Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-08-28

THE DREDGE AT THE HARBoR, is more
effective affair, than one not acquainted with
such contrivances, would suppose. At least
witnessing its operation on Saturday last
Capt DODGE, the gentlemanly contractor, ex-
tended an invitation to come on board, and
courteously sent his yawl for us. The amount
of excavation was estimated by the frequency
of the dips made, and these were counted by
the watch. The dipper is estimated to raise at
each motion, something over yard of earth,
as it holds about yard and quarter The
scows carry 80 yards, confirming the accuracy
of the contents Of the dipper, and rendering a
tolerably correct account of the progress of
the work, by merely tallying the scOw loads.
By our count a scow was loaded in "a min
utes, and this was by no means, an unusual
result. 1t was done, too, in depth of IA feet
of water. The deposit of the material taken
out is just around the East pier, and near the
lighthouse Time is carefully economical by
the use of two scows, and while the little tug
tows out and discharges one, the other is being
filled. The process of discharging is by drop
ping out the bottom of the compartments,
which are rugged with chains and windlass.
Trials have been made at various points, and
depth of earth, or presence of rock accurately
ascertained, 8 the power of the machine, ascer-
tanned as we'll upon rock as sand excavations.
We did not see the rock, or slate, raised but Capt
Dodge assures US. and the assurance is cor
roborated by numerous witnesses, that there
is scarcely more difficulty in working the one
than the other. The dipper edge for the rock
work is armed with teeth that catch the seams
and bring it up in such fragments as may be
forced into the capacity of that vessel Such
being the facts in the case, there certainly can
be nothing in the way OF giving our harbor
any depth that our lake marine may require
for an easy and safe passage 1t depends only
upon the appropriation being sufficient to car
ry on the work TO its needed extent The un-
| expended appropriations, il is expected, will
| continue the work until fall. Contractor Dodge
Informs us that second dredge is expected in
a day or two and that the favorable weather
will be taken the best advantage Of The sec
ond tug for this increase of force is already on
the ground. With these things before us, there
is every reason to take courage. and looking
al the Improvements OF the capacity OF the
harbor, and the probabilities of an early re-
sumption of work upon our roads into the in
terror, the conclusion is hardly to be avoided
that the star of Ashtabula is in the ascendant
Besides the Improvement thus in progress
Mr.. MCKENZIE informs us that he is directed
by MAJ. MCFARLAND, to level up the piers
built last season by him now supposed to have
settled to their places. This will require a
small amount of surface work on the extreme
ends of both east and west piers. In addition
to this work, snubbing posts are to be set al
convenient distances along the entire length oi
the piers. Those set last year being gratuity
on the part of Mr.. Mckenzie, were but few in
number, and confined to the outer ends of the
work, where they were more indispensable
than at any other point,