Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-16

and other banks are formed In layers This
happens also when head of water is main
tanned in the canal The roller has been used,
because it produces the same results i'm shor-
ter time. BY applying it before the admission
of water, it crushes the particles near the sur
face, and afterwards, when water has been in
troduced and has penetrated the mass. rem
dering the crushed surface q paste, the roller
then from its weight being greater than the
full head of water; must produce q proper
tionably greater compactness The results,
from the practical operation of this plan, have
realized all that theory would claim.
So long as pressure is constantly renewed,
the mass will be kept in its compact state !;
but if it ia removed for long PERIOD and ex-
posed to the frosts of winter, the earth is again
brought back to porous condition, and the
sooner if in a thin layer like the lining of q
canal, or in banks where greater amount of
surface exists on which to operate
1t is on the theory of the porosity of soils
that the subject of underground drainage is
founded. Even in clay soils, tiles buried to
the depth Of three feet afford drainage filters
composed of layers of sand and gravel to the
depth of six feet afford supplies of water for
large cities the reservoir of Nottingham,
England, is excavated at distance of one
hundred and fifty feet from the river Trent,
yet receives its supply by percolation of the
| river water The practice of ballasting rail
roads, and the whole theory of wells and springs,
rest upon it, and the instances are not wanting
wherein old and well established canal leaks
can be found that have existed for years, and
show no signs of stopping. Can it therefore
be reasonably expected, that in work of such
long standing, lining of three feet, resting on
bed of loose rock or a cut through strata of
cobble stone or gravel, will now become i'm
perFious TO water, unless carefully selected and
presenting the smallest amount of pores?
| DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN MAKING REPAIRS.
Several times during the winter, and early
in the spring, attempts were made to organize
force for the commencement of repairs, but
the unusual character of the winter, and late
opening of spring, prevented the beginning of
effective work until April The frost had
penetrated an unusual depth, and owing to
the repeated freezing and thawing, and the
continued rains during the season, an immense
amount of bars and slides had to be removed.
The slides and breaches have cost eighteen
thousand and eighteen dollars, exclusive of
damages to the mechanical work
Besides this, the alternative presented itself
of working to disadvantage in the mud and
water produced by the rains, and in the feeder
level by the foods or disbanding the forces.-
The result has been that much of the work
cost more than double what it would have
done under ordinary circumstances.
SCARCITY OF LABOR
The line having been represented as finish
ed, the laboring force had left for other works,
and the shanties had been demolished The
late opening of spring, and the rainy season,
bad confined the time for work of those engag-
ed in agriculture to so short period, that suf-
Gcient assistance from that quarter could not
be derived
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western,
and the upper portion of the Lackawanna and
Bloomsbury railroads were rapidly approach
ing completion, an advance of prices to the con-
tractors in many instances depending on the
completion of their work within given peri
cd, the construction of new colleres and later
al roads in the coal regions, and the building
of a railroad from Towanda to the coal mines
of the Barclay coal company, all created de-
mand for labor, making it exceedingly diff |
cult to obtain hands at the proper time, and
much more so to obtain the proper product of
labor.
the failure of the crops, was added the necessi-
ty of procuring supplies from the State of New
York and Pittston Shanties were erected at
suitable points, yet much difficulty was expe-
riencedn obtaining board for the men-preven- |
ting the employment of large forces at some
points where it would have been desirable
The Lighthouses could not always be rendered |
available, since there had been no settled ar
-.AL IL \. n
house lots. The promise Of paymcat not be-
ing complied with, they, in some cases, unwil-
ling to give up possession, and the tenants oc-
cupying the houses, would not consent to board |
hands
Another difficulty was to secure experienced
foremen. Those who had been employed in
the water into other canals, were
engaged in other pursuits, and could not be
for the compensation allowed by law
Higher rates are paid by contractors, and ex-
pcrienced men will not work for the State at
the same compensation as for individuals. be-
cause of the uncertainty attaching to their po-
Sition and the annoyauceS to which they are
to submit.
To this should he added the fact that in ma
ny cases it was found necessary to do large
amount of work where but little was anticipa-
ted One case may be cited Below Horse
Race dam repairs were found necessary, which
consumed most of the season, and an expendi-
ture of over ten thousand dollars, which, if the
of those who had had it in charge
were correct as to its condition, not one-fourth
of this sum would have been required .
Although the difficulties that have delayed
the opening of the canal belong more particu-
larly to the formation and material through
which it passes, it is useless to deny the fact,
that there are numerous defects in construc-
ton, most Of which may be attributed to mis-
taken, but perhaps laudable, notions of econo-
my that prevail in regard to the necessary
cnrnS of engineers and snnerin ntendents 70 |