Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Oct. 20, 1940, edition 1 / Page 5
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Dredge Henry Bacon, Longest U. S. Engineers Own, Works On Harbor By GLADYS BEST TRIPP stepping slowly down the Cape naT with its two gigantic spuds ' d scooping out the basin along L way. plods the Henry Bacon u. tartest government - owned dredge^n the United States. the dredge’s feet are really two . avy steel castings 60 feet long nd about 32 inches in diameter a-hich protrude vertically on each ";de of the dredge. The average Lp of lhc Henry Bacon is six feet, although the spuds can take nine {eet at a step. One spud is dropped rd penetrates the river bottom sufficiently deep to hold the dredge ,, place. The other is raised and 'consequently does not act as an anchor. The dredge swings to one jde and the other spud is dropped while the first is raised—and thus the Henry Bacon walks. Tugs Also Used However in this slow fashion the Henry Bacon advances 1,200 feet dav in the inland waterway and covers a much greater distance in ,he channel of the Cape Pear. When the dredge must go down to Southport or Charleston on a long er journey, tows are put alongside the dredge and also behind and in front. In this way the large struc ture can round bends by certain tows slowing while others increase their speed. Recently ,the tow tak ing the Henry Bacon with its pipe line and other equipment stretched 1900 feet long. Gas in the river bottom slows up the dredge often during working heurs. This gas has the same effect on the centrifugal engines as would air. The engines consist ol powenui mechanisms to pull up the river bottom, old tree trunks, stones, ,fos sils, bones of prehistoric monsters, alligator teeth—and even live alli gators. The Henry Bacon boasts a total of 3,000 horse power divided into 2,000 horse power on the dredging pump, 600 horse power on the cutter engine, and 400 horse power on the auxiliary engines. It has a displacement of 1,500 tons and is capable of dredging an aver age of 600.000 cubic yards of ma terial a month under ordinary cir cumstances and as high as 1,000, 000 cubic yards in good material. For several months the Henry Bacon will be busy restoring the 30-foot channel to project dimen sions at the ocean terminals. From the Wilmington harbor the dredge will move to Anchorage Basin. For several months the Henry Bacon will be busy restoring the 30-foot channel to project dimen sions at the ocean terminals and at Anchorage Basin. Later it will work downstream removing any shoals that have formed in the channel between Wilmington and Southport. If Congress approves the 35-foot project in the Cape Fear river, the Bacon is well suited for doing that job. r (mowing we muu Now to follow a bit of mud through the dredge and off on Eagle Island. At the extreme end of the Henry Bacon is a huge spiral-shaped cutter, closely re sembling a large meat grinder blade, which revolves and loosens the river bottom mud. This cutter is connected to a large steel pipe running from what is known as a ladder which may be raised when the dredge is being moved or repair work being done, and lowered for working purposes. " The dredging ladder is lowered to the desired depth for dredging, for instance, 30 feet in the Cape Fear river, and the pumps on the lower level of the Henry Bacon started. The mud mixed with wa ter is sucked through the steel pipe in the dredge, out the back and through the steel pipe in the dredge, out the back and through a system of pipe line supported in the Cape Fear by buoys. The dredging ladder is swung as mate rial is removed in order to get the desired depth within the swinging scope of the ladder—about 300 feet. Then the dredge takes a step ahead. Tn,. tt - d du u a cuou dredge rock with a special rock cutter on the ladder equipped with massive hard knives that break up the rock in pieces small enough to be sucked through the pipe. Ball 'deel connections join the pipe to 'be dredge in place of the rubber beeves once used but now incap able of carrying the added force 0 'be 2.000 horse power dredging Pump, the lining of the pump rusts out in from three weeks to ‘bree months. Should a tree trunk be caught in 'he revolving cutter, the ladder is raised and the dredge stops while uu employe walks the steel pipe °!ia loosens the impediment. Some smaller stones and tree parts go ‘"rough the pipe and stop inside "c dredge. Again the dredge stops uhile the object is removed from ' uhin the affected machinery. 'he 70 employes enjoy working °n the dredge. Under the direction Captain William E. Bellamy who as been master of the Henry Ba con since 1929 they work in eight °Ur shifts. The dredge works both ba>' and night. The employes sleep, J?1 and work on the Henry Bacon, roe sleeping quarters are on the Pper deck, and although the 1 eciSe rocks slightly continually, rsh jerks are only experienced ahi n the cutter hits some immov e object on the river bottom. „ A Complete Unit u ,e dredge is a complete unit in sh * ^ 1138 own blacksmith sto°P’ machine repair shop, cold ;.pBe compartment, and ice ■ ezmg machine. Water is brought than1 Jurther up the Cape Pear Ca ,“e city’s supply in a barge on ,yinB 60,000 gallons of water on tno. The Henry Bacon has its own purifier and filtering plant on lower deck. Sixty-two cents on an average is required to feed each of the 70 em. ployes. If they are absent more than two meals they receive com pensation at 27 cents a meal. And the meals they are served consist of well-balanced and excellently prepared food. Fried chicken, de licious lemon pie, ice cr’eam, fresh vegetables and always a quantity of fruits, are regular rations. The whole dredge is spic and span. White walls gleam with cleanness and the woodwork is pol ished to reflection. The dredge boasts three dining rooms on up per deck. The largest has a pic ture of Henry Bacon, the first civil engineer on the Cape Fear, to start improvements, and who was civil ian assistant engineer from 1876 to 1891. He directed the closing of New Inlet which was opened by a ter rific hurricane in 1761. The work was completed in 1881 and the great possibilities of harbor facil ities in this city is largely due to his leadership. Immediately after ~ ■■ — the completion of the “Rocks,” as the dam was called, Congress made an appropriation to dredge the river to 16 feet. In 1882 another appropriation was made to deepen the channel to 18 feet. And for Henry Bacon the dredge was named. Also in this dining room is a photograph of the Lincoln Memorial which was designed by his more famous son, Henry Bacon, Jr. 1 Creswell Man Killed As Two Autos Crash CRESWELL, Oct. 19.—UH—John Whittington, 48-year-old employe of the Halsey Hardwood company here, was killed instantly in an automobile collision near hear ear ly this morning. Corporal Tom Brown of the state highway patrol said Whittington was driving out of a filling station into U. S. highway 64 when he was struck by a car, driven by Jack Mason of Swanquarter. Mason' was released without bond, Brown said. 1 River Bottom Mud Through a long system of pipeline comes the river bottom mud mixed with water which has been churned up by a huge steel cutter. The water runs off leaving the mud to dry out and form new land on Eagle Island. The Henry Bacon nh„±a^?t*ug0';*l,1,,,V1'-u",!t'1'. ''‘.'V'i1' 1,1 *,u> 1 l,lte,l Mates is the Ilenry Bacon, now restoring the 30-foot channel of the Cape Fear at the Wilmington harbor to project dimensions. ■ Ten More Dare Stones Found At Roswell, Ga. GAINESVILLE, Ga,, Ot. 19.— —Dr. H, J. Pearce, president of Brenau college, planned today to make an early announcement of the texts of inscriptions on 10 new ly-found stones said to fit “signifi cantly” into the search for Sir Walter Raleigh’s “Lost Colony.” The last of tne new stones, Dr. Pearce said, was discovered Thursday near Rosewell, Ga. The other nine were found for the most part in the Atlanta area. He expected to disclose the texts at a meeting of 34 historians, ge ologists and educators from sev eral states. The group, headed by Dr. S. E. Morison, head of the History department at Harvard university, will study all the stones and inspect the sites where the Georgia stones were found. The stones purportedly trace Ra leigh’s English colonists who dis appeared from Roanoke Island off the North Carolina coast in the 16th century. 3 Two Men Are Killed In Car-Truck Crash GASTONIA, Oct. 19.—UP- Her bert Short, 30, and J. W. Smith, both of Kings Mountain, were fatally injured today ina . collision between their automobile and a big transport truck on the Gaston ia-Kings Mountain highway. Short was killed instantly and Smith died several hours after the wreck. 3 Between 1690 and 1720, it is esti mated there were more than 2000 pirates off the United States coast between Maine and Florida. 4 I T. Wells Is Chairman Of Pender Draft Board BURGAW, Oct. 19.—The Pender ounty draft board, composed of J. Wells, H. McN. Johnson and G. I. Highsmith, met Wednesday nd perfected an organization by lecting J. T. Wells, chairman, and '• J. Betts as secretary and chief Jerk. Temporary offices have been es ablished in the judge’s room on he second floor in the courthouse, md Betts will be in charge of the office at all times. Permanent headquarters of the board will be occupied within a few weeks. 1 Christopher Wren designed the first Presbyterian church at Fay etteville, N. C., which was built in 1800. To relieveTAQ Misery of LIQUID TABLETS SALVE NOSE DROPS COUGH DROPS Try “Rnb-My-TI§mM a Wonderful Liniment UNDER THE PERSONAL DIRECTION OF A PRINTZESS REPRESENTATIVE 12 to 5 O'CLOCK MONDAY our doors open to reveal a most thrilling and inspiring collection of coats... PRINTZESS coat fashions will be on displayl Alive with new detail, sparkling with new fashion themes, beautifully tailored In the inimitable Printzess manner. Tomorrow will be your opportunity to choose YOUR coat from this collection, to have it made to your own measurements, if you have difficulty in being fitted. Included is a special group of luxury coats in precious fabrics and precious furs. Select your coat and know the thrill of wearing a Printzess Royalty Fashion I Printzess coats exclusive with us are designed for misses, women, juniors, and petites. ...amarkof FINE TAILOR ING INSIDE (RdkdtiUiamA Go. Be sure you make il more at tractive, by wearing one of our hand finished, very flattering styles in felt—dressily de tailed and trimmed. price $5.00 A hat style for every costume, with your suit... with your dress . . . with your jackets and skirts. What hat will you wear? If your wardrobe doesn’t in clude the right hat type for each costume, you can get it here. I HON. JAKE F. NEWELL I OF CHARLOTTE Will Discuss The Issues Of the Campaign (Both Stale and National) TUESDAY. OCT. 22.8 P. M. -AT THE COURT HOUSE Superior Court Room YOU ARE INVITED! Attractive me of efaitteired Black Caracul Kid and Black Patent in a pump, with smart Continental Heel... $5.00 t These smart trim _ shoes mean snug, buoyant day-long comfort. Concealed Features make every step delight ful. Stunning patterns from which to choose. *, and reasonable prices! See them today. CHINESE HANDMADE <% FRENCH PROCESS SUEDE Real Sheer LJ A KI P\ Irish Linen M A IN V HANDKERCHIEFS BAGS 29c each 4 for $1 $1.98---$2.98 These beautiful Suede Beautiful hand made Chinese handkerchiefs. bags are made of ultra Big assortment of enchanting new patterns, aristocratic leather, with spoke-stitch, hand hemmed and embroidered in exquisite frames of gold many unique designs. Some dainty lace trim- and crystal. Unique styles med. This is a beautiful selection. You'll find in in small dressy types or this lot many handkerchiefs worth much more the popular bolster style, than 29c. Select your gift handkerchiefs now with zipper coin purse while we have a good selection. and comb fillings. Colors, brown, black and wine. FOR TAILORED PERFECTION USE CORDUROY 79c yd. The top flight fabric for your tailored dresses in lovely luscious tones of autumn’s most flattering colors. You’ll look like a dream walking in this tailored fabric. Dress as young as you feel, and be fashion right in corduroy. _
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Oct. 20, 1940, edition 1
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