The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-02-15

, month passed eastward to the north Of tn
mean track of January storms. Th
u most severe disturbances occurred on til
}, 18th and 18th and 18th and Goth; Othe
s storms of less intensity were observed o.
q the lst, 9Th, 7th, 10Th, 10th, 23d, Goth ant
SOth. A. w. GREELY,
Chief Signal Officer.
THE DALLES BOAT RAILWAY
The Project That is Recommended by
) the Board Of U. >. Engineers.
Oregonian.
The long expected report of the board
of government engineer officers that was
to consider the subject of the obstruc-
tions to navigation IN the Columbia river,
between The Dallcs and Cello, aud de
wise some method for overcoming them
within reasonable limits of expense, has
at last been given to the public.
In lis preliminary report, rendered in
December last, the board recommended,
as temporary expedient for overcoming
these obstructions, that portage single
track railroad be made on the Washing
ton si6e,at an estimated cost of $431, 500.
This could be contracted in one year, and
would undoubtedly be the quickest and
cheapest solution of the existing difficult
ties. Recognizing that this project IS
not free from objections, in that it re
quires transhipment Of freight, and that
while perhaps adequate for the present it
may not answer future requirements, The
board has, as directed by the act defining
it duties, caused second project to be
prepared, which 1t now recommends as a
final solution to the problem.
In this project boats are taken from
the river at the foot of The Dalles rapids,
and are returned to the river at the head
of Cello falls by means OF hydraulic lifts,
one at each terminus, and ale transported
over the intermediate distance q little
more than eight miles in length by a
boat railway. The lower lift is designed
to raise tine boats sixty-eight feet at low
water and the upper lift forty feet. The
distance to which the boats are to be
lifted diminish as the water rises. The
lift is an adaptation of the hydraulic
dock in use for some years at the Union
Iron Works in San Francisco. The pro
cess Is, therefore not experimental. The
lower lift consists of sixteen cast iron
cylinders, each thiry one and one-half
inches in interior diameter and nineteen
feet seven inches long, weighing nineteen
tons. In these are rams having full
stroke of seventeen feet three inches.
They are placed In two rows, forty-six
feet apart, the rams in each row being
twenty-five and cne-haif feet between
cen.ers. There is a platform or cradle
between these rows supported hy chains
from the heads OF the rams. The chains
are SO arranged over sheayes as to give
the cradle q speed and movement four
times that of the rams. A device tor regu
latlng the admission of the water in each
press go controls the movement of the
rams as to maintain them at q uniform
speed and the cradle in a horizontal
position. notwithstanding any difference
in the load on the several raul5. The
cradle is placed under the boat while in
the water. After it is raised to the top of
the lift this IS removed and the car Ga
which the boat is to be tran ,ported un
the railroad is substituted.
The railroad is double track ordi-
nary guage road, the tracks being twenty
feet between centers, and the iron weigh
sing ninety pounds to the yard.
It's required of the car that it shall tran
sport with safety the loaded boat or barge,
and leave sufficient hexlbility to pass over
the horizontal and vertical curves of the
road. The maximum load to be carried is
estimated at 900 tons. The platform is
16S feet long by 3S feet wide. The lateral
fiexibilIty to enable the Car to pass around
curves is obtained by the arrangement of
the trucks. There is thirty four four-
wheeled trucks placed in two lines of
seventeen each.
The weight of the car is 800 tons.
The maximum weight is 600 tons, making |
the total weight of the loaded cur 900
TONS The average load per truck Is
twenty seven and oue-half tors, and per
wheel seven tons. The car with its !oad
is propelled on the track by two fifty ton
ordinary locomotives.
The boats are 165 feet long and So feet |
beam and feet draught, weighing with |
cargo GOO tons. The weight of the cradle
1874 tons. The total weight 20 be raised |
IN The lift is 1853 tons. The speed of
elevation, four and 0ne-half feet per
minute.
The estimated cost of the whole system,
with equipment of two cars and foar
engines, capable of passing eight loads of
600 tons in each direction in twelve hours,
including necessary buildings, and ten
per cent for contingencies, Is $3.50, 1866.
Estimate for improving Three Mile
Rapids. $4,000, making an aggregate of
So, $50, ,356. 1t is estimated that further
expenditure of $4,000 10 buildings, cars
engines, and side traok ks. will afford the
maximum capacity of forty boats each
way in twenty-four hours.
The annual cost of maintenance to pass
sixteen boats in twelve hours is estimated
to be $50 600; and to pass thirty-two in
twenty four hours would cost 10000.
The estimated time for transporting one
boat from The Dallcs 10 the head of
Celtic falls is one hour and half.
The duty of formulating this scheme |
and working up its details was assigned
to Lieutenant Edward Burr, corps OF
engineers, whose report accompanies that
OF the Doaro.
The board claims as especial merits of
this project that it avoids river improve
ment at Ten Mile rapids; that consider
ing the formidable character of the OBJ
structions its estimated cost is moderate, |
and that the operation of transferring |
boat from river to river Is effected In less
time(ninety minutes) than by any other |
method.
The board makes no estimate as to the |
length. of time that will be required to
complete the work. This is probably |
because of the uncertainty with which |
the funds for such government enterprises
are doled out in driblets. With the ex-
ample of the Cascade locks in view it
may be expected that many generations
will come and 60 before the work is COM
pleted. Nor does it discuss the CONNER
cial elements involved in the problem, or
express an opinion as to the advisibility |
of the government commencing work
of any kind.
Electric Bitters.
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will all diseases of the liver, and kidneys, will
remove pmples, boils salt rheum and other afec-
tons caused by impure blood.-Will drive malaria |
from the system and prevent as well as cure all |