The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-31
ESTABLISHED 1892
Virginia Fire & Marine.
Insurance Go mpany
OF RICHMOND, VA.
This old Virginia institution
insures all descriptions of Property
in City and Country; Dwellings,
Furniture, Stores, Farm Buildings,
Crops, etc.: School Houses, Mills,
Churches, Factories, sc.
Agents in Every Town and County.
DIRECTORS:
+. 3. ADDISON, u. y. DAVIS,
w. JOSIAH LEAKE, OTTO NOTING,
n W. BoyE. w. H. PALMER.
WM. H. PALMER, ". II. MCCARTHY
President. Secretary.

o. the surface current Unaffected by the
huils Of the catamaran. Ordinarily but
on, measurement of discharge can be
made In Il day. although under very
favorable conditions two measurements
have been made: The work at present
is being done on the upper section, as
the river is frozen over at the lower one.
The current is found to have III aver
age velocity of about four and ore-halt
ss,iles FER hour in the rapids of st. Cf;t'r
river. The observations or the lower
section show a velocity of about three
miles per hour at that point The cur
rent at this season Of the year, how
ever, is very much less-only about half
the volume Of water that passes through
in the summer. This is accounted for
by the Ice blockade at the head OF the
river. and probably materially affects the
level of the lakes In winter. At the
upper point in the river where measure
ments are being taken lie depth averages
about 40 feet. At some places in the
rapids the depth reaches from 60 to 50
feet. Opposite the city the average DEPTH
is about 50 feet. which is also the depth
on the lower Sc ion of observations.
THE RIVER LEVEL.
A record OF the level of the ritter is
kept by automatic tide gauges located on
the shore The velocity and the area in
crease as the level is raised. The dis
charge CT the river, or volume of water
passing a particular cross section per sec
ond, is variable quantity. and to deter
mine the law connecting the discharge
with the elevation OF the lakes surface re-
guires many measurements extending over
several seasons This discharge law is
made use OF in some very interesting prop
lens. one of the most important of which
is the regulation and controlling OF the
level Of the lakes.
This subject has been thoroughly inves-
tigated by the United States Deep Water
ways Commission. which has lately sub
mitted its report to Congress. This COM
mission proposes The construction Of and
has submitted complete designs for an i'm
nlense dam to be located At the head of
Niagara river at Buffalo. by which the
water of Lake Erie can he raised or low
cred a; will. thus controlling the depth OF
water in Lake Michigan, Lake huron,
Lake Erie and the connecting channels.
This proposed dam would be supplied with
special machinery for raising Or lowering
the Immense gt;1s OF tho regulating
works over which all the water dlschars-
ed from the lakes has to flow. The Ca
madam Government is understood to be
1c-eDareC to give immediate consideration!
10 any reasonable proposals IRON TINS
Government regarding the raising Or low
ering of lake Levels.
During the summer OF 1860 Ic!u l"'
" of engineers from the Port Huron Of
flee spent some time locating shoals IN the
American channel west of stag lSlanu
and at Grande Pointe. The channel was
sounded to a depth of u feet py the
use OF sweep bars and the shoals have
since been removed by dTedges.
THE WORK DONE.
The branch Office. which was estaDasA-
ed in Port Huron in 1895 was under the
supervision Of Colonel G. J. LyGecher
who Is in command of the head office OF
the department OF the northern ana
northwestern lakes at Detroit. lie mas
recently been relieved of some of his Ia
bors however, by Major W. L. Flskc
who has taken charge of the surveys OF
this department and the improvements at
the harbor of refuge at 1larbor Sea CHI
and some of the smaller rivers. Colonel
Lydccker gives his entire attention to
the river and harbor improvements.
The work in tie vicinity of Port Huron
has been in charge of T. G. Sabin-.
United States assistant engineer. WHO,
with a corps OF efficient assistants has
brought the work nearly to completion.
During most of the time Murray I3lanch-
ard has had immediate charge OF the held
party engaged in measuring the discharge
of the river and w. j. Graves has acted
AS general field and office assistant on
SURVEYS and plating. The summer
months will probably see the transfer
of these gentlemen to other points. and
the Port Huron office will be closcu