New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-06
WORLDS HIGHEST LOCK.
The Nezo York Barge Canal to Haze
Record Breaking One.

washington MAY 6-CoIonel Thomas w Syrnons,
corps of engineers United States army, chief con-
sulting engineer of New York's s1ooooo,0oo barge
canal, is in town with fattering reports OF the
progress OF the work The recent change in man
agement resulted in little delay TO the work,
Colonel Symons says. but with the opening up OF
spring the various engineering and contracting
projects going ahead rapidly and soon the lost
time will be made up Colonel Symons is partc-
ularly enthusiastic over the prospect OF breaking
all records for high lift canal locks at Lockport
Unless all plans changed" he said the
State New York will have within It's borders one
of the most monumental canal structures OF the
world. This will be a lock with by far the high
est lift of any ordinary lift lock ever constructed
At LoCkport there is at present on the old Erie
Canal lift of fifty-six feet, which is overcome by
a double flight of fine locks With the new barge
canal which follows the same route as the present
Erie Canal through to Lockport, but with the total
lift reduced fifty feet. tier OF the present
locks will be dispensed with and In its place VIII
be built a single lock with the enormous HIT OF
fifty feet This lock will be Of the same size IN
plan all other barge canal locks $40 ieet clea'
available length and 10 feet width
The highest lift of similar lock is 80 rect
overcome by a lock in Europe The l'ockport lock
will exceed this by IA feet. This monumental
structure Is rendered possible because it VIII be
almost chiselled of the solid rock and because
owing TO the limited head room required for the
barge canal, the upper portion of the lower END
of the lock can be closed in by solid masonry ana
the lower gate supporting the immense water press
against 1T will be supported on both sides and
top and bottom.
TT Will be a rather awesome experience to ride
under arohway into this lock chamber from
below and have the gate closed. IL Will De coId
and damp and the only light will be from % rect
above. The high vertical walls will look as II they
We're closing in above and 1t Will certainly De d
relief to the boatman when he feels the water
coming in and lifting him to the upper level And,
the other hand. It will be anything but reilei
when he enters the chamber above and nnds MN
self dropping. dropping slowly down into the dark
bowels of the earth the lower level.
of locks
for use by boats larger than the ordinary canal
boats of to-day
1t always expected that the raise at Lock
port would be made by two locks. but Colonel
symons conceived the idea that a single lock could
be made do the work better than night OF
two locks. He roughly worked out the design or
a lock, with certain radical changes from the or
binary types and for the last years this has
been studied by experts in the various features OF
lock construction and finally adopted.
The adoption of this lock by State Engineer
Skene will the state about $4,000, for II a
flight of two locks was raised this would by law
have TO be duplica ted. making four locks In all,
which Colonel Symons's single lock would replace.
It is safe to say that when completed this great
lock will be visited by every engineer OF prominence
coming America from any part Of the world