Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-01-09


And above here it is the lever which
Moves and encourages agriculture,
stimulates the growth of manufactures
and invites the presence of the arts.
In a word, it goes hand INLAND with
progress and leads the van of enlight
eminent
The work Of removing those basal
tic reefs that intersect the channels Of
the Columbia and Snake rivers, be
tween Cello and Lewiston, has been
going ON for several years under va
rious contractors. These operations
have been done in accordance with
surveys made by AN engineer officer
from the army; and the knowledge of
this class, being entirely Theoretical,
often costs the government more than
it comes to. For instance, Col. GILES
pie, who has charge Of this work
stands at the head of his profs ssion;
and we are prepared to believe that he
could make perfect survey of any
bad channel, to be decpened by the
removal Of rocks, and correctly map
out the same. But, owing to his ut
ter want Of practical knowledge Of
current which can only be acquired by
years Of experience in the pilot house,
his new channel might be wholly use
less.
There is no use in deepening chan
nels through those ragged hasaltic reefs
on the supper Columbia and Snake
rivers unless you can preserve one con
tinuous sweep of current parallel to
the couAe Of the channel. ANY cross
whirls or eddes created by the remov-
ais of rocks are just so many add
tional obstacles in the way of success
full navigation. For this reason, we
assGxerate our belief in practice over
theory. Had three pilots Coo, Stump
and Baughman, perhaps been select
ed to superintend the work instead Of
army officers, it is impossible to resist
the belief that steamboats,, even with
the meagcr appropriations made by
Congress to late, could run safely to
Lewiston until ice closed the season.
Capt. George Ainsworth, of Port
land, was by long odds, the lowest bid
der at the last contract let for this
work. He was not familiar with
swift-water work, but was shrewd
enough to employ men who were.
Capt. 81. Smith had charge of the
work last year, while operations for
this year were directed by Capt. G. +
sampson. Their work was done al
Monumental Rosk, Long Crossing and
Five Mile Rapids, in Snake river, af
ter which they dropped down one scoN
to Homily rapids, just below the mouth
Of the Snake. The other, in charg,
of Capt. Cooper, conferred al. its forces
on the head of the Government chan
mel through the Umatilla rapids.
Cooper was an experienced blastel
in slack water, as in Victoria Harbor
but here the water was too swift anc
rocks too hard to suit him. He has
always executed submarine work ther,
by an enormous canister Of gunpowde
sunk on rock. but that would no
work in this current. A consulta
tipsf between him and Sampson, re
suited in a novel plan. A small hol,
being first drilled in the rock, stou
stake is driven firmly into the hole
Now they are ready for receiving til,
charge of dynamite.
This is packed into IN elliptical sacl
"a canvas shaped like big horse-colla
with six tight-cappod fuses let in from
each side. Another canvas collar, tina
is filed with coarse gravel, married. fas
to the collar Of dynamite, and the tw,
lowered upon the rock, the collar 0
giant powder underneath. The ii
stake keeps the cartridge from iloatin,
down stream, while the collar of gray
el holds the dynamite firmly down t,
the rock. The fuses are then lit, tn
scow's headlines Stacked oil, and tn
drifts slowly downstream, to avail
the explosion.
See, thick column of dirty yello,
water rises above the rock, followe,
by adult heavy ''pung,, which seem
as it the earth were riven asundei
The once dreadful reef is thing fifth
past. Never again shall it menace tn
ewMto proved Almota, or tear the ruo
den OF the flying Harvest Queen.
eThe method Just described certain
ly saves great deal of expense in til
way of rock drilling, and may yield t
the contractor margin of uncontea
yplated profit. Last year, he cleare
the cost Of his scows and blacksmith
tools. He may be able this year t
place larger balance on the eredi
side of his ledger, thanks to Capt
Cooper and his blarsted British 'orse
collar, you know. Empire,
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Contrary pcnptr