Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-09

Col. Thompson to Superintend the Improvement ano
that the work viii be prosecuted with energy as soor
as the necessary machinery and hands can be OBJ
tained Very respectfully,
Your obt. serv't.
r. L. MYERS.
REPORT
Upon tho Surcey OF The Tar Rioer, ertersdisg from
Hardy's Greek about four miles belong Greencitle
to 9Gr60roagh, sboeoin9 the Plans and Estimates
yor tho proposed improvement fer that distance.
7a<W. NoRFLEEr, w. J. Blow, and R. L. MYERS,
Eso'Rs, the Commissioners tn charge ct the e1pe'1-
Iitttfes for the Improvement of 1ur Rirer from
near GTeenuilLe, in Pitt County, to Iar6o1Ough,
IN the County Of Etkgecom5e.
GENTLEMEN: Having been employed by you to
make the Survey and necessary examinations, plans
and estimates for the Improvement of the Tar RIVER
I have the honor herewith to report the result.
From the difficulty of procuring proper Assistant
Engineers, the Survey was not begun until the lst
of june although was expected under the arrange
ments with you that it could have been commenced
by the,15th of May. 1t was finished and the party
discharged on the 4th of July following, with the
exception of one of the Assistant Engineers Mr..
s. T. Albert who was retained to aid in the construc
ton of the Charts and Plans preparatory to the
innate.
The Survey could not have been made at more
favorable season, the water continued at or near
the lowest summer stage during its prosecution.
The Survey was begun at the first obstruction to
the navigation about miles below Greenvllie, and
400 feet below the mouth of Hardys Creek. The
distance to Marlborough found to be so miles 1918
feet measured on the north bank of the river, and
the rise for that distance II eetand 310th of foot
which, for the whole distance, is an average OF
ffaction over 4-1Oths of foot to the mile
8 The stream guaged just below Marlborough,
and its capacity, at the then stage of water, was
found to be 22,200 cubic feet per minute.
The plan of reference, Zero, assumed at
the ordinary low water of summer; it was designa-
ted by gentlemen familiar with the river, and found
to be very correct as the tide guages, which were
established with reference to this plan throughout
the survey, clearly prove.
The kne0f Ieretwa conducted upon the low water
surface by d. G.. McDufie Esq, and the plan of rel
crence 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 all the cross sections, showing the
depths at low water which taken 80 feet apart
throughout each shoal the depths upon the section
line being taken every 10 feet, and the borngs to
ascertain the substratuln of the River often
considered necessary for that purpose.
The compass line showing the Topography was
conducted on the North bank of the river by S. T.
Albert, Esq, exhibiting, 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
water will be by reference to the Profile,
is of remarkable uniformity corresponding sufficient
" near, for all practicable purposes to the plan of
reference Thc works have, therefore, all been
planned with reference to this plan, regard being
had to the rise of rcshcts and especially with view
to avoid the overflow of the arabic lands upon the
river margin
It can safely be asserted that with dams of such
incolisiderable heights will be found to be adopted
In this Report there will be arabic land SUBJ
merged during the period of floods than s-now, and
strange it may appear to those who not famil
lar with the operation, the practical effect of much
higher dams, upon other and much holder 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 lands in
Hood 70 l,f 6oo hofnr fIofr
erection. This has been ascertaned by comparing
the level the heights of the floods before and after
the erection of works of this character.
Fears, understand, arc entertained by some that
the dams will operate to prevent the running of fish,
If they viii reflect that the usual season for the run
ming of fish is in the winter and spring months when
the waters are usually high and when such low dams
gould scarcely be appreciated, they must conclude
that the Improvement can have no such effect
The cross sections of the river showing its depth
at low water, and the boIings upon these
tons to ascertain the character of the foundations
and the depth of theoyerlying sand and mud, were
very numerous, amounting to 100 upon the different
shoals They clearly showthe character of the river
bottom. The sand varies from to feet in depth
when the boring rod invariably struck compact
hard, blue substratum which in some cases
clay and in others marl Occasionally the rod would
indicate species of rock, as was the case short
distance below Bensboro', and at other points
This substratum furnishes reliable foundations
as GOULD be desired in the absence of rock. From
tHe Character OF the numerous SnOalS, as
viii be upon the chart, and from the tortuous
course OF the channel through them and the difficult
ty of collecting and combining the water in order to
obtalna sufficient depth in the channel together with
the belief that none but as perfect navigation
possible would ensure the expectations of the friends
of the improvement, haze adopted the plan of
the works slack water navigation, Nth Loo dams
for which purpose there is an ample supply of water
at all seasons
There will be in all four locks and dams. The
first will be established below the Sycamore shoal,
about miles, below Greenylle the comb of this
dam will be raised feet above the low water surface
of the riyer will create navigable pool of about
z miles in length The second Dam will be estab- |
shed just below Bryant's Creek, not quite miles
above Greenyille; the comb of this dam will be
gable POOL of about Z miles in length The third
dam viii be established about half mile above
Walston's landing; the comb of this dam will be
35-100ths feet above low water surface-it will form
nayigabe pool of about tn miles in length. The
Ourth dam will be placed about half mile above /
sparta; the comb of this dam will be Cloth feet
above low water surface-it will form navigable
pool of about Eth miles in length, up to the bridge
1t Tarborough
These dams will insure depth of water sufficient
the ordinary loo acdter of summer for the purpo-
ses of navigation, aording depth of 81 feet at that
lime upon the mitre sills of the locks sufficient to
carry on aRount of trade far greater than the |
rends of the PROPOSED Improvement could desire |
out looking to the future it is thought to be none
TOO much.
PLAN OF TIE PROPOSED Works.
The dimensions of the locks between the main
ILLS will be liz feet with the exception of the first
ock calculated for larger boats which will be 1870
Get between the main stills. The width of the lock-