ENGINEERING. 577 



THE IMPROVEMENT OF CHARLESTON HARBOR, 



it is reported, is shortly to be undertaken by the govern- 

 ment. The plan approved is said to be the same in principle 

 with that now being employed at the mouth of the Missis- 

 sippi. The bar, at the entrance of the harbor, and jetties 

 are to be constructed which shall confine the volume of wa- 

 ter now spread over a wide area to a channel of half a mile 

 in width. The outflow between the projected jetty-heads, 

 which would have a largely increased velocity, is looked to 

 to scour out a channel of from twenty-one to twenty-four 

 feet depth at mean low-water; the present depth is only 

 about ten or twelve feet. The carrying-out of this improve- 

 ment will, "it is confidently believed, make Charleston har- 

 bor one of the best on the coast." 



IMPROVEMENTS ON THE KANAWHA. 



Large benefits are expected to result from the completion 

 of the improvements of the navigation of the Kanawha River, 

 which have been for some time in progress under govern- 

 ment auspices. From the Ohio River to Connelton (a dis- 

 tance of eii>*htv-five miles) slack- water navigation will be 



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provided for by ten locks and dams, which are being sub- 

 stantially constructed of hewn stone, at a cost of about 

 250,000. for each dam with lock. 



HIGH-LEVEL STREET-RAILWAYS OF NEW YORK. 



The last year witnessed the practical completion of the 

 several lines of elevated street-railways, which have been so 

 long contemplated and discussed as a means of solving the 

 problem of rapid transit. There are now in regular opera- 

 tion two lines of elevated railway, forming four continuous 



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iron bridges running lengthwise of Manhattan Island two 



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on the east side and two on the west and which, on the com- 

 pletion of the numerous branches in contemplation, will have 

 an aggregate length of about forty miles. Tasteful station- 

 houses are located at convenient distances apart along the 

 routes; and trains are run in both directions at intervals of a 

 few minutes. The utility of the lines in performing the work 

 for which they were intended is universally admitted ; but 

 serious complaints are made of the noise, the obstruction of 



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