The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-12
Engineer johnson Explains WHY
Meramec Canal Will Not Me-
mace Farms and Property.
FALL OF 49 FEET IN p MILES.
Plant at Meramec Highlands, of
2O,0W-Horse Power, Will Fur
nish Compressed Air to st.
Louis Manufacturers.

An engineering feat long dreamed hut
never attempted will be the construction of
a narrow canal, twenty-five and half
miles long, from Centaur to AIeramec High
lands, in st. Louis County, to furnish power
for commercial purposes to patrons I'm ST.
: Louis. The project will be carried out by
the Missouri and Meramec Power COMPANY
if legislative difficulties can be surmouuted.
According to r. D. o. johnson. chief civil
engineer for the company, the enterprise Is
not only feasible but can be completed at
comparatively small financial cost. The ad-
ditional supply OF water that will be dis
charged into the Meramec River will not.
he says, have great influence on that stream.
and property in st. Louis County will not
be in danger from current or food.
The canal will be about 10 feet wide and
its depth will average about lG feet. The
grade will be about inches per mile and
the speed OF the water will be about one
and three-quarter miles per hour. Be-
tween Centaur. on the Missouri River. to
Meramec Highlands. on the Meramec River.
the fall will be 49 feet inches
Beginning at Centaur the canal will lead.
east by northeast. in Wild Horse Creek
Valley to a point near Upper Creve Coeur
Lake. At this point 1t will turn toward St
Louis and follow the course of Creve Coeur
Creek. At Conway road 1t will enter the
limestone ridge. out of which It will pass at
Manchester road. The crest OF the Clayton
ridge is go feet high. The tunnel through
this ridge will be mile and half long.
From Manchester road the canal will run
through Glaze Creek Valley to Keyes's
Summit. where it will turn and follow along
the bluff to a point a half mile above Big
Bend, where the power-house will be To-
Gated. Here 1t will empty into the Meramec
River.
Means Five Years Work.
Mr.. Johnson says it will take about five
years TO build the canal. basins and tunnel.
When finished, the stream will not percepi-
bly, increase the current or volume OF water
in the Meramec River. he says. and farm
lands. with their buildings. will not be in
danger of devastation.
Every second 500 cubic feet OF water
will flow into the canal from the Missouri
River and through the canal into the Mer-
amec River. But the flow will be controlled
at headwater. At any time the engineers at
Centaur will be able to close the big gates
and leave the canal dry.
On either side of the two small islands in
the Missouri River. near Centaur, parallel
dikes will be built. 4 wier dam, 500 feet
long, will connect the Islands. On the south
side of the larger island a strong revetment
wall, mile long, will be built. By means
Of this wall and the bluffs on shore a silt
basin will be formed, a mile long and 500
feet wide.
The canal viii be cut to the Missouri Riv-
ar on the river side of the bluffs. Where |
he river will empty into the canal a regu-
ating bridge. 400 feet long, with sluice gates |
md gauges. will be constructed. This |
fridge will stem the water at will.
Silt Basin nm Artificial Bay.
Mr. johnson explains that the silt basin |
will be. in reality. an artificial bay. In the
,ay the water will have but little current,
Is the revetment wall, dykes and dam on
md along the islands will isolate the basin
rom the river The water that will enter
he bay will find its way, at slack speed,
round the base of the bluffs.
At present, Mr.. Johnson says. the Mera-
nee River, below the Highlands, is about
50 feet wide, sixteen feet deep, and has
elocity of 3is to feet a second. In high
water the canal will have no appreciable
fleet on the Meramec River, WHILE in
ow water it will add about three feet to
he natural volume.
The plant at Meramec Highlands will
ave a capacity of aO.0O0 horse power. By
rateI power air will be compressed, fur
ished to St. Louis concerns for commercial |
urposes. The air will be sent to the city
through conduits. Promoters of the prof. |
ct anticipate. however. that plants and
actories will be established near the power
tation. In that case the power will not
Q provided to St. Louis concerns.