Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-27
From the Standard.
u
Cape Frnr and Deep River Navigation Works.
REPORT ON A PRELIMINARY ExAMlNATIoN OF CAPE
FEAR AND DEEP RIVER NAVIGATION WORKS.
BY ELwOop MoRRIs,-Chief Engineer.

REPORT ON A PRELIMINARY ExAMlNArIoN CAPE
FEAR DEEP RIVER NAVIGATION WORKS.
ELwOoD MORRIS Chief Engineer
REPORT.
To his Enceleey john W; ELLIS, eopernor Of North Cor
S ane Fsnr & and Dep Rre TdoigaoS Wors
SIR In conformity to the first article of instructions
present works can be placed condition to admit
speedy navigation of the river with steamboats, and barges
to accomplish this object have the honor report
That in company with James Cassidy Esq, "a member
in 5aeou up Cape Fear and Deep Rivers to point
upon the latter in the pool of Evans mill dam s. miles
above Fayetteville and miles above the uppermost lock
included in the Deep River Works
In this voyage which occupied FIVE days, made from
both rivers as we'll as the slackwater pools short
mails, connecting the dams and locks.
preliminary to the action your Board pushed
into details carried further than seemed necessary to full
fiji the instructions of your Excellency.
The works under examination usually considered in
two sections and may be comprehensvely described
follows
These works overcome lift stated to be about Us feet
VERTICAL and extend from Fayetteville to the junction of the
Haw and Deep rivers, distance OF about So miles, along
Cape Fear river.
dent lift locks with small basin between making in all
Is loeks-and one short canal (Buckhorn half mile long
and so feet wde which has also the small basin between its
two lift locks, above mentioned.
These dams from Is connections SackwatsG pools Vary
1000 the upper pool (Buckhorn) extending miles
up Deep river and also short distance into Haw river
river, and 8along the left bank.
2. TIE WORKS DEEP RIVER.
These works designed to overcome lift stated at
SC feet VERTICAL and to extend naygabe water from
the junction of the Haw and Deep rivers Cor rather
e o pf Z ns aoEs @
lower two miles of which p to ockvie the pool of Buck
They consist of dams with locks connected indcpen
dent lift locks making in all locks and two short canals
canabot these canals have length of half mile cach
and width at water line of from 20 to 12O feet.
one OF thG sGg bank OF the
The dams form sackwaer pools varying in length from
to II miles and in width from 200 to 1000 feet but being
chiefly from 200 to 800 feet wide.
The upper or 18th dam from Fayetteville called Evans
| signed nor built for the of these works
RECAPITULATIoN OF ALL THE WORKS.
In all upon both rivers there are IS dams Gone an ord
nary mill damn forming 10 fine sackwater pools 23 locks
a being independent lit locks in canas and short
nals each about half mile in engthone Qhe Buckhorn
cana including very short basin between two lift locks
thus making altogether % distinct levels OF pool and canal
There also works. the chief of which is
and Evans have never been entirely finished nor connect
ed with the DAMS had their gates in place and no
steamboat barge has passed above the Gulf which
place. 81 miles above Fayetteville has heretofore and may
still be regarded temporarily the head of navigation:
Both locks and dams built of wooden crib works filled
with stone-a kind of work very durable and appropriate
DAMS works under water but not at all SO for locks
For the information of those members of the Board who
not personally familiar with these works, Cap
pendix AZ schedule giving the names Of the DAMS &c
and the estimated distance of each above Fayetteville.
! OF THE PRESENT CONDITION THE WORKS.
| l. Cane Fear RiUer WOrkS-The dam at Cross creek
appears be in fair condition. but will need hard
stone filling and some slight repairs and the same may be
works constructed are less decayed and better condition
than the others.
The dams next above Cross creek (Jones Silver Rum
and Red Rock standing upon soft rock BOTTOM their cribs
filled with pershable stone and already partially undermin
dition but they may and hope will stand for some years
or until they can be secured The other DAMS Cape
Fear river Standing as they do or hard rock foundations
| S.
the immediate repair needed by them will not be serious
and with moderate additions to of them the future
when properly secured by cemented stone abuments solid
connected with the land they may fairly be regarded
Tie wooden crbwork locks on Cape Fear river above
Cross Creek DAM some them filled with perishabe stone
ana an fastened with ony) are all more or less
of adequate strength many they badly
and necessary they have yielded
too much lean unnecessarily Outward and have
paraken OF both motions presenting now curousy curv
ed appearance between the gates, which themselves
rarely vertical and always poorly secured Very few of
these locks are and in many it almost impos
sbe to the gates while leaks under the locks and
around them are quite equent and in addition of
the ties and mbers in these cribworks especially
near the top, entirely rotten.
would neither be interesting profitable to enter spe
officially into further details of the defects of these locks
let it suffice that these defects most serious that the
locks not now in workable condition. and that it will
require considerable outlay to make them navgabe,
2. Deep 12rer Works.-The whole of these works from
Lockvle to the Gulf have been lately repaired under
contract, including the building OF composite lift lock,
of high lift at the outlet of the ockve canal and the
whole in good condition; but the lock at Lock
vile is not entirely nshedhe roller way under the heavy
lower gates has not been put n the floor of the lock
completed understand, has the lock been sufficient
y embarked deep hole in the bottom of the Lockvile
CANAL the head Of the lock- must be filled up, and the
canal embankmen joining the head of the lock strengthen
ed and secured on both Sides Some repairs also
CURED at the and guard lock- and at the left
q abutment of the Lockvlle dam.
More or less work will be required at other points above
this to place the lock in workable ORDER and in all out
lay of several thousand dollars will be needed upon these
works to put them in proper naygable state which, how
ever aCe done, will place these Deep River Works in
ceent workable order far the Gu-beyond which it
does not appear advisable to look at the present me at
least not until have opened the navigation high
that point, which is 81 mics above Fayetteville
will be seen therefore, that the great bulk of the
pairs to be DONE upon the locks the Cape river
and at the abutn ents of of the dams and
now to consider the plans and the of executing
- them, and their probable cost.
: OF THE GENERAL PLAN OF REPAIRS.
Nearly all the locks the Cape Fear ought proper
to be taken down to the water line of the lower level be
rebuilt with heavy buresses behind the gates and side
walls well filled with hard stone while the chambers should
be suitably oored and lined Within the wickets ovehaued
and the gates rehung, and in instances renewed
This would be simple and appropriate mode of repair
but the expense, apprehend would exceed the at
the command Of your Board. We shall have to be content
D therefore, with less thorough repairs.
In few instances it be absolutely necessary to take
down and rebuild the entire Sidewalks but generally, pro
/, pose:
l. TO the walls about the gates by partial rebuild
h ing and by buttreSscs.
. TO pump every lock- repair the floors and refine
: the chambers as far may be necessary.
TO repair the wckcts overhaul and hang the gates
them against floating off their pvots when submerg
p cd and insert quoin posts Also in some cases.
A. 10 rebuilt the chamber walls in part, and to brace
buttrcss them.
: s. To stop or check all heavy leaks.
g. 70 renew to extent the stone filling, using hard
stone in all cases of filing where practicable to obtain
7. To chnk all vacant spaces between the timbcrs on
the exterior faces of the cribs with hard stones firmly
fDcI fho