Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-05-25
The Staa0ato.
,s. e-s = t' Fur the Standard.
CAPE FEAR AND DEEP RIVER NAvIGA.
TON WORKS.
REPORT ON A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
sa5s - OF THE
Cane Fear and Deep River Navigation Works.
BY E1LwooD NoRRls,-CAig Engineer.
REPORT,


To Iii. Ebes,lesey JOHN W. ELLIS, Gorsr"or q N",M
Caroline, and President Of the Board OF Aann-
L oer. Of tic Cane Fear and Deep Rirer Na''g tito"
"a Works:
Ss. In conformity to the first article Of your in
structions of April 30th 1859, directing me TO as
certain whether the present works can be placed IN
condition to admit of speedy navigat'on 0. 'ne
The nrobabe cost of the repairs necessary to accom-
plish this ohject'' have the honor to report:
That in company with James Cassidy, ESQ.,, "a
member of your board left Fayetteville, May 9Th,
and proceeded in batteau up the Cape Fear and
Deep Rivers to point upon the latter in the pool OF
Evans's mill dam, IS miles above Fayetteville. and
miles above the uppcrmost lock included IN the
Deep River Works.
In this voyage, which occupied five days. We made
from 10 to % miles day, and examined briefly ev-
ery work upon both rivers as we'll as the Siackwa.
ter pools and short canals connecting the dams anu
locks.
This examination being Of general nature, and
merely preliminary to the action Of your Board was
not pushed into details carried further than SEEM
ed necessary to fulfil the instructions OF your Tx
cellency. .,
The works under examination are usually consid-
cred in two sections, and may be comprchensivey
described, as follows:
!. THE WORKS on CAPE FEAR RIVER.
These works overcome lift, stated to be about
1875 feet, vertical and extend from Fayetteville to
the junction Of the Haw and Deep rivers, distance
Of about IS miles, along Cape Fear river.
They consist of Is dams with locks connected,
independent lift locks with small basin between
making in all Is locks-and one short canal duck
horn,) half mile long and so feet wide, which has
also the small basin between its two lift locks, above
mentioned.
These dams form - commodous slackwater pools,
varying in length from to 10 miles, and in breadth
from 500 to 1000 feet; the upper pool (BuckhornJ
extending two miles up Deep river, and also short
distance into Haw river.
Of the locks I are situated along the right bank
Of the river, and along the left bank.
3. THE WORKS on DEEP RIVER.
These works were designed to overcome lift sta
ted at about 80 feet vertical and to extend navgablc
water from the junction of the Haw and Deep riv-
ers Tor rather from the head of BuckhOrn poOl) up
to Hancock's mill upon the latter, distance Of
about ~ miles along Deep river, on the lower two
miles of which (up to Lockville) the pool Of Buck
horn dam flows back.
They consist Of dams with locks connected, 3 in
dependent lift locks making in all locks; and two
short canals Lockve and Cleggs, with lift lock at
length of half mile EACH and width at water line
of from 20 to 12O feet
Of the locks are along the left bank of the riv-
er, and one (Farishs,) along the right bank.
The dams form slackwater 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 10th dam from Fayetteville, called
Evanss, is mill dam, said to be 80 years old and
neither designed nor built for the use of these
works.
REHABILITATION ALL THE WORKS.
In all, upon both rivers, there are 10 DAMS Zone
an ordinary mill dam) forming Is. fine slackwater
pools, % locks, being Independent lift locks in ca
nals,) and short canals each about half mile in
length-one the Buckhorn canal including very
short basin between two lift locks, thus making al
together % distinct levels of pool and canal There
also some accessory works the chief of which is
swing bridge at Lockville. The two upper locks
Gulf and Evanss, have never been entirely finish
ed nor connected with the dams, had their gates
above the Gulf which place. 81 miles above Fayette-
VILE has heretofore and may still be regarded tenn
porarily, IS the head of navigation
Both locks and dams are built Of wooden crib
works filled with stone-a kind of work very dura-
BILE and appropriate for dams, works under water,
but not at all so for locks en- rivers like these.
For the Information of those members of the
works, annex (Appendix Az schedule giving the
names Of the dams, &C., and the estimated distance
Of each above Fayetteville.
l. Cape Fear Rirer WorE.-The dam at Cross
creek appears to be in fair condition. but will need
some hard stone filling and some slight repairs and
the same may be said of the lock at this place.
These being the latest works constructed are less de-
cayed and IN better condition than the others.
The dams next above Cross creek, Zones, Sill
yer Run, and Red Rock,) standing upon soft rock
bottom, their cribs filled with perishable stone, and
already partially undermined, must be regarded as
standing in rather precarous condition; but they
may, and l hope will, stand for some years. o.
until they can be secured. The other dams, OF
Cape Fear river, standing as they do on hard rocl
foundations, seem to be good works they promis,
extended durabilit y-the immediate repairs needed
by them will not be serious and with moderate ad
dtions to some of them in the future, when proper
~ secured by cemented stone abutments solidl,
connected with the land they may fairly be regard
ed as permanent works
The IA wooden cribwork locks on Cape Fear river
above Cross Greek dam, (some of them filled Will
Punishable stone, and all fastened with treenail
onlyO are all more or less dlapidated by decay an
weakness-the side walls never were of adeauat
strength, in many cases they were badly founded
and as necessary consequence they have yielded i
every direction-some lean inwards, narrowing tn
!ock TOO much some lean unnecessarily outward.
and some have partaken of both notions prcsentin
now curiously curved appearance between tn
ga'eSs "nlcn themselves are rarely vertical and al
water-tight and in many It is almost impossible
move the gates; while leaks under the locks an
around them, are quite frequent; and in additio
many Of the ties and range timbcrs in these Grill
works especially near the top are entirely rotte,
1t would neither be interesting nor profitable
enter specifically into further details Of the defec
Of these locks-let it suffice that these defects a
most serious, that the locks arc not now in work
Die condition. and that it will require considerab
outlay to make them navigable, even for brief II
ripd Of years.
2. Deep Rirer Worls-The whole Of these wor]
from Loekville to the Gulf have been lately repa
cd under contract, including the building Of ne
composite lift lock, of high lif at the outlet Of d
Lockville canal, and on the whole are in good co
dt.on but the new lock at Lockvlc il not entire
hnshedIthe roller way under the heavy lower gat
4ss not been put in, nor the floor of the lock CO..
Pieted, as understand, nor has the lock been sui
G'eniy embarked A deep hole in the to tom Of t
lockville canal, near the head of the lock mnst
hi'ed up. snd the canal embankment joining the he
Of tho locx strengthened and secured on Both sid
AIcn