Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-26
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.

The following is an extract from the recent re-
port submitted to the Canal Board by G. B. FISK
Esq on the supply of water above Dam No. g.
The Cumberland Civilian states that the water in
the canal is now SO low that navigation is very
difficult and, unless abundant rains should speed-
ly fall, must soon be entirely suspended
"Now, the plan proposed by Of pumps to ele
from the river, along side Of the canal at as many
points may be desirable just much water and no more
the wants Of the canal in dry may from time to
time require To do this, would divide the fifty miles OF
canal between Dam No. and Cumberland into five dvi
sons that nearly equal IN length as practicable and
would place the upper end Of each Of the four lower dv
engine and pumps Of sufficient power and capacity
raise from the river into the canal much water as the
divisions Immediately below them may respectively require
This would reduce the length Of canal that must be supplied
by the feeder at Cumberland in extreme droughts to ten
miles,
cit may be well to remark in this connexion that at
very small the of Evis creek which enters the
river three miles below Cumberland the natural flow Of
which during the extremely dry Of 1888 was equal
TO oytwo locks full Of water per day. should ever be
desired be introduced into the Cumberland level OF the
canal on the upper DIVISION and be made available to the
canal if introduced through the Cumberland feeder
By thus supplying the deficiency Of water in dry seasons
by pumps stationed four points instead Of at several
advantages would esul-one Of which would be that the
quantity Of water required at each point being only
fourth Of what would be if all the water were TO be obtain
ed point there would always be ample supply Of
flowing in the river at the three lower sites for the
pumps less than three times the quantity Of water that can
be required TO supply ten miles Of the canal; and at
the fourth site, which is the upper one there is always an
Of water although not great at sites lower down
the river As the distance from Cumberland increases with
every additional stream that enersor nsance at the South
Branch, twenty miles below Cumbcrapd-there was three
times the quantity of water in the Potomac in the extreme
drought Of 1888 that there was at Cumberland.
Another advantage that would result from obtaining the
deficiency Of water four points instead Of one, that in
Of breach either Of the upper divisions all the
other divisions be kept full and in readiness for the
sumption Of navigation as the breach is repaired
whereas otherwise all the divisions below the breach would
be cut of from their supply Of water during the repair and
be draining of by leakage and filtration and might be put in
such condition as to require much time for re6llng
"The FIRST point below Cumberland at which propose
placing an engine is Immediately below Lock No. ~, not
far above Paterson's creek.
The second point directly below Lock No. SO, oppo-
site the mouth Of the South Branch.
"The third point ID Immediately below Lock No. 81,
about two miles below the tunnel.
"And the fourth point s just below Lock No. SO, abou,
two and halfmi above the mouth Of Fifteen mile creek