Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-03
NARR0WS OF LAKE CHAMPlA|N
Connecting Link in Great Inter-
national Waterway.
Influence on Freight Rates Expcctcd
to He Revived on Approaching
Completion Of tho New York
state Barge Canal.

The Narrows OF Lake Champlain. locat-
ed between whitehall and Crown Point
form a link In the great International wa
terway extending from New York to Mon
treal and were formerly the controlling
factor in fixing freight rates in this To-
cality, says the chief OF engineers. L. s.
army, in his annual report for 1915 to the
secretary of war. The influence Of this
connecting link is still strong. he says
though It has declined recently owing to
tho deterioration of the Champlain canal.
but is expected to he revived at the APP
preaching completion of the New York
State barge canal.
The report describes the Narrows as
~ miles long. and states that the portion
under improvement Is that extending from
Whitehall at the southern extremity Of
tho lake, northerly to Benson Landing
Vt. a distance of 10 miles. Burlington
harbor is II miles by water north of
Whitehall. and New York city is PA miles
south via the Champlan canal and the
Hudson river.
In its original condition the channel
through the reach now under improve
ment was narrow and tortuous. with a
ruling depth of from 1-2 to 10 feet at low
lake level and width probably between
Is and 200 feet. This reach is a connect
ing link in the international waterway be-
tween New York city and Montreal a
distance of 400 miles. via the Hudson riv-
err. Champlain canal Lake Champlain
Richelieu river Chambly canal and ST.
Lawrence river. The depths limiting
through traffic are those Of the Chambiy
and Champlain canals, and As feet re-
spcctively, though the Champlain canal
Is now being reconstructed with least
depth of prism and depth on stills of l2
feet. The head of navigation for lake
traffic is at Whitehall.
The original project was adopted in 1855
and modified in 1890. Expenditures I'M
der this project amounted to $3.50, Of
which, it is estimated. $4,000 was expend
ed for Improvement and $500 for mainte-
nance.
The existing project. adopted by the rv-
err and harbor act of March 3, 1899, is to
give the channel widths of 100 to 200 feet
at Whitehall harbor, Beacon No. Q, South
Bay Bend. Chubbs dock. and Dresden
Inarrows. and restore II to depth of T.
feet at low lake level. as determined by
the zero Of the gauge al Fort Montgom
cry. n. Y; also to provide floating fender
hooms for protecting vessels against col
lison with the rocky banks at Puts rock.
Dresden narrows. and Pulpit point The
estimated cost of this work was s22.50o
No estimate was made for maintenance.
THE project was completed in December.
1905; the expenditures since that date have
been for maintenance. The level of the
lake in the Narrows has usual annual
variation Of four to five feet
Operations and results prior to the fis-
cal year consist of dredging and a small
amount Of rock excavation, and resulted
IN creating and maintaining a channel u
feet deep at low lake level. from 100 to
300 feet wide through the reach under i'm
provement. and in fender boom protection
along three rocky points To June 80,
1914. 1864. II had been expended under the
existing project. The portions Of this
amount expended on improvement and
maintenance are not definitely known,
hut they are estimated at s22 500 for i'm
provement and s12034.l7 for maintenance.
Operations during the fiscal year were
confined to the repair and maintenance
of the fender booms. at cost Of $50 Other