita, in the commencement of new JOBS anu "c
tope,her with the profits is hoped they will realize IRON
their present contracts would enable them 10 prosecute '
work with vgor and profit To themselves ana sas
| faction . the company. ~,
And Lasy The contractors the line would b. On
abed to take the work cheaper by about the difference W w
first cost of their tools and machinery and the amount me
would be worth il employed on the extended worn
that the Of the equipments OF the contractor Is III
so much capital OF the company that would be os' o s
penson Of the work Many other reasons might oc aadhc
10 shew why the work should be pressed forward hui III
limit have prescribed sell will not admit OF lcir penn
brought forward here; they will however readily Of IN
those acquainted WITH the long -uelerfeu ~
public. .e canal west of Coyingior
In relation the cStensio9f The James and Kanawha riv
and the union of the Ycncc and observation confirm
crs, every years heretofore expressed believe it entrel
the ylc> practicable the line across the
easdnv The only question involved Is that oil cost an
thai regard minor consideration compared WIN IN
great and important interests nj stake .
Although the almost unprecedented drought ana long con
nuance of dry weather in the mountains VIII! ior man
wears TO come sgnalize the past the dry season ou
rain guares indicate 80 inches Of downfall water WHICH, ate
The usual allowance for cvaporaonand wastagc, will be- an
fcienl emitting the from running streams, TO a'lou
sufficient supply for the summit 'eNci anu 'ie pa'S " "
II been stated in reports heretofore made TO the CON
many that thing 10 gather ram waller III
ia reservoirs for the supply Of much longer levels Than al
required be fed from the same source on the summit eV
of our ne nevertheless the plan OF artificial reservoirs
denounced experiment. the like OF when was ie'e
heard of before. And the mode OF aseeails tc ~
na fall of rain the Allegheny Is assaIled with rd
Guile though The same that adopted all over the wot
and practised by philosophers and Swans in their iere
ing investigations vi the physical sciences But. Tor III
part truth is the great result which wish To arrive an
care but little III what position that result places me III rt
gard the opinions al others especially ol iios'
with too much pride study, and too much Wit 10 tnh
underyalue what they do understand and condemn wh3
they do not comprehend" With the hope however, OF mai
ing some impression this class OF men, have take
soe pains during the past 10 collect information VII
regard 10 the extent which artificial reservoirs are relic
upon as feeders the summit levels of canals in orr conI
nv and the success which has attended them In cn
nny detailed OF the numerous facts ecird o
correspondence and derived from books and reports n
leave 10 substitute and invite attentive persa o n, 10
lowing very able and comprehensive Letter OF '" Mno
Roberts Esq., who desevcdlv ranks amongst the most d'
iing,ishcd practical engineers o.! The country.
NV I.rsBoS Ono, OCTOBER g. 1919.
| NJ ron W ALTER C;wySS Chief Engineer
| of The James River and kanawha Canal
DEAR SIR:In accordance with the promise made TO 20
in AUGUST last herewith present statement in regard
several of our northern canals which dependent Tor the
| supply Of water upon artificial reservoirs.
The absence the late President of The Pennsyvan an
Ohio canal company and the severe illness OF hci che
enaineer have prevented me from obtaining information
Jeia concerning that work. have been able 70 pr
cure "a many desirable respecting the ONO c.
nal The other works upon which have heretofore bee
engaged engineer you will find more particularly aescr
bed =,
First The Sandy and Bearer canal seventy three mile
in length connecting the Ohio canal nj Boirdr eighty n'
south of Clereand with the Ohio river AT Gtasg" tort