LAKE DRAINAGE

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3191, 7 February 1928, Page 3

LAKE DRAINAGE

MR. R. T STEWART'S SCHEME.

A FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION.

■"I believe I am correct in saying that the members of the party were all very favourably impressed by the demonstration," said Mr S. R. Wright, county engineer, in reporting to the Ellesmere County Council yesterday upon his visit to Lawrence, as the council's representative, along with representatives of other local bodies interested in the drainage of Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth.

"On Friday, January 27," stated Mr Wright, "the representatives of the local bodies interested in the drainage of Lake Ellesmere visited Lawrence with Mr R. T. Stewart and other members of his company to inspect a sluicing plant in operation, with a view to -investigating the possibilities of draining Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth by similar means.

"The demonstration took place on the claim of the Golden Crescent Company, situated at the head of Wetherstone's Valley, where there is a fairly large flat of tailings from mining operations, consisting of gravel mixed with clay and small rock. The nozzle used was 2* inches in diameter, under a water pressure of approximately 1601bs per square inch.

"The party arrived at the scene of the demonstration about 11.45 a.m., and in 50 minutes the plant had made a cut about 14 feet wide, 8 feet deep, fully 1£ chains long, rfnd a further cut of smaller dimensions extending up to about 80 yards.

"Another smaller plant was inspected on the way back to Lawrence, which was working in a creek bed. This also was doing good work. The next place visited was the Blue Spur claim, where sluicing was in operation on a soft grade of rock, the force of water breaking up the rock and reducing much of it to mud.

"Mr Stewart, in outlining his scheme for the opening of Lake Ellesmere, stated that a 6000 volt electric line would be required to drive the necessary plant, which would consist of a powerful pump, situated at a permanent station, driving water through. 13

to 15-inch pipe lines. He suggested four lines of pipes, laid close to each other, and terminating at varying distances along the line of channel to be opened, with a nozzle fixed at the end of each pipe line, turned slightly upwards, each line to be controlled by a separate valve at the station. These pipe lines would be laid about two feet below sea level at low water and would rest on hardwood piles driven well below any danger of scour.

"Mr Stewart intends using air in conjunction with water, thereby obtaining greater pressure at the nozzle, ftie air to be driven through a small pipe which will be inserted inside the large pipe."

Cr A. Anderson: Do you think a similar type of plant would be successful at Lake Ellesmere?

Mr Wright: I don't see why it should not be a success. A tremendous quantity of stuff can be shifted in a very short space of time.

Continuing, Mr Wright said that the plant supplying the power could be placed '200 yards back from the point where the water was discharged from the nozzles, so there was no risk of the plant being damaged by the sea. Mr Stewart estimated that the waters of Lake Ellesmere could be got running to sea in a space of from six to eight hours. He thought that all who had witnessed the demonstration given were satisfied that the plant would prove effective at the lake. Mr Stewart intended to pay another visit to Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth shortly to collect further data. It had also been arranged that the Government Drainage Engineer should pay a visit to the lakes and present a report.

The committee representing the various local bodies interested intended to fully consider both reports before making its recommendation. The matter of finance would be considered once a definite scheme was decided upon.