The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-06-05

remained IN the canal. Iae Dreach was
onco repaired, as we'll as it could, but thos
having charge of the work, who were respon
sible to the stockholders and contractors, de
cined to re-admit the water, until. in their o
pinion, sufficient time had elapsed for the fros
to leave the ground perfectly, and for the wal
especially at this spot, where the breach oc
Cured, to settle, and become solid. Owing
to the circumstance that the water was not LET
in, the Secretary of State, Attorney General
Auditor General, and the Commissioner of the
Land Office, expressed the opinion that it wal
| not advisable to pass upon the work at thi:
| time but that another occasion should be "a
ken, at which tho work should be proved by
passing one or moro boats or vessels up and
down tho locks, and through the canal. All
of the officers, except the Attorney General
are brought by the terms of the act regulating
the completion and management OF the work
into direct contact with it. The Auditor Gen
eral and Treasurer, form with the Governor
the Board of Control, who have exclusive gen.
eral management of tho work after it has pas'd d
into tho hands of the State. 1t then becomes
the duty of the Secretary of Staie, after
the acceptance of the work has been filed
in his office, TO insure his certificate of such
fact, to be lodged with tho Commissioner OF
the State Land office. who transfers the lands
selected, to the canal company or their as
signees, and the Attorney General exercises
supervision over the whole as constituted legal
adviser. Tho presence therefore of these Off
GERS was highly requisite and all were present
except the Treasurer who was detained by i'll
health.
The impression left by the examination Of
the work, was that it had been executed in the
wost permanent, faithful, and substantial man
ner and the desire of the State officers to do
fer its acceptance, until the water was let in,
and the vessels worked through, arose from a
conviction on their part, that no loss would be
expected of them. than that they should see
the canal in actual operation, before receiving
it, and discharging the Contractors.
The Locks excited universal remark and ad-
miration, by their beauty, durability and per-
feet manner, in which the stone and workman
ship had stood the test of rigorous winter -
The gates are of massive construction, but
work with great ease. and being of vast
strength, and securely fixed in their places,
and stayed by numerous iron braces four in
ches square, running down into, and anchored
below the stone work. they can hardly be sup
posed to give way. They are easily handled
by two men.
The Caison gate noar the upper end Of the
work, is the only point or particle, which at
tracted unfavorable comment, so far as we OBJ
served, except the point where the bank wall
gave way. The gate appears cumbrous, and
is certainly difficult to handle; it extends tho
entire width of the Canal, and is intended to
be sunk, when in use, to the bottom Of the Ca
nal in order to form guard in case Of acci-
dent, occurring to, or threatening the work be-
low. When light it draws about three feet of
wa ter, and upon-being pumped out, IL risas
and is drawn round to the side OF the Cana,
into recess of its own size, constructed in the
left bank. When to be used, tbs swung round
and floated down till it strikes two jambs ton
inches in width of the length of the Canal on
its downstream linz, diminishing by an angle
of forty-five degrees upstream 1t is made
of three-inch oak plank, upon a very strong
frame bracod inward, in every possible direc-
ton 10 give it strength in resisting pressure
of water above. There should have been a
guard gate at or near this point, and there will
yet have to be, in our own opinion.
II is anticipated that the slope of the walls,
(45 deg.) will interfere with the passage of
side wheel steamers, especially when the wind
is blowing fresh, to obviate which difficulty.
snubbing posts have been set at distance of
four hundred feet apart on the tow path side,
and two hundred feet distant from each other
on the river or heel-path sido, and the State
Engineer is of opinion that a large scow will
DO required to keep The sido-whoel craft off the
banks.
The general design and plan of tlIe works.
as we'll as the specifications, were by the late
State Engineer, the lamented Capt Garfield,
and while it stands and is used as Canal, it
will be lasting monument of his talents and
skill.
In the erection of the work, the contractors
have labored under disadvantages which were
not fully foreseen by them, and they have been
laI tn N nf
capital than they at first supposed necessary,
and will be compelled TO look for reimburse
ment to sales of their lands, upon which will
of course depend the fact, whether or not the
enterprise will have been to them profitable or
not We hope and trust that the greatest eau
ton will be exercised by Mr.. Burt, tho State
of tho Canal, in the admission
of tho water, so there may be no accident of
the character nearly experienced a few days
ago, and we feel assured by conversation with
him that he will do SO. He expressed his con-
viction that for two years at least, great caro-
should be taken in admitting the water. on ac-
count of the porous nature of thst portion of
tho banks which are artificial and that all pos
sibe opportunity should be gwen them to set
tie. Being forewarnd by tho accident few
days since, no will undoubtedly bo forearmed
with unusual caution, because single rash
act would devolve upon tho State heavy out
lay--the loss of the present use of the
work, at least, until the next session of
tho Legislature, and perhaps its utter ruin
We understand Mr.. Burt to be careful, skill
ful man, fully equal to competent charge of
the work.
IMPLEMENTS OF DEsTRUCTIoN.-Evcry few
days, some new invention is announced, the
chief merit of which is its extraordinary abii-
ty TO discover the best possible means for
slaughtering each other.
AT Baltimore, an improvement in artillary is
exhibited, called "Shaw g. Ames' Patent Re-
volving Battery" IL consists of a brass CYL
inder, revolving horizontally, and containing
any number of chambers with stationary
barrel. IL is loaded, primed, fired and swab-
bed, all with one simple movement of break,
which was repeated eight times in one minute
The whole operation can be performed by one
man
At Boston. on Saturday, an experimental
trial was made with breech loading oarbine
patented by Col. J. ID. Green, which was dis
charged fifteen times at target l75 yards dis
tant, but one ball missing the mark. AT 200
yards, twenty six shots bit out of thirty. The
l.. A.. o.,I