Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-05-12
NUMBER 81.
THE GOVERNMENT CANAL.


(from the travelling cor. Of the Oregonian.1
CASCADE LOCKS, Or, April 23, 1881.
In making general survey Of the
work at the lock site, I find that dur
ing the interval since my previous
visit in September last, considerable
work has been done excavation Of tho
canal prism and much more work in
the lock pit l6O feet has been added
to the length Of the water tight timber
bulkhead 90 feet high, which now
reaches the lower end Of the lock pit.
The river side of this compartment
consists of stone wall which at tho
same time forms q protective struc-
ture in extension of the canal embank-
ment against high water. The necss-
sity for the precautionary measures he-
comes apparent, when it is known that
along the line of the embankment, We
locity measurements made on different
bases at 25 feet from the water line,
indicated current Of from Q to II
miles per hour. This stone wall il
now $50 feet in length, in the center
of which ia a core Of concrete hacked
by cement gravel ramned in place.
The concrete rests on the underlying
cong nglomerate; its greatest depth in tho
present condition is 40 feet. At tho
upper end Of the lock pit is plank
bulkhead and carried around the lock
pit in hume over the timber bulk
head at the lower end of tho pit
This will permit operations to be car
ried ON the lock pit during all except
the higher stages of water, say from
four to six weeks Of each year. Tho
first masonry for the locks will 10 lain
neyt week; this portion consisting Of
one end of the wing wall at the head
of the lock will be laid after high wat
cr.
Large buildings for shop have also
been constructed, where number Of
artisans have been employed in the
manufacture Of tools and implements.
The grounds fronting the main govern
ment buildings have been nicely lev.
eled, which, aside from their much i'm.
proved appearance. is great conven-
ience in facilitating tho passage Of
teams and other operations connected
with the works. There are at present
$50 men employed upon the works,
which will constitute the average nu-
merical strength of the force for tho
remainder of tho year. Although
backed by well-trained and able
corps Of superintrndents, Lieutenant
Powell, engineer in charge, personally
supervises every detail Of the work.
He also maintains keen observation
over the lodging and mess houses, hos
pital, etc, causing them to be constant
ly kept in the most cleanly and COM
Portable manner; indeed, the mess
, house is a model of it's kind, with the
most generous fare at remarkably
: low charge for board.
A survey Of the minor rapids from
E the lower end of the lock pit to tho
. Cascades, distance Of four miles,
, made during last low water season,
n was plated on four handsome sheets
z 50 feet to an inch, The survey wal
] detailed in its charcter, including Z
:. systematic series of velocity measure
: ments for each two feet Of rise Of thu
u river; and careful examination and
k estimate Of the character and quantity
II Of the rock Instructions at the rapids
t. On the 10th Of last November thu
= board of engineers for the Pacific
d Coast visited the locks to continu,
IS their investigations connected with th'
e construction Of the canal associated
/. with the board were Gen. Weitzel ant
!, Col. Houston, of the engineer corp"
IS The former has lately complsted tn
d enlargement of the Louisville AM
| Portland canal on the Ohio river, ais
'r the new and magnificent lock at Saul
u st. Mary's, Mich, and the improve
st ment of the rapids near both places
IT Col. IT,, is in charge of the Fox an
D. Wisconsin river Improvements. TIL
I'd other members of the hoard are Col'
= S'ewart, Williamson, Mendel an
IA Gillespie. This board of engineer
rr made practical test of the facilitie
III of navigation through the rive
rapids by steaming from the lowe
as Cascade landing to lock site on tt
he Willamette Chief, the time occupie
r., in passing from the foot of Bradford
en- Island to the lock site, q distance fo'
to miles, was 80 minutes, which is in (,
Ia the rate of speed allowed for the pa
on sage of steamers through the Wella,
,r, canal being limited to this rate
ce canal regulation.
ais
ed TESTING OREs. Chicago Mi
irg Rerie'o gives the following simI
lot .x.nAlol &c Aoct;,, r,,.os. /. IE tho nroas,