Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-12-26
Engineers Report.

Engineers Report.
To the President and Directors of the
Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Company:
GENTS = Herewith you have report of the pre-
sent condition OF the works of your navigation, TO-
gether with an estimate of the probable cost of COM
pleting the same.
The works at Cross Creek have been completed
and are now in good working order.
These works have cost considerably more than the
original estimate, which may be accounted for in
pa from the high and exorbitant wages which bad
to be paid for labor, caused by the sickness which
pre- allied on the river during that season, and, in
part TO the freshet which occurred about the last of
December, before the dam completed, broke
around the west abutment and carried away about
ore hundred and fifty feet of the adjoining bank,
which had to be secured by extending the dam that
length.
Contacts were made for strengthening and secur.
ng the locks and dams, both at Jones tails ana
Silver rum the latter part of JULY 1855, and the work
W. completed about the close of the year but re-
grct 10 say that the lower slopes OF hoth OF thoSe
dams were seriously injured by some OF the inst hlgh
fro hets which occurred and not having been prompt
~ repaired as they should have been, were supse-
Queully entirely carried away.
those accidents may be wholly attributed TO care
less and bad workmanship at the time these works
were in the course OF construction the president was
tailoring under a severe attack of illness of several
mon his duration. The experimenting engineer, who
also had the Cross creek work under his charge, hay
Ing 70 reliable assistants, was Obliged 10 devote most
Ct his time 10 the latter work--cOnsequentlyt these
works were unavoidably neglected-the result was
the works were thrown together as best suited the
CO vynIence of the contractor. have no hesitation
in saving that if the timber work had been properly
b,ttd together, and the packing, although OF an H.
Terror quality, had been properly hand packed t tne
!. work would neuer have been carried away. before
, lepairing Jones' falls dam and lock would Suggest
living some examinations made at point about
hee fourths of mile below, with view of chang;
ing the location. The present dam is a good deal
unG rmned and the lock much shattered, scarcely
wur h repairing, besides the west end abuts ON an
auvial bank, which is in great danger OF being car,
D ned away by high eshet al the point designated
here is high bluff on both sides OF the river anu
il Is believed that new dam and lock can be built on
the new site with less cost than repairing the old
lock 1t is presumed that with small expense the
old works can be kept navigable until the new works
shall be completed.
Several attempts have been made to strengthen
Red Rock dam but unfortunately IN every instance
j. before the contractor could secure his WORK WIN
!. packing, freshet come and carried it away.
- Ga a recent examination of the works by com
9 mttee of YOUR board they found part OF the Foun
to dat en- Of the DAM and the bed OF the river mmeda
te lry below the dam had been excaVated out Oy '
Mt water to depth of more than thirty feet; they als'
~ fouId the dam in such shattered condition as L
render it not only expensive but difficult to repair an(
H. slfcngthen, in such manner as to make 1t ugh
IT, and permanent work. The lock was also tound IN
H. SIN lar condition and will have to be renewed
no Under these circumstances they recommended III
81 r. sing of Silver Run dam four feet, and changing
on the location of Red Rock dam and lock to point
n short distance above AverasbOrough Terry. "nel
nd there appears be reef OF hard rock extending en-
he trely across the river, and raise the Dam 10 SUN
ght may be necessary to oVefnow nav n, ,bo
ch dam and dispense with the dam ana lock al 'n y!
til pont altogether. 1t is also recommended TO puH
nil the locks at Silver Run and en- the new site OF S'I?
ar laid in Hydraulic cement 1t is believed NAV '
". man. if carried out, will cost less IN the emu 'hn
eet nursung the original plan OF repairing and suens
nd eninr Red Rock dam, and rebuilding the LOCKS
Silver Run, Red Rock and Haw Ridge with stone
Of besides in dispensing with Haw ridge dam anu ioO
Ter there will be quite saving of annual expense III AZ
the tendance and repairs, and will add materially u "
I'M, facilities of the navigation.
ted Between Haw Ridge and Buckhorn falls there az
ten locks and eight DAMS including those al DusD
so horn, all in working order; most OF the dams Leq
md more or less travelling, and some OF them ~
out levelling up with timber, in order to give ng
ret site deplh of five feet water. The soo ana IIe
- bankmenls al Buckhorn have stood remarkably VIZ
sh and ii is believed that with little care they 0"n
Der made to stand without any further dhcnity, ,ct
The contractors for the construction OF the wv,
and and canal Lockville, Deep RlVer are plosf,
nto very slowly The Lift Lock Is about M
the done the Canal about one-haf and the Guafa NV
nm, nearly done: The latter can be completed "lIa
,be month but unless they progress much more iaP
lion with the Lift lock it will require several mon
ras. fore boat will pass 10 the coal field. Inn
va. smith Parrish & Co. have completed their O''
with the exception of some gravelllng pobe
ro Bryanls dam, at the head OF Jones FANS u.s.
led. Rives, contractor, Is IN gooo slae ~ ;b he e.
lex. the woodwork OF the Dam is conPIe ca noriO
God cepuon OF the Dumping tlnoeLs- S UotIing ID
mid been done at repairing and Strengthening snS iI
ing excepting SO much was necessary to PrOe0 now
the INJURY by raising the dam theIe 49, tba Who'll
ed viii Be completed By March clsgs d%%
the works connected Herewith are nearly oates
Vii some graveng remains be DONE and the =. Sons
we the lock be put in. all OF whlc3 cSI fish s
The about two months. Inc oa'n ~