Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-08-01
ST. JOHN RIVER
Can and Should Have Ex-
tensive improvements.
Consulting Engineers Say Boih
Feasible and Advisable.
Report to st. John River Commits.
slon..The Field Work.

deN6itpeu' III lfle lutuT6 on tlidI water
way is both feasible and desirable,
question that has been under inves-
tgation by the International St John
River Commission, commission ap-
pointed by the United States and the
Dominion of Canada, is now assured
through a recent report to the commits
sion from its board of consulting en-
gineers-Hardy S. Ferguson of New
York City and S. ]. Chapleau of the
Department of Public Works of Can
ada.
III their report the engineers, who
repre- sent the best trained and most
skillful hydraulic engineers of the two
countries state:
we have no hesitation in stating
that what We have already learned
makes it apparent to us that it is both
feasible and desirable to develop
system of storage reservoirs and to
improve the river channels in many
places. and that much can be accom-
plished towards making the driving
of logs safer an5 less expensive, and
toward increasing the low water flows
for the benefit of any water powers
which may be developed along the riv-
er in the future
To those who are interested in the
work of the commission and those who
have their interests along the st. John
river the report of the consulting en-
gineers is most significant and means
If adopted by the commission. that
eventually the tive governments may
take steps to carry out some compre-
nCiun cphn,1la h,
ter of the st. john and improving the
river to the benefit of both the lum-
Der industry for which it is chiefly
used at present and whatever other
development may take place in the
future.
Canada is said to be anxious that the
United States join with her in carry
ing out some plan for the Improvement
Of the river, which will put an end to
the difficulties. which have occurred
in the past and led up to the bloodless
Van Buren, War" of 1905.
Most of the field work which has
been done by engineers at the direc-
tion of the commissioners at the direc-
ton of the commissioners has been
completed and the larger part of the
data has been put in shape for the
consulting engineers to study in CON
nection with their final report. Briefly
the work covers a comprehensive ex-
animation of the St. John river be-
tween Grand Falls and Seven Islands
and of the lakes and main branches
tributary to the river between these
limits. Profiles. discharge measure
ments and guage readings have been
made. areas of important lakes deter
mined. surveys of sets for dams at the
outlets of these lakes have been COM
pletcj and other necessary. informa-
tion secured from which to estimate
the reservoir capacity available. cost
Of constructing reservoir. dams and
Mariner of treating river channels for
improving log driving conditions.
The work of plotting the Black riv-
er surveys. plotting Seven Islands sur
veys. completing a general map of the
st. John river. plotting rating curves
and guage readings and computing dis
charge measurement is now done. A
small office force has been engaged on
this work and the work that remains
to be done is being hurried along as
fast as possible under the direction of
NJ r. Ranney. chief engineer in
charge of the field work. 1t is expected
that the engineering work will be com
pleted within the next four months.
A rarty has been in the field making
a survey for a reservoir site on the
main river at Seyen Islands.
Data from the various stations on
the river where the discharge of the
water is being recorded is taken at reg
ular intervals in order to obtain meas
urements of discharge covering the ne
cessary range from high to low water
In addition TO field and office work
which is ir progress, there has heeh
somc work lone on the st. John ana
its branches above Seven Islands. rms
section of the river is very important
regarding lumber operations ana log
driving conditions. and the engineers
are securing definite information as to
the Possibility of creating reservoirs
and improving the river channels
above Seven Islands.
The surveys of the st. John river
made under the direction of the COM
mission extend down as far as Hart
Land, and some of the finest maps in
existence of this important waterway
and the section through which It pass
es will be one of the results of the
commission work. In fact these maps
will be the first complete and authen-
tic maps ever made of that section
The Canadian government has made
a map of the river from Fredericton
to Woodstock, and by making a map
Of the section between Hartland and
Woodstock the commission will have
a complete map of the river between
Fredericton and Seven Islands.
Up to the present time the consult
ing engineers have confined their work
to securing such data as they con
sidered necessary for developing
comprehensive Improvement scheme
Enough of the data and information
has been secured TO justify the con
sulting engineers in beginning their
studies of the problems which Will
form the basis of their final report to
the commission which they plan to