The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1852-09-18
n c. EPTEMBER 49, 1852


all the river Locks and Dams to ths foos
OF Snsitey's kalRs, with . A.iu increased
Lift below that point. were rendered
necessary In consequence Of the Cape
Fear belnS e feet above its lov Summers
stage, when I made the original survey
although was assured BY the residents
upon the river, that it was low Summer
water. found at that time long stretches
of the criver. requiring no Other work than
the Eemnvai If . few racks osipsnrs thste-
| Qufslle depth foe mas gable paSposes. But
fan the COURSE - eTske eonstsnetion Of :he
feet lower, aud hence the additional works
and the increased Lift. The Locks were
directed to be heightened by the Board.
! Wilmington. The three Lower Locks
were widened out to "a feet at the request
of the Lower Little River Lumber interest.
So much for the increased cost Of the
Work. Cor which the original Report and
Estimate IS in no :sise responsidte'
| In regard to the delay in the execution
Of the Lower Works, and the causes which
have operated to advance the works upon
the upper part of the Line beyond these,
the reasons are briefly as follows: Many
gentlemen upon Deep River subscribed
largely to the Work upon the condition Cf
paying in labor upon that part Of the line,
and when Mccullough s. Co. undertook
their Contract upon the Cape Fear, to bs
finished by the LIST Of January, 1852, these
gentlemen, supposin that Contract would
be literally carried out, began their con-
tracts on Deep River. and being men nf
capital they advanced with their work
rapidly.
The contractors failed to complete their
contract in the time. and never did collect
force below SmiIey's Falls sufficient to
take advantage of those seasons of low
water, when the work could be properly
executed. For upon work like this,
when Low water is absolutely necessary
to its progress, il one season is lost there
is nu alternative but to wait until the next
one arrives. L4abourcrs woald come in
from the upper counties. and positively re-
fuse to work below Smiley's Falls, sup
posing that portion of the river to be
literally grave yard aud hundreds in
the course Of the season have returned
home sooner than work below, although
they were offered s per diem, when only
80 cents paid above. Ii the Bonds
gwen for negro hire. by the year, there
was stipulation that they were not to 10
worked upon the lower part Of the river.
How. l would ask. can the Engineer be
hS'p pO;eiOIc tOl all tIlS
No statements have ever been made in
regard to the completion Of the work,
which have not been qualified, not only as
regards the force to be employed, but tho
necessity Of low wateT.
A community cxclusivcly engaged in
! building Rail Roads-wheie all is plain
sa'lfnS-I fear do not make any allow
ance tor work which has to be construct
ct, in the bed Of river, subject to frequent
: and sudden rises.
$ The floods rise below Smiley's Fals
from 40 to 6O feet high. and this fact suff
t cien,ly shows the ab>urdity Of uildin,
Lock walls above freshcts, it is sup
posed by some Wiseacres they should be
it is not usual upon nther rivers. and was
, never intended upon this. The working
of the Locks is always supendcd during
; hoods-which will amount to but few
u days in the course Of the year. The ob-
|" ject OF the Improvement is to insure tho
navi CATION at Lon 1yaier. In high flood
every thing will pass over the dams. aud
+ as upon the Monongahe!a river and others.
i the only objection will be the loss of the
tolls to the Company during that period.
The work in its present condition is in
= an advanced stage through hout its length ;
. and If the directors receive the material
, aid from the Stoc ckholders, which !;eir in :
dIvIduai respOn nslbil!iIes, and their eXer.
: : ti"ns heretofore entit!e them to. con-
; siderable portion Of the work can shortly
, be brought into operation. But it is pro-
= per that | shoulG state for the information
of its friends. that the season for the work
is rapidly passing away-that the inability
Of the Com pany to pay the Iaborers prompt
~ at the end Of each month, together with
the losses they have sustained 10y the Con :
= tractors. have greatly impaired their con-
fidence. aud renders it difficult if not i'm :
. possible to keep force tosether-indeed
below Sunley's Falls-with the excep-
ton Of the Jones Fall,' dam. the uork is
. progressing slowly at Cross Creek there
: is no force employed. and do not
:, anticipate the completion of that work this
= I season. This will not interfere however
g with the rafting interest. as any stage Of
water which vii! enable the raft, to 90 Oh
t" Wilmington. will allow them to pass
below Jones's Falls.
,. This article has already grown to such
length. that must conclude, and refer
those interested to the late annual reports
= tor further Information.
Q All ask is a fair and candid peru >al of
Z the above facts, all oftchich can be authenti
{, Gated. and do not tear the conclusions ts
L which unprejudced minds must cessari
;. ~ be brought.
; w. B. THOMPSON,
1 ~ e.