Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-04

nation made under authority of the
act Of March 3. 1881, showed the chan
mel to have en- average depth Of 1915
feet, with suf,icient width excepting at
the west entrance. where 1t was but Z
feet for width Of 40 feet. The pro-
jcct adopted by the act OF August II.
1885, which Ia also the existing project,
provides for channel $50 feet wide
and 10 feet deep at both entrances.
Tho necessary dredging was done in
1889 and the channel reported as COM
pleted. A survey OF the channel at the
western entrance in 1905. in eonnec-
tion with complaint that the bridge
OF the Rutland Railroad company was
an unreasonable obstruction to navi-
cation through "The Gut" showed the
channel to have shoaled to a depth OF
: feet at low lake level. The Rutland
railroad bridge. built In 1s09-19o2. with
Its draw pier in the $50 feet wide chan
mel. was held by the secretary of war.
after the customary proceedings had
been had, to be an unreasonable OBJ.
struction to navigation. ana under date
OF August 9, 1906. the company was
ordered to rebuild the draw span. AS
| an alternative the railroad company
was permitted to redrcdge the channel
through the western entrance to The
Gut" In accordance VIZ approved
plans that would provide channel 10
feet deep on each aide Of the draw
pier with the completion OF this
work. which Is expected during the
| current working season. the western
entrance to The Gut" will have the
projected depth and width and will be
| in condition satisfactory to the navi-
cation interests concerned. These In
| terests desire also an improvement ia
| the eastern entrance TO The Gut"
where the channel lies between Sandy
| Point. South Hero island, Knight,
Point. North Hero island. The item
quoted abovc limits the examins tion
to the channel known as The Gut
between Tromps Point. South Hero ISL
and. and Bow Arrow Point" or to the
| western entrance. The eastern en-
| trance lies between Sandy Point ana
| Knights Point, and r. about 2 miles
distant from the western entrance.
Tho Out" has been mentioned in
legislation providing for examinations
ana surveys or improvements OF rivers
and harbors in tho acts Of July 4, 1895;
March 5. 1887; March 3, 1881; and Aug
uet II. 1885. In each Of theso cases the
locality Is referred 70 as . whole ana
described A. the channel between North
Hero ana South Hero islands. Lake
| Champlain. New York. Only in the
act Of March .. 1897, Is legislation
found which does not include the chan
mel as a whole, but refers definitely to
only that portion Of the channel lying
between rremps Point. South Hero ISL
and. and How Arrow Point. North Hero
island, this specified locality being the
western entrance to Tho Gut" Hav-
ing In mind the difference in the word
ing OF the act OF March 3 1907.
from tho wording OF the previous
acts relating to this locality, ii appears
that under the customary principles
governing the Interpretation Of stat
utes. the pyoviso IN the act Of March
:. 1907. applies only to the locality
described Shsre!n and does not apply
| to the sheal at the eastern entrance
Of 1.-THE Gut" between Sandy Point and
Knights Point, and distant nearly
miles from the SPECIFIC locality men
TONED IN the act.
In order. however. that the matter
may re considered upon its merits, II
the above Interpretation Of the item
appears incorrect. attention is invited
t. tho accompanying map Of an exam
ination Of The Cut" made in connec
ton with the examination Of the
| dredging done by the Rutland Rail
road company under the circumstances
stated above. This examination shows
a channel with a least depth AZ low
lake level OF feet or more and least
| width In the vicinity Of Sandy Point
| light Of approximately 1875 feet.
, The commerce that makes the
greatest use Of thi, channel is the
boats Of the Champlsin Transportation
company, which are stated to draw
feet. For this commercs the depth and
width OF tho channel are SUFFICIENT
even at low-ake level which occurs
only At rare Intervals. the guaEe rec
crds ef the last eleven years showing
that the lake did not roach this level
At any tins during that period, and
that it averaged but thirty-nine DAYS
!, in the year lower than foot above
low-lake level. The C'hamplain Trans
portation company hes expressed a
desire that the eastern entrance Of
''The Gut" lie deepened. but in view -
the above facts its Improvement by the
United states through redrsdg!ng 70
tho projected depth Of 10 feet does not
appear to be advisable at this time.
a. Adams bay. At the ror:heasterly
end of which is the town and harbor
OF st. Adams lies on the Vermont
shore OF tie eastern arm OF Lake
Champlain. somewhat north Of east
from tho eastern entrance to The
Cut" Tho bay and herbor have in
general sufneisnt depths Of water for
the commerc. using It. this commerce
being restricted to such as can pass
through Tho Gut" where the projected
depth Of 10 feet at Iow-lake level. Com
plant Is made. however. OF two OBJ
struetions just south OF the steamboat
wharf. and Of a third in mid channel
about one-third OF a mile Southwestern
ly from the wharf. rhese obstruct!ons
ara believed to be powders Or lodges
have an in,ufr,cient depth over them
at low stages Of the lake, ana have
been struck or are liable TO be struck
by steamers at such stages. Their To-
cation, as well as tho usual route OF
steamers making the landings at St
Adams. Is shown on the accompanying
sketch. which is not drawn to scale.
1t Ia probable that these three DISTURB
tions. which hnve over them but to
on feet at low-lake level, are bovld-
ers and removable at comparatively
small expense. The cost Of their re-
moval, and Of the removal Of any other
such distractions whose existence and
location can be determined only by 4