Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-10-11
THE CLEARWATER RIVER.
Can 1t be made NavigabIe for Steam
boats

The question or navigating Clear
water river by steamers of light draft
has been doubtful one to some, but its
practicahility believed by others for a
long time. The attention of the gov
ernmeat was called to The matter by our
present Delegate, aud an order obtained
for preliminary examination to be made
under the direction Of Col Wilson, chief
Of the river engineering on the Colum-
bia and its tributaries. Dir ?. g. East.
wick, acompetent engineer, was detailed
for the service, and he has just closed
his surveys, and will soon make his re.
port, Mr.. Charles Carleton, river
man, was employed by Mr.. Eastwick to
assist in the survey. Mr.. Carleton took
quite full notes of the river as they de-
scended, and though in all respects they
may not correspond with Eastwick's re-
port, yet the difference win not be ma
terial in deciding the question of prac
ticability. As Mr.. Eastwick would not
be authorized to give to the press the
result Of his observations in advance of
his official report to headquarters, we
have received from Mr.. Carleton the
substance of his own notes which we
now give to the public.
The survey with soundings CON-
menced at the mouth of the middle fork
nearly 6 miles above Kama agency
buildings. Before proceeding down the
river Mr.. Carleton went up the middle
fork 8 miles and found good navigable
water save two rifles which he did not
examine fully as to depth Of water
Above this point for a distance of Is
miles, citizens acquainted, informed him
there twas continuous good navigable
water in middle fork. In giving details
of distances and depth Of water in wha
follows, we include the rifles in the dis
tances, and mention the least depth O.
water on the rifles at low water, excep
in long rifles where we mention sepa
rately the length Of the rifle. Wher
wc mention rocks we mean those tina
will have to be removed to make steam
boat channel from 60 to 80 feet wide a
low water.
Commencing at mouth of middle for
thence we proceed down to India
Billy's distance Of five miles. In tn
distance W, passed three rifles aud on
short bar. The least water on the uppe
rifle was "a feet, on the next 81 fee
d on the next feet, and on the last abo,
4 feet, with 20 rocks to be removed
the whole distance. These are detache
rocks and most Of them small. Wat
good depth for steamboating save
mentioned on the rifles From Billy
to mouth Of Kama creek miles got
water with rifle at this point, water
feet deep and 2 rocks to be remove
Then run | ] miles good water from 3
5 feet in depth and no rocks in chann
at this point we found bed rock wi
deep channel from 50 to so feet wid
and one large rock in channel viii
should be removed, Then run 2 mi
with water feet and upwards in dept
at this point short gravel bar wi
channel on the right and water on
81 deep and small rocks to be
moved. Then run "a miles good wa
5 feet deep and bod rock bottom and
small rocks to be removed. Then I
one-half mile with channel near |
bank and rocks to be removed; til
We encountered gravel bar ona-toul
Of . milo long, least depth Of water
bar l6 inches with deep water belt
chanuel easily dredged or can be de-
ened by force Of current by wing d.
Then run three fourths of mile g,
water, here we found boulders and |
rock for distance Of one-half mile
deep water, about 240 yards Of r,
will have to be removed from this /
mile to make channel 60 feet wi
Then run one-half mile good water
ieet deep and come to short bar "
8 rocks in channel but plenty of wa
Then run another half mile good wa
and came to short bar, deep water ,
2 rocks in channel. Then run l u
good water and came to bar, deep wa
aad rocks in channel. Then run
miles in canyon With deep water and
rocks in channel, here came to rifle