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Description of Engineering Problems Which Were Solved in Putting This New Waterway Into Shape to Handle a Huge Tonnage of Freight . By M. E. Mutchler-- Concluded from December es OLD AND NEW LOCKS, LOCKPORT, N. Y. UFFALO, the western terminus of the canal, is 565.6 feet higher than the Hudson. The land of New York state descends steadily, with the exception of the Rome summit level, the entire dis- tance to the Hudson. To overcome the drop of 50 feet at Lockport, two great locks were necessary, these two chambers taking the place of five locks on the old canal. The original five locks -are directly _ adjoining their successors and offer a striking contrast. The substitution of two locks, each of 25 feet lift and the use of electric power, makes a considerable saving of time over the old hand operated chambers. From Lockport the canal makes a very gradual drop of 2.3 feet to Rochester, thus giving a steady flow of water in the canal, to the east. From Rochester the drops, by means of locks, are more or less frequent and gradual until the Rome Summit level is reached. Here shortly after passing between the beautiful scenic shores of Oneida lake, the canal rises two flights of locks, from 369.9 feet, the altitude of Oneida lake, to 420 feet above the Hudson river. Thereafter boats drop steadily to Waterford, 184 feet above the river. Five great, flights at-this. point, at the largest set of locks on the entire system, deposit the boat nearly 200 feet to the Hudson. GIGANTIC CONSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY Some of the most notable engineering work on the entire canal was done at Seneca Falls. Before being canalized, the Seneca river here had a natural fall of 49 feet, and a series of three dams, which furnished power to 13 different concerns. A single dam was built by the state to replace the three in the ravine, raising the water level in the river 50 feet, creating a lake and wiping out a village, as well as the power plants of the 13 interests. These are now given power , supplied by the new dam, the state using the surplus to operate two locks at Seneca Falls. The Oswego canal, which meets the main waterway | at Syracuse and flows in a northwesterly direction to Oswego, on Lake Ontario, is possibly the most im- portant branch of the great 790-mile system. Tre- NIAGARA ORLEANS i 3s wx Se aS <8: r E "3 2 Be Buk 3 9 ef be es a § S a es ee s% €§3 se 8 = 3% 2 Se Bae See ae 8 a = = A oe ok $ < fas 6 2 * oa 6 8 » 6 2" c- 3 @ Q | ee 73 6 3 MONROE ROCHESTER S1Z.6 48735 Pittsford WAYNE 4824 418.0 29 Baldwinsville 24 mS Bing 8 a & s e838 38 ne we eon. eB 2 a "s & Bebe 5 3 6 : = as 5 3 445.0 aaa 378.0 Q és * S -s 3 N 1 aa 8 3 i fn te gee : TI s oe & 3 = a bts} ! 3° a eo ah ° ~~ = a = i a .§ a ° 's " M4 = { 12 ONONDA