Every year, the Canal Commissioners were required to submit a complete report on the Canal. A complete evaluation of the condition of all Canal structures performed by the Chief Engineer was included as part of this report.

The following text is part of that Engineering Report as filed by Jesse Lynch Williams, the Chief Engineer, at the end of 1847. While the report covered all structures along the line, the following extract covers the portion researched here.



Aqueduct No. 2 - Aboite Creek
The next structure is aqueduct No. 2 over the river Aboite, of four spans, each 28 feet clear. The truck is of wood resting on two abutments and three piers, all of good cut stone masonry. This structure is entirely new, having been rebuilt in 1846, and will probably require but little expense for 8 or 10 years to come.

Road Bridge No. 12
Not far below the aqueduct is road bridge No. 12, nearly new, may last 8 years.

Culvert No. 33
Culvert No. 33, 12 miles west of Fort Wayne is built of wood, 10 feet by 18 inches - submerged.

Culvert No. 34 - Calf Creek
The next structure is Culvert No. 34, a large wooden culvert over Calf Creek, of two spans, each ten feet wide and five feet high, of rectangular shape. The covering timber of this culvert has been exposed to the air since its erection in 1833 and must be partially decayed, still it has strength enough to sustain the weight, if the decay is now checked. I would therefore recommend that a dam be erected just below the culvert and made water tight, so as to submerge the whole structure. This may cost $100, but will be far more economical than a renewal of the whole culvert which otherwise will be necessary within two or three years.

Culvert No. 35
Culvert No. 35 is of timber, 10 feet by 18 inches - submerged

Culvert No. 36 - Cow Creek (Roanoke)
Culvert No. 36 over Cow Creek. This is a large wooden arch of 18 feet chord, semicircular. A structure of this size and shape could not be submerged, and the arch timbers have therefore been exposed to the air. Experience shows however that timber thus situated under a moist bank of earth, is not subject to rapid decay, and it is believed that this arch may stand 3 or 4 years longer, when it should be rebuilt of cut stone. The head walls will need some repairs within two years.

Lock No. 4 - Dickey (Roanoke)
The next structure is Lock No. 4, 15 miles east of Fort Wayne. This is the first lock west of the summit, and terminates the summit level. It is 10 feet lift, built upon the wooden frame plan. It was renewed about 4 years ago, is now in good order, and will probably last 4 or 5 years longer without much expense. Gates will last 3 years.

Road Bridge No. 13 (Roanoke)
Not far below this lock is road bridge No. 13, which will last 6 or 7 years.

Culvert No. 37
Culvert No. 37, 10 feet by 18 inches, of wood - submerged.

Road Bridge No. 14 (Port Mahon)
Road Bridge No. 14, at Port Mahon. This is a longer and more costly bridge than ordinary. It will stand 2 or 3 years, but the planking should be renewed during the ensuing winter

Culvert No. 38
Culvert No. 38 of wood, 10 feet by 18 inches - submerged

Culvert No. 39
Culvert No. 39. Opening 10 feet by 18 inches, built of timber - submerged.

Culvert No. 40
Culvert No. 40. Of wood, ten feet by 18 inches submerged.

Aqueduct No. 3 - Bull Creek
Aqueduct No. 3 over Bull Creek. It has one span of 28 feet, the truck is wood, and rests on two stone abutments. The truck was built anew, two years since, is in good order, and will last for seven or eight years. The masonry is not very perfect, but will probably stand and answer the purpose for several years to come. It is about five and a half miles east of Huntington.

Culvert No 41
Culvert No. 41, 10 feet by 18 inches, built of wood and submerged.

Road Bridge No. 15
Road Bridge No. 15, 4 miles east of Huntington, is the next structure, will need rebuilding in 1848

Culvert No. 42
Culvert No. 42, 10 feet by 18 inches, of timber - submerged.

Culvert No. 43
10 feet by 18 inches of timber - submerged.

Aqueduct No. 4 - Flint Creek (Huntington)
Aqueduct No. 4, over Flint Creek, one mile east of Huntington, is the next structure. It has one span of 28 feet - truck of wood - abutments of stone, but of imperfect quality, yielding to the action of the weather. The masonry will doubtless require some repairs within two or three years. The trunk is nearly new, and may last seven years.

Road Bridge No. 16 & No. 17 (Huntington)
Within the town of Huntington, there are two bridges crossing the canal. Nos. 16 & 17, both of which need rebuilding during the ensuing year.

Lock No. 5 - Tipton (Huntington)
Lock No. 6 - Davies (Huntington)
Lock No. 7 - Davies (Huntington)
Lock No. 8 - name unknown (Huntington)
Lock No. 9 - Madison (Huntington)
Lock No. 10 - Forks (Huntington)
Commencing at the upper part of Huntington, and between that point and the feeder introduced from the Wabash, below the Forks, a distance of two miles, there are six locks, numbering 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, counting from the state line, each of which is nine feet lift, excepting Nos. 6 and 7, which are of 8 feet lift. One of these locks, No. 7, is constructed upon what is called the combined or composite plane; the walls of this lock are good, and the plank facing, having been renewed some four years since, will stand without expense for five or six years more, when it must be renewed. The other five locks may be all described under one statement. They are built upon the wooden crib plan, using undressed but strong and durable stone, laid on dry walls - the face of the walls being made water tight by a lining of plank. The cost of rebuilding a lock on this plan, including the removal of the old structure will be about $5,000. The repairs proposed to be made during the ensuing winter, will probably cost $150 to each of the five locks. Besides this, there is in all this flight of locks, one full set of lock gates required to be built the ensuing winter, the other gates are all nearly new and will last perhaps four years.

Feeder Dam No. 1 - The Forks (Southeast end of Ehlers Island)
The next structure is the Wabash Dam No. 1, erected across the river one half mile below the mouth of the Little River, generally known as "The Forks," for the purpose of a feeder. This dam is 22 feet long and 10 feet high, formed of cribs filled with stone resting on a solid rock bottom. It is in safe condition excepting the abutments, which being of timber, are much decayed, requiring renewal before the end of winter. The culvert, and head gates by which the feeder is introduced into the canal, has just been rebuilt and are in good order. The feeder is three chains long.

Road Bridge No. 18 (The Forks)
Just below the Dam, is road bridge No. 18, which may last five years.

Clear Creek Dam
The next structure is the dam across Clear Creek, through the pool of which, the canal is taken across this stream. It is XX feet long and 6 feet high, on rock bottom. The abutments are of wood, and will need rebuilding within two years. The towing path across Clear Creek has recently been rebuilt, and will last for seven or eight years, unless carried off by the creek flood.

Flood Gate
A few rods below Clear Creek, a flood gate has been constructed in the towing path which is opened during high water for the security of the canal. It is built on "English's patent," with permanent stone abutments.

Culvert No. 44
Culvert No. 44, built of timber, 10 feet by 2 feet - submerged.

Culvert No. 45 - Silver Creek
Culvert No. 45, a large arch for the passage of Woodworth's Creek, four miles west of Huntington. The arch is a semi circle of 24 feet chord, built of timber. With some repairs to the head walls, this structure will last three or four years, when it must be rebuilt of cut stone.

Lock No. 11 - Chesboro
Lock No. 11 is situated a few rods west of the above described arch. It is upon the wooden crib plan, of six feet lift, though the walls are of an equal height with an eight feet lift, as a guard against the floods of Clear Creek. The upper courses of this lock, with the entire set of gates and the hollow quoin posts, to require renewal during the ensuing winter. With this immediate expenditure, the lock will last till, say 1850.

Culvert No. 46
Culvert No. 46, 4 feet by 2 - can be submerged for $2.00

Waste Weir
The next structure is a long waste weir to discharge the floods of Clear Creek - a breast wall and sides built of timber, will last seven years.

Culvert No. 47
Culvert No. 47, of wood, 2 spans 10 by 2 feet - submerged.

Waste Weir
Waste Weir, 70 feet long - timber breast and side walls, may last six years.

Flood Gates
Flood Gates built upon "English's patent," with stone abutments.

Culvert No. 48
Culvert No. 48 is a rough stone arch of six feet chord, springing from abutments 2 1/2 feet high.

Road Bridge No. 19
Road Bridge No. 19, will require building in 1849

Culvert No. 49
Culvert No. 49, of wood, 2 spans 10 feet by 2 feet - Submerged

Culvert No. 50
Culvert No. 50, of wood, 10 feet by 2 feet - Submerged

Culvert No. 51
Culvert No. 51, of wood, 10 feet by 2 feet - submerged

Culvert No. 52
Culvert No. 52, of wood, 2 spans, 10 feet by 2 feet - submerged.

Lock No. 12 - Jim McDonald
Lock No. 12, 8 feet lift, built of cut stone from the Salamania quarry. These stone are not sufficiently durable to answer in a situation so exposed as the face of the lock, and are beginning to fail under the action of the weather. With some repairs occasionally, the lock may be made to last a number of years. The gates will need rebuilding in 1850

Culvert No. 53
Culvert No. 53, of wood, 10 feet by 18 inches - submerged

Lock No 13 - Curley Hayes
Lock No 13, 7 feet lift, of cut stone. The description of lock No. 12, just preceding will apply to this. Gates will need renewal in 1850.

Road Bridge No. 20
Road Bridge No. 20, will last 2 years.

Culvert No. 54
Culvert No. 54, for the passage of Lagro Creek, two arches, each 11 feet chord, built of stone. The stone are not of durable quality, yet being less exposed than in a lock, this structure may be considered permanent for a number of years to come.

Lock No.14 - James Kerr

Lock No. 15 - James Ditton
Lock Nos. 14 and 15, situated in the town of Lagro, each six feet lift, built of cut stone. The stone procured from Salamania quarry. In certain portions of the wall, the stone are beginning to decay. The locks being of small lift, will doubtless answer the purpose for many years. The gates of both locks need renewal in 1850.

Feeder
Just below lock No. 15, the feeder is introduced from the Wabash River, by a set of wooden culverts and head gates, placed under the towing path, the culverts being under water. The head gates are in good order.

Feeder Dam No. 2 - At the Wabash street bridge.
Wabash Dam No. 2, erected for the purpose of this feeder, is situated immediately at the town of Lagro. It is 280 feet long, and 7 feet high, resting on a rock bottom, and formed of cribs filled with stone. The abutments are of stone, and the whole structure is permanent and in good condition, with the exception of a wing to the south abutment, which is wood, and will need rebuilding in 1849.