The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-05

an agricultural country, and the especial peculiar
trade which the canal may expect. No doubt the
bulk Of this trade will be long confined to lumber
and the other products Of tho forests, and to q
limited supply Of the heavier products OF agricul-
ture in direction, and salt, irop and tho fer
tiizers in another. By far tho largest trade will
| be in ranging timber and lumber, in the shape OF
rafts-and this canal must accommodate this
! trade.
/, The Canal Basin.-Tho bottom Of the canal
at tho Fdisto River will be fifteen feet above low
tide its plano will descend two and half inches
to the mile, and will, therefore, be twelve feet
one inch above low tide at the Ashley River. The
surface will be five feet higher than these levels.
The width of water at the surface will be forty
feet at bottom thirty feet; tho depth will be five
feet the width Of tow path ten feet. The slopes
Of excavation will be one foot horizontal, to one
vertical foot; Of embankment, one and half hori-
zontal, to one vertical foot-unless where local
circumstances should require other arrange
ments.
2. The Locks-There will be required one guard
lock and gates, and one lift-lock, with two cham
bers 125 by 20 feet to pass the trade Of tho river
below the dam, at the Edisto, and at the Ashley
one Ght-lock, with two chambers, 1875 by 20 feet,
and tidal basin all built OF timber, and 30 as
to form the coffer-dsms, when they will be substi-
tuted by masonry.
8. Waste Weirs and Receiutng Vessels-Will be
constructed Of timber, and located suitably to
drainage and to the proper flow Of water in the
canal basn
4. Aqueducts.- aqucduct will be required on
the whole line.
s. Spoil Banks.-The material oxcavated will be
distributed 30 to form distractions to drain
age, and to yield no waste or wash to the canal
IN f1,a p,o11
G. Receiutng Basins-Will be formed at the main
highways of the country, about two hundred feet
in length and one hundred feet in breadth.
T. Road and Plantation Bridges.-Five main
road and four plantation bridges will be requir-
ed they will span canal and tow-path, and be
full (12) twelve feet high. The piers and abut-
ments, as we'll as superstructure, will bo built Of
timber.
v.-EsTIMATED COST.
In all parts Of the country and in every branch
OF industry, the price Of labor has advanced to
figures hitherto unprecedented. Also, the cost OF
all materials and Of subsistence Of men and ani-
mails, has reached maximum never before known
in our history. In consideration of these facts,
more than ordinary care has been bestowed upon
this department Of our subject, and no item has
been allowed to escape notice-no element OF cost
has been deemed unworthy of the most sitting in
vestigation.
De,ails of Esmaed CO-Length Of Work Fourteen Aie,
l. Grubbing and clearing ng..-..-........$ 10, 900 90
q Excavation, embankment and lateral drain
g. Locks gates. waste wicre tidal basin and "
foundations. ..................., $3.50 90
l. Dam with rock filling. ng................. i0.ooOGO
g. Road bridges and farm crossings. 9,0u0 90
g. Engineering and other incidental expenses 13UoOoj
Total cost. 100000 90
Average cost per mile. $2l, ,42S.67
This statement Of cost is merely ample in every
particular and unless untoward change in the cur
rency arise, the work can be accomplished within
these figures. It is far better to be thus fully ad-
vised than bo compelled to urge upon the com-
pany still further calls after the work has been
somewhat advanced. t..
W. RESOURCES; PROBABLE ANNUAL REVENUE AND
- COST OF REPAIRS! ','.
As above said, the principal trade Of the Canal
will consist Of the passage OF timber lumber and
other products Of the forest from the upper and
adjacent reaches Of the river. In order to form
some idea Of the capacity Of the country to sus-
tain such work, and establish at Charleston an
immense lumber market, we have but to assume
half the quantity universally stated by the best
informed lumber men OF the country as the un-
deniable fact. The highest estimate gives as the
area Of the first and second class yellow pine
within easy reach Of eli ther bank of the Edisto
from Orangeburg, on the north fork, and from
thirty miles above the forks on the south, eight
hundred square miles, and the lowest Eve
hundred square miles, On every hand are
swamps abounding with oak, hickory, beech, wal
nut, poplar, and other varieties which will yield
staves, hoop-poles and lumber for furniture and
various domestic uses, in quantities only measur-
able by the energies which shall develop them.
The lowest estimate Of tho lumber supplied to
Charleston in $780, states sixty millions square feet
per annum, and this was was when no stimulus
to such trade was offered from abroad, when only
dangerous and long avenue Of access to the
city existed. 1t certainly can be no exaggeration
to assume at the least double that quantity, and
more probably yet, three-fold-say only one hun.
dred millions square feet per rannum-while all the
other products of the forest will keep pace with
the enormously increasing demand. Naval
stores in largo abundance will also be enlarged
and improved, and will contribute to this work.
Agricultural products and articles for plantation
uses will add their quota to the general traffic.
With these views present the following
Estirnate of Probable Rerenue.
| l. First and second class ranging timber AID
othsr ppodues Of the sorest SOS M ~
8. Turpentine rosIn and naval stores gene
4. Products Of agr culture and articles Of con.
sumption. n........................... 100000
$751; 100000
Cost Of Superintcndence and Repairs
/ Two lock tenders: per annum..... $7a0 90
I.aborers for ordinary repairs. 468U.U0
g. Horsepower tranBpor rtation
Chief Superintendent and CLERK. 5000 saoSSS 90