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

The Locks at the falls Of TIN
Willamette have been completed
and on New Years Day thesteam
er Maria HvRkias, with a party 9
invited guests aboard, successfully
made a trip through them. All ar
represented as being well pleased
with the substantial and workman
like manner in which The Cana
and Locks have been constructed
and their successful working, lfthe
Locks are as represented, we col.
daily congratulate the contractors
on the energy and pluck which
they have shown, and the citizens
Of the valley, on the new impulse
this enterprise will give to every
commercial interest. In saying this,
we BY 10 means modify our opinion
in regard to the policy OF taking
money belonging TO the school fund,
for State improvements, The edu-
cation Of the youth Of our State is
paramount to every material COR
sideration, and the fund allotted for
that purpose should never be es-
tranged from it /; but as 5000, 900 Of
that fund were appropriated on these
Locks. we are glad to know that
the good intended to be secured by
that evil, has been broughtto q suc-
cessful realization in the substantial
completion Of these works. That
they will be Of great value to the
western part Of the State, and cen
trail, no one will deny who has a
particle Of sense. They open the
navigation Of the river thoroughout
to all who may choose to enter the
field as contestants. BY such com
petion, treights will be cheapened,
and thus producers will receive bet
ter prices for their products. It is
an Improvement which will increase
in valneapd importance as the State
grows in population and wealth.
From the O,egoaiaa we get the
following description Of the works
Commencing at the inlet to the
Canal above the Falls, we peIceiy-
ed d we'll defined entrance on the
west side Of tile riyeE about l60
feet ii width. Entered, on one
side the natural bank forms q lofty, |
solid stone wall; Oh the other, a
crib, which, for strength and solidi-
ty, one wouldthink capableo Of stand
ing the wear and tear Of ages ltis
constructed Of selid timbers l2xl2.
The bentsare l2x14, 6 feet from cen-
ter to center, and only s feet apart.
Holes have beenpunched out Of the
solid rock beneath, 50 that every
post rests on a solid, immovable
foundation, and every bent Is
strengthened by a 3-inch iron rod,
bolted and sealed. 1t is ap-
parently. as strong as iron and wood
can make it. The canal then wild
ems out into d basin Of an irregular
shape, and an area Of several acres,
The upper side a natural stone wall
Is beiore, and the river side, a crib
20 feet wide resting on q stone wall
Is feet deep, 70 give it asolid toun-
lstion aud u resist the pressure Of
.xtrenie high water and ali accumu-
atio.. IL LOGS and dnft-wood. In
,his crib also, every post is sunk
nt, a stone foundation. The inside
bottom plauking il laid in cement
ind masonry. The crib extends from
he inlet to the guard lock; i lS
tile grade the canal and
$50 feet ID length.
Arriving at the guard lock we
Ind two massive timber gates, each
40, 600 pounds, fitted as
hey are with four cast iron wick
Is each, and all the emachinery nee
ssary for their perfect working.
these yates are swung on the posts