, 1875-12-25
Columbia River Improvements!
Gen. NichleF's OmcIal Report.
Survey nf the Cascades and DaIIes of the
UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,
p.,r.-rr a,.r. lra.-Inn IannarN IL lS-5.


Columbia River.
UYTrFD STATES ENGINEIR OFFICE,
PORTLAND, Oregon, January l6, lsl5-
srR:-By Your directions ' survey Of the Cascades
and DaIles or the Columbia River, fOr the purpose OF
aser,iuins the prac,leIblI;y and 90 If construct
in canals and locks at these points has been naae
The immediate charge Of the party IN the neld was
rlacAI under Robert a HaberSham, evil engineer,
az present assistant IN this office. The OPERATORS
we're conducted during the months of September ana
October 1874. Since the first part Of November ne
has been eBC8C IN addition Il other Outlts, IN ths
pranlTatiOn the maps and prUies Of the river BE-
tween Dales City aud Cello, ana also at the CAs-
caie; the instrumental lines were conducfei alOrg
the waters edge and Jaoent 10 the beds OF the Ial-
NgaVs COnStTuCte1 by the Oregon steam NaNlSallOh
Cornranv to overcome the falls and rapdS at the two
lOaIitieS The season most favorable the stase
OF the rver being very low AT the time The Held
operations were OF most interesting character, anu
the importance Of the proposed improvements cannot
l-a ovsr-estimated The diicult problems Of engln-
eering, which must BE- solved WILL at least 2t one ui
the lOcalities the Daes AT first, study appear al
most unsuTmOuntable; but At the other, the Jas
caies no more difficulty viii be encountered than
rIron works of similar nature constructed through
rocks The magnificent, bold, and peculsr scenery
at the two places only be appreciated after per-
sOnal inspection.
An attempt in this report 10 describe the passage
of the Columbia the great river of the northwestern
section Of the United States through channel con
Rnei between perpendicular basallo rockWaliS, ana
reduced in widths at cert ln localities 70 Only 10 iet
as nj the Dalles would prove inadequate lt may
pot ba unintrttin 10 state before proceeding that
the same mass Of water which Is forced over this
chute aided by it, Tributaries the willamette Lewis
and tOwlItz Rivers, spreads out over broad space
on The shoals between Tongue Point and woody ISL
s5s of more than ten miles IN extent before Il emp
ties INTO the Pacific Ocean. lracnSs OF the complete
maps and pIufles OF the surveys are TRANSMITTED
with this bret preliminary report; an Inspection o
them VIII exhibit more clearly than "orts eh IN
/ a.,
river. H.,
The obstacles IN the nature of rocks to be blasted
ont and displaced from the channels, as well as the
MANS but partially suggested, for ascending or de
Sending the falls and rapids by of canals and
locks cut through solid IOrh, are stated IN the report
presented to this office by the assistant evil engineer
a copy Of which Is forwarded, explanatory OF the
rruCpIl points OF interest along the Lines or survey
II furnishes very concise and accurate explanation
of the drawings In deciding upon the manner q
exerllting the plans Of improvements even should
they br deemed practicable, more extended eXamIna-
tionS nuSt Ne made this should especially DC done
between pIIes City and Cello, not only during the
low water OF the winter season, but az the extreme
s-ara OF the summer months The time has been too
brief 10 study all the varying features which wl
enter into the execution OF such grand anu uStIu
work The very strong currents the sudden bends
immense rise IN the river during reshetS the eddies
the WhripOOls the large quantities OF dTIt during
the high treshes IN the mann river and large trbG
fairies above the two localities; and the masses oi
fioatin, ice from above during the winter months
all must BE- CO.'S ,deIed-
A. the Cascades all of the same difficulties vii
moi be encountered ut the Dalles- \ permanent
improvement c4n without any doubt, be successfully
artJgapl:shel at tins locality by the construction of
canal aud locks the rocky meek Of land lndL
Gated on the map between the head OF the uEpei
rapids and the basin 1T the foot OF them The work.
will almost llent zeal character with those O
th. falls of the Willamette opposite to Oregon City
and in reality VIII not, IN many respects offer IN,
same difficulties. The neck Is rocky plateau oyel
which the line of the canal VIII be direct within the
limits OF hIgE water mark, and not less Jin 200 teri
from the slopes Of the adjacent hills Without mort
eNteule examinations, i wouIi Lot be eXie!ient q
submit final estimates for such important wO ks
They are difficult % prepare, and require ry muci
more careful study than What have been able u
devote on account Of other pressing DUTIES. 1t
necessary at the same time 10 await the results Of
more extended exam mat IONS IN regard To the prota
BE effect OF the annual foods upon the canals ana
locks when constructed ant 10 determine what safe
guards must be employed aS preyentIyeS aga inst tht
destruction OF the works during their construction
and after their completion BoilEss over the les
peytve lines of the canals should be made TO ascer
tam the existence OF h~SureS the TO- k for this
purpose as We'll as 70 make more extended eNamH
atiOns aid IN 4 perfect solution Of the prob
lem IN addition 10 the surveys already completed, a
small Appropriation Is needed, and an estimate 1Ol
| the same submitted.
The followiu, has been teleerapEei to lie Chief d
! Engineers On tie 18th OF February, 1915;
length OF canal through solid rock around Gas
2
water: eng OF locks, 2l5 feet with, % teet thee
locks, hit of each leet draft OF boats, feet o.ai
greatest depth OF water IN locks, l6a Iett removal
of edge and other rocks lS)3 Ieet below canal eur
rent below, nine mules per ECar; difference between
extreme high and low water, Il = feet substantially
built; probable cost Of canal and locks and renuy
| Of rocks, 100000.
A. t. iI.feseaee OF level at low water IS only q
feet the question Eust be decided whether IT viii e
! r--ct>Sary to tru~trIyt tyO lUgkS, Of sutiieeut
strength and easily manipulated, with hits OF II let
t.rn WHITTIER tn WI! Ice required ~ inTnish tie
nac-sslry sC!llty, II addition 10 tie Eutr;-ucA-
As Sj..Jrt IN Il. TepOg, C the assistant sugIHse-,
the total itll from the head ui he rapids 20 INT foot
uf the Cello falls, d!>JaUc- 81 - feet Is &c feet,
25.5 Of which distance of SO teet Around
this fall Z canal gni lo'zS viii be required lIiS
work viii also require tGltouIi Study o-icre hltL
report can be submitted
The very great Importance Of tie two works 10th
at the DlrS Hul Cascades. especially 1t the lat
ter and the great benefits wh:,h Vii aycUe 70 E-s-
ern Oregon by her construction, can be easily ami
satisfactorily demons rated lie aggregate amount
OF touuge carried the river between Portland ana
nlIu1S above on tie Columbia and Snake Rivers, Tor
the fiscal year just closed, ws 1880 tons Oh winch
$500 tons lwsre of wheat AMI Hour; and II Is estI-
mattel that there VIII be l5oo0 tons Of wheat ami
-four 10 ship from Walla Nalia Valley alone during
the current year
The different stages Of high water for several sue
eessiva years have teen paced IN tahulatei form,
and VIII give on idea Of tie great height to which the
river Is accustomed tOrise Advantages having been
taken Of very high stages OF tie rlvrr, the Oregon
Steam Navigation Company have several OCCASIONS
ran boats over the Ca>cadrs; three similar attempts
u rur the Dullcs made all Of which proved
css-ful 10y the steamers OtrHog1A W Psrcss CLisf
and rhe Saoss2ac. When the works are accomplished
and reality which viii most undoubtedly be the case
in the course ot few years continuous and UniuteF
ruptei water communication De had steam
boats from IAe mouth OF the Columbia River Tor a
distance of five hUnirei and fifteen miles up TO
lewiston at the junction of tine Snake and Clear
II 49,, .. -
completion OF the Improvements above Cello, and
when not prevented Dy ce, for four hundred and
twenty three miles up to Pa!ouse Landing, at the
foot Of Palouse Rrpds the crossing of the ruai be
tween Walla Waila and Fort Colvle, the extreme
northern military post Of the country.
y. NhCHLFR, Mlg0r Of Engineers.
Brig Gen. A A HUMPHRHYs,
CHsf IF Engineers. z. s. l.