UPPER DIVISION—PRESENT STATE.
The total fall on the upper division, from Miltown to Ballynunnery Head,
is 63 feet, or an average of 7 feet 6 inches per mile. This is a
sufficient declivity; but, unfortunately, it is not equally distributed
over the length. There are 5 bridges on this division, viz., Miltown,
Garryhill, Ullard, Killane, and Ballintrane. These, for the most part,
very much obstruct the passage of the water, both from deficient
dimensions and general mall-construction.
It will probably be more intelligible to those who are acquainted with
the district, and locally interested in the proposed improvements, to
speak of the several portions of the river, in reference to the bridges,
as known points along its course. I shall therefore adopt that
arrangement, beginning at the upstream end.
From Miltown to Garryhill.
The
length between these bridges is 1 mile, and the fall 10 feet. The river
bed is 4 feet below the surface of the land, and the course irregular;
at every bend there is a shoal on the concave side of the channel,
brought there in time of flood, and caused by the detrition of the
gravelly strata through which the river passes.
The flood waters rise 2 feet over the land, on either side, and a
visible and wide-spread deposit of sand is the result of each overflow,
in addition to which rushes abound. The channel varies from 10 to 15
feet in width, and the banks are upright, and generally undercut.
There are no tributaries of importance in this length, though much
benefit can be done by opening up the barony boundary drain, as also one
or two others of minor extent, including a drain from the west wide,
very near to Garryhill bridge.
The roadway approaching this bridge on either side is impassable in time
of floods. It consists of 4 arches, making in all 36 feet breadth of
waterway; but it is very short of headway, and is otherwise inoperative.
I have prepared sketches of the several bridges, and append to this
Report a list made out in a tabular form, showing their present
dimensions, and describing what alterations I recommend to be made; the
quantity of water which we must provide for passing through each bridge
per minute, is also shown. To this table, then, and the drawings I have
mentioned, I refer for particulars, as regards the bridges. Immediately
above Milford Bridge there is a small hook mill, of little value, and
very rude construction. It is in no way productive of injury to land,
and is outside the bounds I propose to affix to the district.
From Garryhill to Ullard.
This is a length of two miles. It is probably the most defective part of
the river, and a greater amount of damage is here done than upon any
other similar extent.
The fall is 18 feet, or 9 feet per mile, which is ample for all our
purposes; but the channel is miserably insufficient.
The course is very tortuous, and, with the exception of an occasional
deep hole, the river bed in no part exceeds 2 feet 6 inches below the
level of the land; while in most places between Blackford junction and
Ullard bridge, there is really no depth of channel; and, were it not for
mounds which have been rudely formed to keep the water to its course, it
would overspread much land, even in summer, and the slightest rise of
water causes serious injury to hundreds of acres, which are now almost
unproductive, being at all times either completely submerged, or
saturated to an extent not less ruinous to cultivation.
There is a considerable accession to the waters of the Burren between
Garryhill and Ullard. On the east, there are the Shangarry and Clonee
streams; and on the west, the Blackford river and the Fennagh stream,
which passes by Ballydarton. Each of these 4 traverses an extensive
district, and the first, or Shangarry river, supplies a small corn mill,
on the property of John James Baggot, esq, a mile above its confluence
with the Burren. The head race of the Shangarry mill, which is brought
to it by a contour course, interferes with the drainage to some extent,
both on account of the level at which the water is kept, and the
imperfect nature of the banks. The injury indirectly done by the
tributaries above named is of a very serious nature, as will appear from
the extent of flooded and injured land as shown upon the plans. But the
Burren is in truth the cause of all; it is the main artery, and the
flatness of the surrounding district would require it to be of more than
ordinary capacity, more particularly as to depth; whereas its present
state is lamentably the reverse, and the evil effects extending up the
several tributaries are widely felt. All attempts at improvement in
detail would, therefore, be vain, unless in conjunction with a
comprehensive measure, such as it is now proposed to carry out.
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