Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-25
COL. MERRILL'S YIFWS.
He Doesn't Favor Engineer Moody's
Scheme-Davis Island Dam to be Re-
paired in n Week-Coal Men JubiIunt

Scheme-Davis Island Dam to be Re-
paired in a Week-Coal Men JubTlant.
Colonel w. c. Merrill, the Govern
ment river engineer, who happened to
be in the city yesterday, but returned to
Washington last night, when told of Mr..
Moody's plans for the canal did not ap-
prove of them. He said that it was ridicu-
lous to think of drawing water from Lake
Chautauqua, since the latter is 800 feet
higher than Lake Erie. He claimed the
conduit would never work, since the water
would not run as fast as in the river He
admitted it was possible to build a canal
to Lake Erie, since it had been
done, though the old canal leaked
great deal, but that could easily be stopped.
About 25 years ago Mr.. Roberts surveyed a
route. Colonel Merrill states that a water
way can be built from Beaver either to
Cleveland or Erie. If such a canal is con-
structed, he claims it won't be worth any,
thing unless four movable dams are built
between Pittsburg and Beaver, Between
these two places the river is sleeper than
anywhere else in the course The fall is II
inches for the first 20 miles, and these dams
would have to built vertically, the one seven
feet below the other until the level of the
canal at Beaver is reached. He SAYS Mr..
French's plan to build canal in the middle
of the river is nonsensical.
Concerning the depth of the proposed
canal Colonel Merrill said it would have to
be at least 6H feet to be of any value. 1t
would then float good-sized vessels. A
depth of 215 feet is too shallow and practi-
cally useless. All the French canals are
not less than 6 feet deep.
With reference to the present condition of
Davis Island dam, Colonel Merrill writes
the following explanation to The Dis
PATCH:
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
OCTOBER "a. 1889.
As your columns of this morning contained a
criticism upon the plan adopted at Davis Island
dam of drawing of the pool in order TO repair
the lower lock gate, possibly word from me
on this subject will not be amiss. The difficulty
at the lock is due to the fact that the friction
rollers on the gate had cut into the oak sill so
far as to permit the gate wheels to slip off of
the iron track. in consequence of which they
also cut into the wooden sill and tore up the
track. The fat iron track bar on which the
wheels rested. was forced entirely through the
gate, and several of the aXles were broken. 1t
was not possible to work the gate any longer
in such condition and repairs were impera-
tive.
1t was hoped and expected that we could get
at the gate by building Golfer across the lower
end Of the lock and then pumping out without
lowering the pool This method was tried
thoroughly, but il was found that the leakare
through the gravel under the river wall was
more than the capacity of two 10-inch pumps
and so much more that 1t seemed hopeless to
attempt TO empty the LOCK with double the
number OF pumps, even had they been avail
able which was not the case.
Under these circumstances il was necessary
either TO cut off the greater part of the lock by
building second Golfer dam Just above the
lower gate or to take off the head of water
by lowering the pool and then try again
with the pumps on hand, The advantage of
the latter method was that the work could be
done in half the time. After consulting with
the coal shippers of Pittsburg 1t was found that
all the coal afoat could be placed where il
would not be injured after the pool was low
ered and under these circumstances author
lied Mr.. Martin TO draw down the pool. Tins
far have heard Of no injury to river interests,
and while all regret the necessity of drawing
on the water, believe that all acQuiesce in
thinking that the quicker method of
repair was properly selected. At the present
the work is progressing very faTorably, the
lock has been pumped out and one
new axle has been put in place. We have
every expectation of finishing the work in less
than week As soon as the gate is repaired
the wickets will be raised and the pool will be
hlled, and it will stay filed until rise comes,
whether the river freezes not.
In this connection il would be well to impress
on the public the fact that many of the details
at the Davis Island dam were necessarily novel,
and we have had vast and unexpected difficult
modtncacon or strengthening, but we have
thus far met with no failure for which we have
not been able to find a remedy, and every step
thus far made has been step forward toward
permanent success.
Your Obsdlent servant WIN. Z. MERRILL