The southerner., 1853-11-19

which were established with reference
to this plan throughout the survey
clearly prove.
The line Of 1evel was conducted upon
the low water surface, by D. 1t. McDuf-
fe, ESQ, and the plan of reference was
carried along with the survey by means
of the tide guages established for that
purpose, and examined at the end OF
each days work. He had also in charge
ell the cross sections, showing the depths
at low water, which were taken oo feet
apart throughout each shoal, the depths
upon the section line being taken every
10 feet, and the borings to ascertain tue
substratum of the River, as often as
considered necessary for that purpose
The compass line showing the Iopo-
graphy was conducted on the North
bank of the river by S. T. Albert, Esq
exhibiting, as will be seen on the Chart,
all the features of the valley of the river,
the height of its banks, and shoals, &c.
The plane Of descent of the Tar River
at low summer water, as will be seen by
reference to the Profile, is of remarkable
uniformity, corresponding sufficiently
near, for all practicable purposes, to the
plan of reference The works have,
therefore, all been planned with refer
cnce to this plan, regard being had to
the rise of freshets, and especially with
view to avoid the overflow of the ara
BILE lands upon the river margin.
1t can safely be asserted that with
dams of such inconsiderable heights as
will be found to be adopted in this Re
port, there will be no more arabic land
submerged during the period of foods
than is now, and strange as it may ap-
pear to those who are not familiar with
the operation, the practical effect of
much higher dams, upon other and
much bolder streams, where due regard
has been observed between the height of
the dams and the height of the banks,
has not been to cause the overflow of
any more lands in floods than was known
to be the case before their erection.
This has been ascertained by comparing
the level of the heights of the floods be-
fore and after the erection Of works of
this character.
Fears, understand, are entertained
by some that the dams will operate to
prevent the running Of fish. If they
will reflect that the usual season for the
running of fish is in the winter and
spring months, when the waters are
usually high, and when such low dams
could scarcely be appreciated, they must
conclude that the improvement can have
no such effect.
The cross sections Of the river, show
ing its depth at low water, and the bo-
rings upon these cross sections to ascer-
tain the character Of the foundations,
and the depth of the everything sand and
mud, were very numerous, amounting
to l59 upon the different shoals. They
clearly show the character of the river
bottom. The sand varies from 3 to 6
feet in depth, when the boring rod in
variably struck compact hard, blue
substratum, which was in some cases
clay, and in others mari. Occasionally
the rod would indicate species of rock,
as was the case a short distance below
Bensboro' and at some other points.
This substratum furnishes as reliable
foundations as could be desired in the
absence of rock. From the character
of the river, its numerous shoals, as will
be seen upon the chart, and from the
tortuous course of the channel through
them, and the difficulty Of collecting
and confning the water, in order to OBJ
tain sufficient depth in the channel,
together with the belief that none but
as perfect navigation as possible would
ensure the expectations of the friends
of the Improvement, | have adopted as
the plan Of the works a slack water nav
igation, a0ith lcaO dams, for which pur-
pose there is an ample supply OF water
at all seasons.
There will be in all four locks and
dams. The first will be established be-
low the Sycamore shoal, about 2 miles
below Greenville; the comb of this dam
will be raised 4 feet above the low water
surface of the river-it will create
navigablc pool of about 7 miles in
length. The second Dam will be estab-
lished just below Bryant's Creek, not
quite 5 miles above Greenville; the
comb of this dam will be raised feet
above low water-it will40rm naviga-
bic pool of about II miles in length
The third dam will be established about
half mile above Walston's landing; the
comb of this dam will be 5 35-lO0ths
feet above low water surface-it will
form a navigable pool of about 74th
miles in lenoth The fourth dam will |