Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-03

INSPECTING THE CANAL.-On Wed
nesday oflast week the receivers in.
spected 20 miles of the canal, remain
ing at Orleans Roads over night. Be
fore leaving Paw-Paw, Col, Whit
comb, of Richmond, Va, who is said
to be collating Information in the in
terest of the bondholders of 1874, join.
ed the party. The tunnel near Paw
Paw, excepting a small overhead
break at the east end, was found to be
uninjured, hut mass of earth and
rock detached from the mountain side,
obstructs the channel near this point.
The impression appears to be, how
ever, that the cost of its removal will
not be very heavy. The next injury
of much consequence was found at the
foot of the one mile level. The tow
path is washed into the channel at the
80 mile stake. Five canal boats in
good condition and loaded with coal
were found between the tunnel and
Lock 60. T h most serious break
was noticed below Lock So; it was a
break fifty feet long and five feet
deep, all the material from the tow
path being deposited in the canal and
completely filling it. The repairs
here will be expensive.
A short distance below Orleans there
is wash-out one hundred and fifty
feet long and eight feet deep, which
the engineer measured in order to
make an approximate estimate as to
the cost of repair. The only portion
of the viaduct at Sideling Hill dam
aged is the woodwork.
Dam No was then reached and in
spected, the party crossing the river
in boat. They found the stone-work
in fair condition, but the earth has
been washed away for about one hun
dred and fifty yards, Considerable
damage was observed between Dam
No. and Hancock, where the party
arrived Thursday evening and re-
NAMED over night.
On Friday what is believed to be the
most serious break on the upper por-
ton of the canal was inspected at the
Licking Creek aqueduct, about one
mile from Hancock. Fully half a
mile of the tow-path is destroyed, the
is carried away and the
is exposed. Much damage
is done to the overflow at the centre
of Big Pool. Both banks of the canal
are washed down at the foot OF the
four mile level and the gates at Lock
46 are gone. There is much damage
at Four Locks. Dam No. then held
the attention of the receivers and sur
Here the coping-stones are
washed away, the earth-work is bad
~ injured and the dam generally,
which is one of the most costly pieces
of work on the line, is in bad condi-
ton. At this point the party pro-
ceeded down the canal distance of
seven miles to Williamsport.
The receivers rested from their la
bors until Tuesday morning, when
they left Williamsport and proceeded
down to Chaney's Lock at the foot of
the six mile level, which was found to
be in reasonably good condition.
There is considerable wash on the
four mile level, and the two locks at
the foot of the two-mile level were
found to be greatly out ofrepair. AT
Big Slack Water the party followed
the tow-path on foot, sending their
horses around through the country.
Here they discovered much damage
by washing, and extensive repairs
will be necessary. AT the foot of the |
slack water the brick lock house is
gone, the groundwork about the
masonry has been washed out to a |
depth Of 90 feet and the guard bank
between the guard-lock and dam No
( has been broken in several places. |
After examining the dam carefully
The party went as far as Mercerville
and remained there until yesterday
More time will have TO be |
devoted to the inspection, as they are
now on the portion of the line where |
The heaviest damage was done, al |
though the receivers hoped to reach |
Harper's Ferry the same evening.