Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-27
sEABoARo CANAL.
CONTINUED from page -

AN~AN~' - ~ eASA RAOPOoSA ~ HAesNS -
great cut through Utica and Rome,
deep enough for summit level to ex-
tend from Little Falls to and beyond
Beaverton. on the westerly end of
Oneida lake.
The channel of the river can be used
as far as lion, but beyond that place
the cross section Of the stream is so
small that 1t has been disregarded and
the estimate has been made for the ex-
cavation Of the entire canal section
from Ilion to Oneida lake. A dam and
guard lock having maximum lift Of
10 feet are located just east of the
mouth of West Canada creek, near
Horkimer. This Is the first large tribu-
tary to the Mohawk above Little Falls,
and is proposed to receive this creek
and all streams above it into the sum-
met level. and store the waters to a
height Of 10 feet.
The average depth Of the lake Is said
to be 20 feet. and In some places Is 6o
feet deep. The water surface would be
permanently raised about three feet
above low water, but it is likely that
even then some dredging will be
needed. After crossing the lake. the
tcutS poooSo oO"h Tic >CHSiud AiNSi q
short distance. then it leaves the river.
cuts of large bend. then crosses the
river and passes through large but
narrow ridge of ground. At the river
crossing dam Is planned to raise the
lake level about 13 feet. On the west
ern side of the ridge. just mentioned. is
located combined lift and guard
lock. having a maximum lift Of 20 feet
and a minimum life to 10 feet Al
this lock the descent Of Lake Ontario
begins.
Continuing, the route passes along
the southern edge of large piece of
vet land as Peter Scott's swamp" AT
one place where the swamp borders
Oneida river, the route enters the
stream and continues therein for about
one-half mile. 1t then leaves the
river channel continues along the
swamp. passes Just north of Phoenix
md enters the Oewego river just below
the Phoenix dam, near the mouth of 4
small creek known as Brandy brook.
The channel of the Oswego river
forms the remainder of the route to
Oswego At Oswego Falls a dam Is
proposed that will back water to the
crest of the Phoenix dam and up the
canal to the combined lift and guard
lock before mentioned. A single lock
viii suffice to reach the level just be-
low the falls.
The next dam and lock are located o
few miles above Minetto dam. and the
next and last dam and lock in the city
Of Oswego. The last dam win raise the
water about 65 feet above low water IN
Lake Ontario. 1t is proposed to use
here another elevation lock like the one
at Cohees. The dock will be hardly
within the lines of the Oswego harbor
and it Is considered the end of thu
canal.
The size of the locks has been as
sumed to be $50 feet by 60 feet, the lift
ranging from 10 feet to q feet.
Locks with 30-feet lifts are used on the
Lehigh Valley canal. and a common lock
having lift of SO feet was proposed on
the Nicaragua canal. The lift Of the new
locn at Sault Ste. Marie Is 10 feet. 1t does
not appear therefore that lift of 2o21
feet is in any degree experimental. a
more careful location OF dams might re-
should be done If possible. The total num-
Der of vertical feet lift is SIS. AT $4,000
per foot, the total cost amounts to $40. TO-
which amount has been used in the esti-
mate at the cost of the locks.
All existing bridges over the proposed
route will need to be provided with a
pivot pier and draw span. and whenever
the canal leaves the natural waterways.
all intersections with highways and rail-
roads will require new bridges. The ex-
listing bridges are follows: Thirty
eight highway six single-track railway.
two double-track railway and three four
track railway. There will be needed be-
sides these, Is new highway bridges. one
single-track railway bridge and one four
track railway bridge. The expense of
building bridge varies so much with the
of the foundation and height of the piers.
that survey of each site would render
an exact estimate possible
The total cost of the construction of tho
auctions and estimates from this exam
nation of the route. at $50. OPS, COL. This
amount is divided as follows: For exca-
waiting S5,5l9.00O cubic yards Of earth. at
% cents yard s2l, go $50: for excavating
3.s730O0 cubic yards of rock, at 81 yard.
SS13, 444: for Is dams, average cost, 1915
27S. S. 900: for SIS feet lift of locks. $20.
72o, 900; for 65 bridges of all kinds 81. $50 900:
protection of slopes, $51SS. ISL; land dam
ages. $3.21S,263; engineering and contin-
.sencies. 80 per cent. $1S.945. s31.
While the cost of this canal seems enor-
nous. 1t may be considered reasonably
economical when it is remembered that
the Suez canal cost 500. 900 900 and. today.
the profits of that canal have been SO
enormous that it's stock is worth 81. 200. 900
The report above referred to. in giving
a summation of the merits of the pro-
posed plan.. says. among other things:
1.-The use of slack water navigation
makes a greater depth of water at the
lower end of each level than at the upper
end. by reason of the slope of the river
bed, SO that out of 1925 miles of canal.
1874 miles, or Is per cent. of the whole
will have depth of at least Is feet max
ing navigation easier and safer than
where there Is only about two feet of
water under boats keel, as there would
be with only 20 feet of water in the canal.
Absolute protection against floods is
afforded to all property between Little
Falls and Oneida lake. which will result
In large annual saving in flood damages.
''The cities and villages between Little
Falls and Rome will have better drainage
than at present. In Rome. especially. the
present drainage is poor.
THE removal of the present canal, with
it's bridges, leaks and danger of breaks
from the cities of Rome, Utica. Schenec-
tady and COhoes. will be worth several
millions of dollars to those cities.
THE estimate of cost Is believed to be
high. rather than low, and when COM
pared to the cost of our leading railway
systems 1t is seen that instead of being
in any degree fabulous. 1t is we'll within
the bounds of practicability.''