Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10
LARGEST CANAL LOCKS
The Greatest of Monolithic
Masses of Concrete.
A WORLD WIDE WONDER
MARVELLOUS SYSTEM OF MODERN
ENGINEERING
Just Brought to Success
full Conclusion in
Canada.
Written for The Evening Star.

One of the most notable works of modern
engineering has recently been completed in
Canada. 1t is a canal liftlock, the only
one of its kind on the continent and built
on such large proportions that it is now be-
ing ranked among the engineering wonders
of the world
For number of years a project has
been under way to connect Lake Huron
and Lake Ontario, thus giving direct
route of transportation through the heart
of Ontario. A natural system of navi-
gable rivers and lakes provides the basis
for such connection, making possible
short cut across the country of about
two hundred miles. a saving of go miles
as compared with the present route by way
Of Lake Erie. OF this total distance of
200 miles about 20 miles will be canals.
and when these are completed a through
waterway of the first Importance to Can
adam shipping will be afforded, by which
TO move western wheat to the ST. Law
renee and the seaboard. The central por-
ton of the route. which is known as the
Trent Valley waterway, is already COM
plete.
The lakes making up this central section
are of varying heights, the highest point,
about midway, being 800 feet above the
level of Lake Ontario. To overcome the
successive drops thus encountered, on either
side. series of locks has been constructed,
another. The largest Of these locks. at
Peterboro', where drop of 66 feet has been
overcome by the construction of an i'm
mense double hydraulic lift. is one Of the
engineering wonders Of the world.
A Twelve-Minute Change.
The Peterboro locks consist of two water
tight steel boxes, in which vessels are
raised or lowered from one reach to the
other. These pontoons are each 100 feet
MI 1t a;<rh+
wide, and the pistons on which they are
supported are five feet in diameter. A
steamer coming down or up the canal floats
into one Of the pontOons, which when filled
with water closes Its gates, and then rises
or falls to the next level, when the gates
open again and the steamer floats out of
the pontoon into the upper or lower canal.
The change from one level to the other is
| made in twelve minutes, though the ac
tual time of vertical motion is only one and
one-half minutes. The lock Is automatic,
the gates and capstans being worked by
hydraulic power. During operation there
is pressure of 600 pounds to the square
inch, and the approximate weight Of wtaer
in each pontoon Is l 800 tons.
There are several locks of similar prin-
cipe In Europe, but though one In Ger
heavier tonnage. the Peterboro lock is the
largest in the world. with the greatest
presses, cylinders, and working stroke ever
built
ES,OOO arQS OF concrete.
The engineering of this work presented
many difficulties, and in it's construction
% 600 yards Of concrete were used, making
it the largest monolithic mass of concrete
! in the world. The side towers are ia feet
| high, and public driveway passes through
| the structure. The pumps and other ma
| chnery by which the locks are operated
| are in series of chambers between the
driveway and the towers. The formal open
| ing Of the lock took place few days ago.
The total cost of the work was $500. 600.
and as one of the worlds engineering won
| ders it is a credit to the ingenuity of its
Canadian builders.
The operation of the lock requires three
| men-a lockmaster and two assistants or
gatemen. The lockmaSter, during opera
tions. stays in his cabin the top of the
| central tower, where he has full view of
all that transpires, and is in commuhica-
ton with both his assistants by simple
signal system.
The movement of the gigantic pontoons
or chambers ia absolutely noseless. So
nicely have things been adjusted that the
operation of the lock is without jar, tremor,
grating or rubbing noises whatever. The
upperrnost chamber, to be able in descend
ing to cause the other to take the full up
ward stroke, must contain volume of
water greater than the rising chamber.
This extra weight is equal to the volume
of one of the pistons. The descending
chamber is losing weight while the
cending one Is constantly becoming heavier.
1t is also necessary that some extra weight
be provided to overcome the friction of
the guides and of the stuffing boxes of
the main presses. The area of each lock
chamber is so great that 1t requires only
an additional depth of 81 inches to give
an extra load of water of 100 tons. The
addition of their weight will. of course.
have the effect OF aaccelerating the time
of the relative change in position of the
chambers.
The auxiliary plant in connection con-
sists of a hydraulic accumulator with it's
accessories, two ~hydraulc gate engines.
two hydraulic capstans. an air compressor.