Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-02-09

device which has been inserted in the Cob |
umbia dam.
The dam itself Is about six feet high, and
about ails and third long, and Is located
on A rough, rocky bed. The channel below
IA rapid and much interrupted by large
rocks, worn by tho water The fish channels
in these rapids are tortuous and much spread
over the whole bed of the stream.
A point was selected within about quar-
ter OF mile of the York county shore, where
the fish most do congregate" from oil the
lower channels every spring, and where
many of them have been annually taken;
and at this place section, forty feet long,
was cut clean out of the dam, Golfer dam
having been first erected above to keep oil
the water.
In this opening, o new sub-dam was erect
ed. so that its comb or highest elevation
low the principal dam when the fish are
running, "a little over three feet say.) The
lower slope of this sub dam was placed at
an inclination of one in fifteen, and the sides
of the aperture in the main dam were den
tated or framed in a series of offsets, 30 as to
promote the formation of eddies in the cur
rent passing over the sub-dam.
When the fish are running then, in the
spring, the water in the aperture will be
under the influence of gravity in opposite
directions. The lower water will try to at
tain its level, the top of the sub-dam and
the upper water rushing through the aper-
ture will meet and certainly drive it back,
but with force considerably impeded by
the cushion, so to speak, Of lower water.
The fish will he nosing along the foot of
the main dam, as is their wont, and finding
this passage open, agitated though it be by
these contending currents, they will endeav-
or to pass up, and let us hope they will sue
ceed. But should they fail in the first few
trials, there are the recesses at the sides
where the eddics are sure to be formed, and
where they may gather strength for renewal
of the trial. am informed, by persons in
the neighborhood of Columbia, who have
seen this aperture of ours with the water
running through it, that there are many pas
sages in the Conewago rapids below, which
are much more difficult of ascent than this
is and which of course the fish must easily
pass, or they would not be caught, as they
now are, at the base of the Columbia dam
their next obstacle.
Such is the result of our labors at the
Columbia dam, and we have but to wal
now until spring to see what action the fish
our long absent friends, will take upon thu
subject.
If our inducements are not sufficient, W,
may, in the future, be able to improve upor
them, and Mr.. President Knight has express
ed his willingness to render all reasonable
aid in making such improvements as, afte
experiment, may seem to be required.
, The next two dams in streams, contem
plated by the act, are first the Middletowl
, Feeder dam, crossing the Swatara shor
distance from its mouth, and the Duncan
Island dam, crossing the Susquehanna at o
near Clark's Ferry. These both belong t
the Pennsylvania railroad company, whor
notified, according to law, and who az
: knowledged the receipt of the notification
: On November the first, nothing had bee
done to either of these dams, and immedia
= tely after that day had placed in the hand
of the district attorney of Dauphin count
7 J. w. Simouton, ESQ, written account {
!, my proceedings If the case be carried
:, the courts, and decision should be ha
= against the constitutionality of the act, thel
will be no use in prosecuting the companit
> higher up the stream. If the act should hol'
!, and the Pennsylvania railroad company /
6 compelled to alter its dams, the point wi
!, be settled for the upper companies, and the
. will be no more trouble. So did not in
~ tiatc legal proceedings in respect to tho.
= companies, deeming it better to await Il
e decision of the courts, in reference to Il
- case of the next dams above Columbia.
- have the honor to be,
- Very respectfully,
:. Your obedient servant.
:, JAMES WORRALL,
70 Civil Engineer.
,, To His Excellency, ANDREW G. CURTIN,
" Governor of Pennsylvania.