Fish-dam shoal Briar Branch shoal Sand-bar.. . . . 67.52 1.7 300 0.70 241.32 Jones's mill-dam. 70.72 *2.56 246. 08 Rock bottom. Bottom gravel and bowlders; fish-dams. Channel on either side. Bottom, stratified rock. Do. Rocks above surface. Irregular rock bottom; grist-mill on Fall Creek. Rocks above the surface. Right channel; rock above surface. Ragged rock bottom; fish-dams. Rock bottom; fish-dams in several places. Rock bottom; fish-dam. Rock bottom; no improvement required. Mill on left bank; undershot wheel; dam built of stone and logs, brush, &c., full width of river. Rock and gravel bottom: Bittings & Carver's grist-mill on the right bank; undershot wheel; wing-dam half the width of the river. Fish-dam; gravel bottom. Grist-mill on the left bank: two turbine wheels; substantial wood and stone dam, full width of the river; rock foundation. Rocks above surface on the left, channel on the right; remove right wing of old fish-dam. Rock bottom; channel on right 18 feet wide and 2.5 to 3.3 feet deep. Rocky shoal; Clouse's old mill-dam. Rock bottom. Rock bottom; wing-dam: mill on left; undershot wheel. No improvement required. 2.0 284.40 * Vertical. Deposit from Muddy Creek. Grist and saw mill; wing-dam; channel between dam and right bank may be improved. Short bar, probably underlaid with rock. 102. 10 309.00 Big Rock shoal.. 105.42 680 0.34 312.89 Barnes's fish-trap shoal 106. 15 1,900 0.42 315.55 Rock bottom: large rock in middle of river. Old fish-dam; rock bottom. Dutchman Island bars. 107.53 50 317.77 Gravel bottom. Remarks. IMPROVEMENT. It will be seen from an inspection of the above table that the river may be divided into three sections, according to the descent per mile, which must determine the character of the improvement. I. From Wilkesborough to the head of Bean Shoal the distance is 53 miles, and the descent is at the average rate of 3.15 feet per mile. II. Bean Shoal, which may be subdivided into two divisions, the upper having a descent of 14.04 feet per mile, the lower 6.91 feet per mile; the total length of the shoal being 4 miles and to Sycamore Ford. III. From Sycamore Ford to the railroad bridge, near Salisbury, where the survey terminated, the distance is 64.56 miles, and the rate of fall 2.02 feet per mile. Assuming that a grade of.1.3 feet per 1,000 feet may be taken as the limit of ordinary steamboat navigation, it is evident from the above description and the profile that the river can be improved to a navigable depth of 2 to 3 feet at low water from Wilkesborough as far as Bean Shoal, by excavating the bars and constructing wing-dams and four locks and dams. At the head of Bean Shoal it will be necessary to abandon the river and make a canal about 3 miles in length, with three locks, having an aggregate lift of 21 feet. The remaining distance of 1 mile to Sycamore Ford can be overcome by excavation and the construction of perhaps one wing-dam. From Sycamore Ford to the railroad bridge the average fall of 2.02 feet per mile is within the assumed limit, but the actual descent at special localities is so great that excavation will need to be supplemented by the construction of wing-dams. The excavation, locks and dams, and' wing-dams which are necessary for light-draft steam navigation between Wilkesborough and Salisbury are included in the following estimate, given in a tabular form. The canal around Bean Shoal will have a width of 40 feet at the bottom and 60 feet at the water surface and a depth of 5 feet. The dam will be of stone and the lock of cribwork, with a chamber 100 by 20 feet. Summary of estimate for improvement of the Yadkin River for steam navigation. Canal extending from the head of the shoals 8,070 feet to a point 800 feet above the foot of Island No. 9. Earth excavation in canal, 144,600 cubic yards, at 15 cents. 3 locks, lift of each 7 feet, at $15,000. Guard lock at head.. ... $21,690 00 12,777 00 45, 000 00 10,000 00 Rock excavation, Island No. 9 to Sycamore Ford, 10,692 cubic yards, at $3. 32,076 00 Contingencies 15 per cent.... Total...... 121,543 00 18,231 45 139,774 45 Locality. SECTION III-SYCAMORE FORD TO THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD BRIDGE, NEAR SALISBURY. Sycamore Ford Shoal, Sta. 2998+3 Hauser's Island, Sta. 3107 +15... Shoal above Shore's Island, Sta. 319982. |