532 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

VISITS OF THE CRUISER RALEIGH TO THE
CAPE FEAR.

Soon after the United States steamship Raleigh went into
commission, in 1895, she came into the Cape Fear River to
receive a service of silver, which was presented to her on be-
half of the State by the Hon. Elias Carr, then governor of

North Carolina.
Later, after our war with Spain, about the first of May,

1899, the Raleigh, returning from the Philippines, commanded
by Captain Coghlan, again visited the Cape Fear for the
purpose of delivering to the city of Raleigh some trophies of
war, including several Spanish cannon, which were formally
received by a delegation sent from Raleigh on behalf of the
State of North Carolina.

The eruiser and her officers and men were honored by an
enthuiastic welcome to Wilmington, and Captain Coghlan was
deeply touched by his cordial reception. The Raleigh, under
the command of Captain Coghlan, had joined in the attack
upon the Spanish forts and war vessels in Manila Bay, and our
people, desiring to mark this incident by a special compliment,
presented another very handsome and valuable service of silver
plate to Captain Coghlan and the ship. Mr. William Calder
made the presentation speech, and the commander responded
in a felicitous address which was long remembered by those

who were present.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPROVEMENTS ON
UPPER CAPE FEAR RIVER.

The present project for the improvement of the upper Cape
Fear River was adopted by Congress in the River and Harbor
Act of June 25, 1910. This project contemplates an improve-
ment by canalization and dredging to obtain a navigable depth

of water between Wilmington and Fayetteville, a distance of
115 miles, of eight feet. To accomplish this it is planned to
put in two locks and dams. The first lock and dam, known as
“Tock and Dam No. 1,” is under construction at King’s Bluff,
39 miles above Wilmington; and the second, or “Lock and Dam
No. 2,” is to be located at Brown’s Landing, near Elizabeth-

Peace Restored 533

vie 72 miles above Wilmington. The 8-foot channel between
ie eS _ King’s Bluff has already been obtained by
oo = = is only necessary now to maintain it. The
reat : : concrete, with pile foundations and steel-miter-
saa ss — e lock at King’s Bluff will be about 294 feet long
—— fi a. maximum width at the base of about 84 feet.
pesiges : % 28 feet high, and the chamber will take vessels
a ee _ ong and 40 feet wide. The dam will be of the
oe = ype filled with stone, with sheet-piling above and
aes é — be about 275 feet long and 50 feet wide, and
= raise the water eight feet above that in the lower part of

e river. The abutment for the dam on the side of the river
Opposite the lock will be of reinforced concrete pile construc-
tion, and will have the same height as the lock walls. As the
dam is low, in comparison with the river banks, it will be sub-
merged, and its effect as an obstruction in the river will dis-
appear by the time the river rises to the top of the bank, so
that the area of land covered by water during flood times will
be practically the same after the dam is put in as it is now
As the lock walls are much higher than the dam, vessels ma ,
use the lock during a considerable rise in the rie, and tad

the river drowns out the lock, there wi
e will b f
and vessels will pass directly over it. piri cet eens

The cofferdam is constructed of steel i
teel interlocking piling made
by the Lackawanna Steel Company, and is of facies aaa

type as was used in the cofferdam for raising the battleship

seem Pe a is 45 feet long, and was driven through
ace Be : feet of compact sand and thin layers of rock.
eee, : 2 pis a back by heavy steel wire cables to pile
cere a eet from the wall. In addition to the above
Slee a the dredging inside of the cofferdam and
the ek aan aia cone se ee
; 1¢ yards of material. Insi
sera = bottom was secured about 18 feet below wan
2 — oundation piles is now in progress; this requires
sodoos, | of 1,850 piles with a penetration of about 23 feet.
- ao concrete will be deposited around the
ode oon ‘ A es, the cofferdam will be pumped out, and the
eae, t in the dry. Work on the abutment will be
ortly and carried on simultaneously with the construc-

tion of the ]
be beaded gs as soon as these are completed the dam will