Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-01-10
For the Standard
LETTER FROM PROF. EMMONS.

I had occasion in 1885 to visit the Northern and
thinly settled parts of Maine. The part of the
country in which l was more directly interested is
situated high upon the waters of the Androscoggin
and Margalloway rivers. These rivers unite about
miles above Enrol, and their united waters
form river rather larger than the Cape Fear, after
its junction with Deep river. The country is rough,
broken and rocky and yet it has but little geolog-
cal interest The prevailing rock is gness. Of this
country it may be said truly that certain large tracts
perfectly denuded and destitute Of soil; the
face being studded with rocks that in passing
it the traveller steps from rock to rock instead
of walking over smooth trail or path. Other parts
of the country have been deeply excavatcd, and
these dcpressions are lake basins whose forms are
irregular and whose shores usually rocky. One
of these lakes which had occasion to cross is the
Umbagog. 1t lies near the Androscoggin mile or
two below its junction with the Marigalloway. On
the river side Of this lake the shore is depressed and
formed of soil and soft materials, and does not rise
more than six or eight feet above the usual level of
the lake and river water. Through this low and soft
material a channel has been cut throug n which the
waters ordinarily flow, but sluggshly that boat
is easily padded through in either direction. The
flow, of course, is usually outward into the river.
When however, rains have fallen copiousy on eth
branch of the river and the waters have risen
to be flush, the current flows inward into the lake,
and this is especially the case during floods and
freShetS. The water at these times CONTINUES to
cumuate in the lake basin until its banks nearly
full, when the outward pressure forces the inward
current back, and these accumulated waters begin
to flow quietly down the river channel. The inward
current frequently continues three days. and during
this time the swell in the river is increased, yet
much water is diverted into the great reservoir the
lake, that no dangerous flood is created bridges re-
main safe, meadows uniniured, and mill dams are
secure. The security from injury thus provided,
results from the diversion of water into the lake,
whereby the flood takes up several days in passing,
instead of rushing down at through the river
channel in torrents.
What takes place naturally in the Androscoggin
through the fundamentally Of the side channel into
the Umbagog, may be effected Grt!fctaLtg, upon all
rivers by the erection of suitable reservoirs
In North Carolina, the Roanoke, Dan, Tar, Neuse,
Yadkin, Catawba, Deep, and Cape Fear rivers
all subject to floods, by which an immense amount
of property is annually injured or destroyed. If
now upon their upper and main branches reservoirs
by dams were constructed, those floods would be
rendered comparatively harmless.
Other advantages would follow from their con-
structon-the water would be preserved for manu-
featuring and navigation purposes during time OF
drought and instead of losing the supply of water
in consequence of its immediate discharge into the
ocean, its flow may be regulated to meet the de-
mands of the interests have stated The debris of
rocks, the sand and soil too, which is every year
carried down to make shoals will be greatly dmin-
ished and when the flood wood has been burned to
supply fertilizer, there will be no danger Of the
Development of niasm, or posons which will
generate fevcrs and sickness. Even the dams upon
Deep river, low down they arc, will be found to
exert sanitary influence in diminishing the DANA
geS by high water. But observation will more fully
show this hereafter. The kind of improvement ndi-
Gated in the foregoing communication is especially
adapted to those rivers whose navigation requires
dams and locks slack water navigation, in a
country where the rains assuming periodical
character One of the main objects in these improve
ments is to the surplus water which ordinarily
goes directly to the great reservoir, the ocean,
til time of necessity arrives when it be gradu
ally discharged SO as to meet the wants have indi
Gated No one can fail to be impressed with the inn
portance of this system of improvement, If he will
inspect the map of North Carolina. The State is
traversed by five rivers, two of them with navgable
branches, by which the productions, both mineral
and agricultural may find their way to market, and
upon which the necessary supplies of such articles
necessary for home consumption may be
turned. This mode of transportation has great ad-
vantage every other and these increased in
consequence OF the mildness of the climate. These
rupted by ice during the winter. If therefore, the
supply of water may be husbanded during summer,
the navigation of all the rivers may be preserved
the whole year. at time when railways have be-
come so popular in consequence of their imposing
and snowy results the more humble river transpor-
taton is liable to be lost sight Of and fall thereby
into unnerited neglect. The scheme, however pro-
posed OF maintaining supply of water by of
reservoirs upon the upper and main branches of the
rivers, be shown to be feasible and practicable
and could sufficient amount of enterprise be awak
ened in its behalf and the scheme carried out North
Carolina with its navigable rivers, would be better
supplied with the means of transportation than any
State in the Union. In conclusion, repeat that it
is mot simply navigation and increase of the
means for manufactures, which will follow from the
property upon the rivers referred to- the latter of
which would go far to justify the necessary expend
ture E. EMMONS
Smithfeld. Dec. "a. 1854.
FOR SALE.-A VERY FINE YOUNG HORSE,