Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-12
REPORT UPON THE CAPE FEAR
AND DEEP RIVERS.

10 HeSSTS ALeE. IHGcItue, a. !. DerOSSeU,
A. s. Mcneil and F. }. Hill, composing the
Committee, designated by the Pittsboro'
OOnoention held IN July last. to take IN
charge the obtaining of a surrey and esti-
WsAte Of the probable cost of improving the
Upper Cape Fear and Deep Ripers as
high up as Hancock's NIL, in Moore Coun-
ty, North Carolina.
GENTLEMEN Having been engaged by
Major Walter Gwynn, on your behalf, to
make a survey OF the Cape Fear and Deep
Rivers, with view to the opening OF the ma
Vigation as high up as Hancock's Will in
Moore County, and having completed the re-
cOnnoizances, together with such instrument
tai examinations Of the most difficult portions
Of them, as the time allowed me would per-
init, have the honor herewith to report the
results including an estimate of the probable
cost of Slack Water navigation to be form
ed by succession Of Locks and Dams, with
occasional short Canals.
This character Of improvement is admirably
adapted TO those rivers, as Indicated by their
inconsiderable fall per mile lit being some
what less than two feet throughout their
whole lengthy their consequently sluggish
current. and the extensive natural pools al
ready to be found throughout their length.
Knowing the Importance to the friends Of
this improvement that the question should be
er such navigation could he obtained upon
these rivers, TO connect with the present
Steamboat navigation upon the Cape Fear
at Fayetteville, and with view to expedite
the work. after organizing party and pro-
curing suitable boat, began the descent OF
the river.
found Hancock's dam IL feet high, and
was told by him that it hacked the water up
for five miles above, with a depth of not less
fhou no riu
found a succession o. small shoals, until pass
ed the lower end OF Murchinson's Island,
where met with the back water OF Peter
Evans Jr. dam. % miles from Hancock's.
From this point to Evans Mills, a distance
of ten miles, found a splendid pool Of water
with depth ranging from 3 TO 8 feet. at the
then low stage, which was that OF low sum-
mer water.
Evans Dam has Just been rebuilt upon the
rafter plan and packed in with stone, about 3
feet in height. 1t is 100 feet long, and leaks
to some extent; it did not in consequence hold
full head Of water by } feet when this
shall be the case by the deposit mud and
sand held in suspension by the water brought
down the river, it will flow the water back to
Hancock's Mill, l24 miles.
In Evans Dam Il Lock will be placed OF
feet lift from which boat will float directly
into the back water from John Horizons mill
81 miles to Horton's mills. The deyth of
this pool, at its shoalest place, which is 200
yards below Evans Dam, is 2 feet for short
distance, from which it Immediately deepens
to feet and continues from to through
out its length.
Horizons dam is 374 feet long and feet
high, over which the water flowing at
the time; showing thereby plentiful supply.
1t is proposed to raise this dam one foot, which
can be done at a small expense. to insure 3
feet at all times back to Evans dam, and thus
supposing a lock in Hancock's dam, we find
already formed with small outlay, slack
water navigation of % miles
From the lock in this dam boat will float
into pond of not less than 3 feet in depth,
to be formed by dam to be erected 200 feet
below Thomas Farish's fish dam. This dam
will be feet high, and 284 feet long and
will connect the pools at present existing and
occasioned by the fish trap dams of Thomas
Parish, and Peter Evans, Sen. forming one
continuous pool for 8 ga miles from Horton s
dam.
ALock will be placed in this dam Of 9 feet
lift, from which boat will float into a pool
2 l-2 miles long and not less than feet depth,
extending to Gladys mill dam, short dis
lance below the mouth of Rocky River
AS this point, the first real difficulties are
encountered and it becomes necessary to
leave the bed Of the river for the first time in
80 IA miles. Nature has done much to
smooth the way here, and we find a natural
canal, or Sloo Of so to 70 feet wide, which it
is proposed to use for 2O5O feet. 1t is now
used as the race to Claig's mil; it will be
necessary to take down Gladys river dam:
which only holds water for three feet, and
construct upon its site dam feet high. and
1923 feet long. This dam will give sufficient
depth over the shoals at the mouth Of Rocky
River and above that point back to the sill
of the lock in the dam, at Farishs fish trap.
Some clearing out and blasting will be re-
quired, the cost of which is embracing in the
estimate.
A dam must be raised over the sloo as far
down as we use it, and in this dam lock will
be placed of 10 1-2 feet lift, from which Il boat
will pass into pool OF three miles in length
and of sufficient depth, formed by the erection
ola dam ust below the head fPullen's Falls
Some cleaning out will be required III the up
per part Of this pond.
PuIlen's Falls are the chief obstacles to the
opening of the navigation ofDeep River and
to casual observer, or thsse unacquainted
with the means resorted to esewhele in sur
mounting similar difficulties, they do appear
to constitute Il barrier to the navigation Of
the rich and fertile valley Of that river. Bu
they are by no means Observation-Disclosures
when it is considered as will be seen by the
upper portion of the river can be rendered
navigable, 1t will we understood that we car
afford to expend an amount sufficient to over
come the difficulties at the Sc falls, and ye
leave the average cost of improving Deer
River quite low.
A Lock will be placed in this dam of 8 fee
lift, from which a boat will float into poo
u miles long and not less than feet depth
extending to Gladys mill dam, ehort dis
lance below the mouth Of Rocky River.
The LIST dam in the falls will be placed up
on ledge of rocks making across the river
81 feet below the level of the water surface
above it will be feet high. and 3S4 fee
long, including the abutments. lock viii
be placed in this dam of feet lift.
A boat will float out this lock into the poo
below of sufficient depth, and 900 yards long
which brings US to the End dam. This dam will
also rest upon a rocky ledge. it will be 10!
feet high in the main river. but as it will cross