The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-11-05
THE OHIO RIVER IMPROVE
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THE OHIO RIVER IMPROVE
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TWO OF THE PLANS PROPO-
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The problem as to the best and most
practicable plan for, the improvement Of
the Ohio river as 30 to gain sufficient
fdepth for navigation in all seasons Of the
year, is ,one,te which sttention has been
eiven,pot only by professional engineers,
but by men ofpractical experience in wa,
ter navigation, and others who have in
terested themselves in the subject. Much
inventive talent has been applied TO, The
solution of the br0blem, and each plan
suggested appears to have some ad van
ltages over others, which gain it favor,
whilst to each also, perhaps. some OBJ
lection may be found which raises
doubt as to its practical efficiency, under
all circumstances. ~ :" ~ .'' '2se', .
7 As remarked ip 8 former article, in all
the plans which ,hav beer suggested there
is an agreement as to the general system
by which the improvement Of navigation
is to be effected d--namely, that Of movable
or adjustable dams, with adj joining locks,
so that the channel Of tbs. river may be
open when there Is a sufficient depth OF
water for navigation, and that hat the dams dams
and locks can De used at tunes when sh there Ter
would Otherwise NOT oe enough water. IN IN
tne alntrent pia9s lpgs lynplcn nave oeen Pre- pre-
seplsd ,' ,er saSr ! 9a@s ana aocks mere y
make an y interaast;na a s1n,b;scf a. stndy
ever, to those whose minds have not been
especially directed TO the great. impot-
tance of the subject as connected with tie
leommercial and industrial interests Of the
country, g.. 4..a !. :. CIV. = y -, -
T. The Chapoine wicket plan, which has,
been adopted for the Davis Island Dam,
ando which. general description has
already been given, differs widely from
all the other plans which have been pre-
sented. This, difference consists partly
In the peculiar manner ia which It's
parts are operated but mainly in the fact
of itsdiyision into small sections, each
of Which is moved and separately. It Is,
fin fact, a combination Of dams, four feet
lin width, extending across the channel
| or, river. All the others except one
I described below, and which is in two
tsectiens. are continuous in their entire
len 9th. and are orsrateil as a whole. Be-.
low We Owe dissertations az two 'aifferihS
widely in their Ger General arranoe ments, and
plans of operation :."H i9ooSo tpel9fq'
+ '''I1. fs''il' s1S sl9lslI sdl 70 saeIn
T - .S1 eAfE'soHS =. t a. ~ooDs flAS'a hail
lR Taisplaarstae fnveatlon Ora parctlca
river man. Capt. Wooas'has had n1fny
years experiences in stesnib oating on the
Monongabela and Ohi3 rivers, and has
interested himself throughly on the sub.
lect OF river improvements he mas en-
bodied his ideas in plan for which he
has Obtained apatent,and Which he thinks
VIII meet all the requirements OF the
case. The general form OF tn's aam'
wnen IN position, Is tnat OF any ordinary
house roof-an end section forming a
triangle, the base OF which IS the masonry
foundanon, aud tue SIDES the up stream
and downstream tace OF the dam. 0r It's
form may be illustrated by hplaengt ia
oook cover on us edgesaOn taoe, the
sides OF the cover spread apart atahe bot
tom. Tue table would then represent the
iounoatlon on tue DAM one sidel Oh the
Dam racing up stream aud resisting the
current, and the other SIDE facing de"n
the stream, and over winch the water
woaid now, Fne Two parts or tne 'dams
! are hinged together atits 'mtddle' q which
ls us apex when In position. tlhe upper
Iace' suriace or tne dam IS also, al III
lower edges, hinged to tile fouuuation
4 upon which tue dam rests. Inus the dam
1 Is composed ottwo sides or'iaces extends
ing continuously across the channel, these
Il twosldes being joined together by a'hlnge
1.-THE top, and being spread apart at the
bottom to give resisting power to ldthe
u structure. The hinge at the base OF the
dam connecting 1t with the upstream
: edge ofthe Foundation, secures the struc.
ture IN Its place and enables IT soiae raised
Il orloweredqb by the means provided Qfor
A that purpose. Thisls effected by theuse
4 ofan endless chain so arranged that when
u power IS applied 70 vertical snals wof-
q king IN ap abutment at the end OF the dam
d and which may De operated Dy steam OF
i water power Cthe lower face orside otthe
!, dam is moved atiis lower edge either away
] from or towards the other sldes as 1t may
j be necessary to lower or raise the = DAM
) AsHFs moved outward, after Ethe dam Is
I in position, the whole structure, ,oy means
ofthe hinges already mentioned, gradual
. lyisiowered until 1t lies nat or nearly SO
on the stone foundation, thus leaving the
channel OF the river without obstruction
Ie raise the dam, the smart IS fotatea u
the opposite dlrecuoni tne oown-stream
! side otthe dam at It's lower edge IS gradu'
/ ally drawn TO wards the upper siue' csus'
ing the whole dam to rise as ridge or IN
verted V, until the proper height Is reach
ed, when 1t IS ntmly heidan place oy lhe
machinery which raised IL. leeaiefpme
Que Of the advantages claimed for thi'
dam over all Others, IS, that 1t IS readily