The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1918-09-13

nood period. It allows the river to flow
on uninterrupted. while during the
navigation season It serves its full
purpose as a dam and may be so OPP
Grated as to pass large or small
quantity Of water, thus keeping each
pool at its proper level.
-, Highest Lift Locks. e..
There are 80 locks on Sthe Erie
canal, all Of which are massive con-
crete structures, having inside rec
tangular dimensions of 800 BY 44.44
feet and a lifting capacity varying
from a few. feet up to 4Oh feet. At
Waterford the locks are SO constructed
that series Of i've serves to lift the
barges from the Hudson river to the
canalized Mohawk river. 100 feet above
the level Of the government lock at the
Troy dam. These structures have
been called the worlds greatest series
Of high-lift locks and their lift is dou-
BILE that Of the locks in the Panama
canal from sea level to summit.
One of the highest lift locks In the
world Is located at Little Falls. where
the difference In pool elevation is 4OA
feet. This massive structure has con-
crete walls. which stand 80 feet high
and are 80 feet wide Mt the base. The
lower gate is Of the lift type and is
raised and lowered. instead Of being
swung open and shut as are the gates
on other locks. -
In the operation of all locks the wa
ter IL admitted to and drawn from the
chamber by means of culverts rum
ming through the side walls. and the
openings have been 20 designed that
the fllling and emptying Of the cham
Der is only matter of a few minutes.
The locks are all electrically OPP
Grated and the chambers are filled or
emptied while the gates and valves
are opened or closed by simply turn
ing lever. Safety devices are also
arranged 80 that errors In operation or
navigation are practically eliminated.
The Erie canal is spanned by Do
bridges. Of which SO are railroad cross
lngs. The clearance under these struc-
lures must be at least 15% feet.
Guard Asainst Accident.
In the Gland line" guard gutes have
been provided which are located about
ten miles apart. These are steel strna-
lures, suspended from towers and may
be lowered to hold the water. In case
of emergency, such as might exist II ar
embankment became weakened or any
similar accident made 1t desirable to
unwater any section Of the channel.
Numerous culverts and spillways
which keep the water from overflow
Ing the banks have been provided and
hundred million yards of earth and
rock have beea removed. while three
million yards Of concrete have been
placed. ..-'..
Will. the actual construction period
has been about 10 years. this. consider
ing the magnitude and qualifications of
the work, is very short time. The
many structures and the nature of the
territory through which the different
channels run has made this one of the
really important engineering undertake
ings of the age, and the construction
details have been the most extensive.
the plans alone being some Of the most
elaborate and complete ever drawn up
for any large construction work.
The cost Of handling freight on the
railroads, before recent increases went
into effect. varied from two to seven
mills per ton per mile. the average be-
ing between three and six mills per
ton mile. It is now estimated thatsthls
n