Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-20

dam, four feet high, (Which Is the nelgnt Oh uat
assumed,) would bring the water below to the lev,
el of the water above it, after which the effect OF
the flood upon the adjacent lands would be the
same as though no dam had been erected And
this is the practical effect, as may be observed by
any person who will take the trouble to notice It,
A dam, therefore, when erected with proper
regard to its height as compared with the height
of the banks, will not overflow the adjacent lands
more frequently than would have been the case if
no dam had been placed there and experience con-
firms this fact.
The dams will flow the water back from one to
the other, thereby affecting slack water naviga-
tion and rapid and easy transit for boats and all
craft as high up as Watson's Mill.
The pools will vary from to 10 miles in length
up to Waynesborough above that from to 8
miles. The operation of a lock is so we'll under
stood at this day that it is not thought necessary
to dwell upon it. By these, the boats are lifted
from one pool to the other-an operation requiring
from three to four minutes of time. There is an
abundant supply of water at all seasons with tight
dams for a'lock and dam improvements.
PLAN OF THE PROPOSED WORKS.
WING DAMS.
| These will be constructed by driving two rows
of piles five feet apart each way, connecting them
together with timbers, and the whole sheet-piled
on the sides-fed in with suitable packing and
sheeted over with two inch planks.
MAIN DAMS ON THE SLACh WATER
There will first be prepared an apron by driving
four rows of piles across the river After cutting
them off at the proper level, they will be bound
together with strong timbers, bolted to them plank
ed to the top, and sheetpled along the entire
upper face of the apron. Four feet from the upper
face of this apron, there will be longitudinal tim
Der bolted down upon it, extending entirely across
the river What is termed Brush Dam will be
bult upon and above this apron, in alternate layers
Iof bruch anil Tho butt opAc of tho
saplings being squared and logged into this longi
tudnal timber, and boted, and for each layer,
until the requisite height is obtained The top
course of gravel will be covered with stone of sui
table thickness. and when the water flows from the
apron, there will be Facine or brush protection.
RIVER LOCKS.
They will be 10 feet between the gates and
twenty -four wide in the chamber. The foundation
will be prepared by driving piles four feet apart
with a ram of one thousand pounds weight over
the whole surface to be occupied by the foundation.
After cutting them off at the proper level they will
be bound together by strong mbers bolted to them.
These tmbers will be covered with three covers of
two inch plank buttoning one upon the other-the
top course being jointed, thoroughly trenaied and
spiked together. and to the timbers below. This
foundation will be sheet-piled all round, and upon
it the lock-walIs will be raised in the usual way of
timber cribs packed with stone. The chamber and
sides will be sheeted we'll the tops of the walls.
The above will give general idea of the plans
of the work. The specifications will, of course go
more into detail Should the Company conclude
to hire negroes, with suitable foremen, and the re-
guiste number of carpenters and contract the work
on their own account there will be required two
first class dredging machines, which can be pur-
chased at Baltimore at $4,000 each-one of them
to be retained after the completion of the work to
keep the entrance of the locks free, and for other
purposes.
ESTIMATE OF COST.
The calculations have all been made for each par
tcular structure, and such prices applied as have
been found adequate in this section Of country and
upon Cape Fear River. 1t is believed to be pru-
dent not to give the estimate in detail as in case of
contracting out the work it is always found to in
tcrferc.
1sT DIVISION.
Extending from the Red Old Fields" to ].
Jackson's Seine-haul distance 81 miles, rise Il24
feet. This also embraces certain work in the shape
of dredging and cleaning out between the "Red
Old Fields and Newbern.
For dredging, cleaning out trees,
cutting trees from the banks, &c., $3I 1885
Fo wing dams, $4,000.
ID DIVISION.
Extending from J. Jacksons Seine-haul to Way
esborough-distancc 81 1-2 miles-rise 1928 #.
8 Dams, S29I94
Locks, 1864
Add for cleaning out, &C., $3.50
- 91,lO6
e.'.- ..... 1898
Add 10 per cent, 1876
Total from Newbern to waynesborough. s15l,750
Sd DIVISION.
Extending from Waynesborough to Smithfield-
distance So miles-rise 52.67 feet.
10 Dams. &37 900