The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-01-10

the end Of the guard lo.k we entel
| another basin which widens out to
! rs or so feet in the center, and il
cnbbed oil tile lower side bya crib
constructed as before described, but
having for foundation stoie wall
from 6 to u feet deep, resting OH
the solid rock, thus eifectually pre-
venting any possible escape d
water. This cribs ! 200 feet long,
9 feet high and 8 feet at tile base.
This basin is q very necessary adj
juEct to the Canal aud Locks, as in
it steamboats, can pass each other, or
iii case Of accident to any boat ID
transit, it could be moored here
without impeding or obstructing the
passage Of another At the end Of
this basin is the fourth lock. This,
in going down stream, is the first Of
four locks, the last Of which passes
the boats out on q level with the
riverbelow the falls. The gates to
these locks are heavier than those
Of the guard lock. Each lock il 40
feet clear in width, and 210 feet in
length, with 10 feet lift to each.
The first has . solid natural stone
wall 86 feet high on each side, This
has all been blasted out from top to
bottom.
The second lock has a similar
wall Of twenty-six feet, also blasted
out. The gates are constructed 50
as to be Of sufficient strength to re-
sist the pressure of any body Of
water which may be thrown at any
time in the Locks. They are built
slightly crescent in shape, and the
coucavity facing up stream. The
outer edges ofthe gates meet in the
center Of the Canal several feet be-
fore they reach a direct line, thus
having an additional advantage
against the body Of water which
passes from above. So perfect are
the mechanical joinings, both at
the bottom and ends Of the gates,
that they are almost absolutely
water-tight. Each gate rests on a
solid foundation Of stone masonry,
which is ten feet higher than the
rest Of the Lock below. In other
words, there is ten feet rise at each
Of the gates. Water is admitted
from above into the next Lock be-
low, by means OF a number Of wick
ct gates situated near the bottom Of
the main gates. The wickets are
made Of iron and are worked atthe
top by means ofIron roks, levers and
beveled pulleys. AT the lowest
stage fthe river q depth Of five
feet can be obtained In the upper
basin leading to the Locks, whichis
to float any OF the steam
ers that may pass through. The
Locks were constructed under the
direct superintendency Of Captain
Isaac w, Smith, assisted by 0 num-
Der If ofcompetent engineers, and ?
large force Of stone-cutters. Great
credit is due Captain Smith for the
able manner ii which this master |
piece Of civil engineering has been
planned and successfully carried into
execution. The appearance Of the
work is ofa character which fully |
iustities the expression which we
heard on Wednesday, that "there is
,ot water enough III the Willamette
river to carry away the works"
The stone used for the masonry
vas principally obtained from the
1lackamas quarry, and conveyed to
he falls by cows Some conception
# the amount Of work performed
ali he realized, when it il known
hat the first cut at the lower end Of
he canal, 81 900 tons Of rock were
,lasted out. There isprobably not
more than one-third Of the entire
removed III the course OF
lie canal. Five tons Of giant pow
Ier were used III the blasting which
vas necessary IN the progress Of the
vork. Much more rock could have
,een thrown out II black powder
Iad been used, but the rock being
,orous, the holes drilled held 40
much water that only giant powder
onld be used to advantage. It is
o.,ok ~ ftn eFod;f ~ ltant Smith