Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-13
California Enterprise-The South Fork
Canal.

Canal.
PLAcERvILLE, july 6.-This stupendous
work, in I'll Dorado county, about which SO
much has been said aud written, is at last APP
preaching completion. 1T is predicted by its
enterprising contractor, that the water will be
let into its main trunk some time during the
early part of next month. After expanding
| vast sums of money upon it, Its original pro-
jectors were compelled to witness its forced
sale to liquidate the amount of its outstanding
Indebtedness; by which circumstance on the
Messrs. John Kirk, D. j. Isle, d. X. Newell,
and J. A. Read, under whose dictatorship it
has been energetcally prosecuted.
| From the beginning, Mr.. Kirk was the con-
tractor of the work, which position he continues
to hold. At the time specified, when its own
| ership changed, some eight and-a-half miles re-
NAMED unfinished, commencing at Long Canon,
| from which point it has been extended along
the mountain sides by ditch and hume till it
has now almost reached its ultimate point of
intersection with the south fork of the Ameri-
can. In this vicinity the river has an average
fall of 100 feet to the mile, while the fall of the
canal in the same distance is but six-thus
affording gain of "a feet to the mile, over the
| intervening elevation. AT Long Canon, the
ditch occupies an altitude of 500 feet above the
| level Of the river, and in many places has been
constructed through solid rock, where great
deal of blasting became necessary to secure it
| permanent bed.
Mr.. Kirk obligated himself to complete the
distance of eight and half miles for the sum
of $l65,000. The able manner in which he
has complied with the terms, is eminently
evinced to any person who will take the trouble
| to investigate the character of the work. At
the present time he has engaged upon it some
| $50 workmen.
The head depot of the contractor for furnish
| ing the necessary lumber for this work, is some
fourteen miles east of Placerville, on the side
of mountain overlooking the south fork of
the American river, at the confluence of Silver
| Creek. A splendid steam saw mill is in active
operation, supplied with an abundance of tim
Der from the straight and lofty pines in the i'm
mediate propinquity. Here all the necessary
material is not only ripped out, but shaped,
drilled, morticed and proportioned by nicely
adapted machinery. When SO prepared, it is
placed On q railroad car and carried the dis.
lance of some 500 feet, at which point there
is stationary windlass with rope and two
large cars, by which the prepared lumber is
let down distance of l,700 feet almost per-
pendicular) to a platform below. This platform
is 200 feet above the canal, and the canal yet
$50 feet above the level of the river. When
the lumber reaches the platform, however, it is
| further let down by means of slide. The
principle of the windlass is the one well known
for such purposes, viz: the descending loaded
car draws up the empty one.
The main reservoir of the South Fork Canal
is on hilltop about two miles east of Placer
vile, and is capable Of holding 10000 cubic
yards of water, or of furnishing some 400 sluice
heads with ample supplies. When the entire
work is completed, Its main trunk will have an
extension Of q miles-to Coon Hollow. There
are also four additional branches, varying in
extent from 3 to i miles.
/ Standing near the windass of the railroad
by which the sawed lumber is lowered the be-
holder is COMPOUNDED in establishment by the
courage which could suggest so bold an enter
prise. Looking down 2,l50 feet upon the dash
ing current of the American river, its great
volume Of water seems no larger than the cur
rent of l2-inch sluice-box. Turning his eye
upward, the mountain top is yet 500 feet over
Matchmaking an almost perpendicular aggre
gate height to the mountain, from its plane ia
It's base, of $3.50 feet.
The completion of this splendid work is anx
iously awaited by hundreds of miners, who viii
then have an opportunity more thoroughly tc
prospect the rich gold region lying along the
vicinity Of its line. The investment is regarded
as handsome one, which it is to be hoped il
may prove for the genius which could project
such an enterprise, or carry it through to a sue
cessful completion, deserves TO be rewarded fol
his holiness and perseverance. Thus far, the
work has cost over a half million of dollars
and traverses one of the most valuable gold re
, gions in the State Sacramento Union.