CANALS. 275 



CANALS. 



The total disbursements on canals up to December 1st, 1832, 

 amounted to five millions one hundred and sixty-three thousand 

 seven hundred and twenty-five dollars and twenty-four cents. 

 The aggregate length of navigable canals constructed and 

 owned by the state at that time, amounted to four hundred 

 miles, comprising one hundred and eighty-four lift locks over 

 coming a total amount of ascent and descent of one thousand 

 five hundred and forty-seven feet; nine guard locks; twenty- 

 two aqueducts; two hundred and fourteen culverts; one hun- 

 dred and eighty-two of which are of- stone masonry, sixty of 

 wood; nine dams for crossing streams, and twelve feeder 

 dams. The main trunks of the Ohio and Miami canals have 

 each a minimum breadth of forty feet at the water line, and 

 twenty-six feet at bottom with four feet depth of water. 

 A large proportion of both, particularly of the Ohio canal, is 

 of much larger dimensions, having a breadth at the water line 

 varying from sixty to one hundred feet, and a depth of from five 

 to twelve feet. In many places, it even exceeds, for considera- 

 ble distances, these dimensions, both in breadth and depth. 

 It has been a standing rule in the construction of the ca- 

 nals, to increase their dimensions beyond the minimum, in all 

 places where it could be done without materially enhancing 

 the cost. 



The walls of the locks are of solid stone masonry, resting 

 on floors composed of timbers laid crosswise of the pit, cover- 

 ed with planks three inches in thickness, both in the cham- 

 bers and under the walls, and between the walls with an ad- 

 ditional floor of two inch plank well joined, and secured with 

 spikes to the timbers on which they rest. 



The face of the walls are of cut stone, laid in regular 

 range work, and in lime mortar, the whole wall grouted with 

 the same material. The breadth of the locks is fifteen feet 

 between the walls, and the length of the chambers, being the 

 space between the upper and lower gates, ninety feet — ad- 



