The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-04-24

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The inside Of the dam should be built,
as much as possible, of large flat stones,
so laid, that the edge next the water
should be considerably lower than the
other, to prevent their being forced up
by the rushing of the water beneath
them and the foundation should be of
such width that by regular contrac-
ton until it reaches the top, the inside
of the dam should form an angle similar
to the other.
On the top of the dam, large stones
we'll joined, should be laid horizontally,
Immediately inside of which large pieces
of timber, such as those proposed 70 be
used for the foundation, should be laid,
so that the top of them will be level
with the top of the stones, and these
secured by being bolted to each stone.
About four feet down the inside of
the darn, other pieces should be run
across the stream parallel with the 9TH
ers, aud braces fastened to them, about
four feet apart, in the interstices be-
tween which stones should be driven
in edge-wise, iii the manner OF laying
stone pavement, which will form an in
clined plane, against which the ice and
other heavy articles may strike, and by
which they may be elevated TO the top
of the dam, so that the current of water
from above will force them over, with
out producing any injury. 1t will be APP
parent that the object OF building the
dam with the proposed slope of the side,
is 10 prevent the ehcct which might be
produced by the water upon a more
perpendicular surface on the inside, and
to prevent the washing away of the
stones from the lower part of the dam
on the outside.
The outlines here furnished may serve
as general direction, upon which such
improvements may be made as lcircum-
stances may render necessary, az it would
be impossible to notice the various
methods which it would be proper to
adopt to meet every case.
1t must be admitted that by adopting
the method above proposed, an expense
will be incurred, considerably greater
than by the one which has hitherto
been used; but in point of durability,
we think it will be obvious to every one
that there can be no kind of compari-
son and in constructing such work as
a dam where permanency is particular
Unnecessary, the difference of expense
should not be deemed consideration of
much Importance. The efficacy of this
mode of building dams has been tested
by actual experiment, sufficiently to re-
move any doubts on the subject. Any
person, DESTROYS of procuring further
Information respecting it, by application
at this Office, will receive such direction
as will enable them to do so.
As much property is frequently de-
stroyed in consequence of millers keep
ing their dams insuch bad repair, or hav-
ing them constructed in such an imperfect
manner that they are easily carried a
way by a fresh, and by adding the water
in their ponds to the body of water pro-
duced by the fresh, increase the force to
be resisted by dams which are below
them on the same stream-it would be
advisable to adopt some measures to Sc
cure each other against injury, by COM
polling owners ofsuch property to keep
it in proper condition, by establishing
board of survey, orsueh other method as
might be most practicable.
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