Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-12
PLAN OF THE DAMS.

T dyCLVlllC Is utjOut ITO lCCb' AO NIShchSS
being about 100 miles.
PLAN OF THE DAMS.
The plan Of the Dams upon which the es-
innate is based. is what is termed CRIB dam.
1t is formed by longitudinal timbers, well Sc
cured to the rock, connected by cross ties,
with the down stream end of the ties kept at
such an elevation above the upstream end as
will give the proper up stream slope l-2
feet horizontal to foot vertical. These tim
bers will be of yellow pine properly hcwed,
and well tree nailed together. and the inter
mediate spaces or cribs, well packed in with
stone. Upon tmbers running length ways
of the dam along the face the up stream
slope. will be laid the sheeting of3 inch yell
low pine plank. running up and down the
tree nails.
PLAN OF THE LOCKS.
The Locks will be a modification # the
"Composite Locke; the walls will be formed
of we'll hewed yellow pine timbers laid length
ways of the Lock, 10 feet apart, connected
by cross ties every 10 feet Of their length
These cribs will be we'll packed with stone
to the entire heigth Of the Lock walls.
These Lock walls will rest upon timbers
extending entirely across the Lock. laid close
together, and upon which double flooring
will be laid to the extent ofthe lock chamber,
and the lining of the chamber will also be
double.
TIE Locks will be 100 feet long in the
chamber. by IS feet width, and are calculated
for boats 100 feet long and feet draft-and
80 to 40 tons burthen.
learn from Capt. Dibbel. that his steam
boat plying upon the Neuse River is 100 feet
long by II feet wide. from the bow to the
extremity of the paddle wheel, which is
placed in the stern Of the boat-lts draft
when light is Is inches.
The depth provided for in this estimate is
in no case less than feet, and no doubt
boat can be constructed to draw less than
the one named above.
These brief descriptions Of the locks and
dams are considered all that is necessary at
this time, to an understanding the chorac-
ter of the improvement contemplated.
1t is necessary to say that when the work
is laid off for construction, notifications of the
plan Of Improvement above presented may
be found advisable, and in all probability may
lead to some saving expense.
After a careful investigation Of all expen-
ses necessary to accomplish this work. upon
the plan proposed, the items for which are
presented in separated sheet, [ find it
mounts to including zen per cent tor contin-
gencies) $185: 600.
In order that the committee may have
clear understanding Of the Importance of this
proposed Improvement, of the interests not on
ly of the country through which it will pass,
but of the State at large. both social and
commercial, will endeavoI to point out some
of the physical features ofthe valley and of
the country it will traverse. To do so, will
ask them to examine with me for a few
moments the map ofthe State of North Car
DINA and beginning at Wilmington, the
chelsea port Of the State, we find the Cape
Fear River flowing through a broad and
noble valley and steam boats plying upon it
for 100 miles above, to Fayetteville. Thence
by this proposed improvement we find still,
the broad aud rich valley of the Cape Fear,
pursuing a North west direction some so
miles further, to the junction Of the Haw with
Deep river, and thence by the valley Of Deep
river, which now bears due west. 40 miles fur
ther: approaching at it's nearest point to
within SO miles of the rich and fertile valley
of the Yadkin river.
The highly productive lands Of the Cape
Fear and Deep rivers throughout the whole
extent of this proposed improvement are sus-
ceptihle of an amount Of surplus production,
which it would be difficult to estimate, could
the proprietors of them avail themselves of
the easy and cheap mode Of conveyance TO
market which this navigation would Afford
Upon Deep River, IL miles above its confu-
ence with the Haw river, we first come upon
the bituminous Coal deposit, which extends
on both sides of hat river for some Is miles
above and forms one vast coal basin, as is
clearly indicated by the openings which have
been made upon the lands Of Thomas Fa
IRISH, on Georges Greek, on the branches Of
Buffalo Creek, on the opposite side of the
river upon the lands of John Horton, where
the boring has been continued for some 20
feet without finding the thickness of the bed,
and also higher up near DR.. Chalmers plan
tation IN Moore County.
This coal burns with brilliant flame; it
is found from to feet below the surface,
and is identical with the far famed bitumin-
GUS coal of Allegheny County, Maryland, to
transport which to her sea coast, there has
been expended in the construction Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal So, SOP, 345, be-
sides new issue Of bonds recently made of
81 100000 making together, $1l POP. 345 for
construction alone. To this must be added
the interest and loss upon the sale Of bonds
up to this time, of $4 ass, $40; this swells
the amount to $l5, 661315.
The Report from which the above is ex
tracted, says-"The prominent and main
purpose Of the canal, as a work limited to the
Valley of the Potomac, is to lay open to the
inhabitants of the Atlantic States, the miner
al treasures of Allegheny country; particular
ly it's inexhaustible mines Of Coal and Iron"
Now gentlemen this immense outlay has
been expended to construct a line of canal
185-4-1O miles long, less than the distance to
the Deep River mineral region by IA miles,
and when we take into consideration the tar
if' Of tolls necessary to pay the interest upon
this large sum and compare it with that ne
cessary to meet the interest upon the small
expenditures necessary to accomplish this i'm
provement, is it not as plain as the sun at
noon day, that you can compete with the
Maryland Goals in any of the Atlantic sea-
ports?
Hematite Iron ore is also found upon the
banks Of the Deep River. soap stone, and al
so substance very much resembling black
lead,
Without desiring to weary you, gentlemen.
must carry you along with me, either by
water navigation. or if that is mpracticable,
by portage Rail Road. over the country d.
viding the Deep and Yadkin Rivers, where
we reach an immense and populous valley,
rich in every variety of agricultural wealth,
which would be collected and transported
a. D.; M