Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-02-04

- %aa9S
L. -FOUR
the purposes intended and that had ii been finished
oeore The occurrence OF the late treshet would not
nave been injured thereby.
mat they find that the grouting oused in the con-
sructlon OF the dam has not formed cement, but is
soft and Yielding and does cause the stone. to adj
here with sufficient strength, and that from some cause
there appears not to have been sufficiently strong bond
OF union between the fronttace and interior mass Of
the masonry.
The committee believe that the dam was carried
away IN consequence of its unfinished condition at the
time the 1reshet came upon it,-that it was carried
away commencing at the unfinished section the
Northern aoutnen, and yielding toward the Soushen
abutment, and that it could not have fallen stnula-
neously or in mass.
| AS the questions propounded to, and answered by
the en- gineer Col Turntull fully cover ali those SUBJ
lects of investigation that can interest the company
many OF which only be satisfactorily determined by
an engineer, your committee respectfully refer the
| pany, upon those subjects, to Col. Turnbus report.
| Respectfully submitted
PHILIP ST: GEO. COOKE,
HENRY EXALL
! LYNcHBURG. Jan. 25 1851.
1.-The Secretary next read letter dated Lynchburg
Ian. %, addressed by the committee to Col William
Iurnball U. s. a, who had accompanied the COM
mlttee in its examination of the dam and propoundipp
to hn certain enquiries the tenor of which will su.
elcntly appear from his replyl
| p JANUARY 25th, 1851.
| GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge your
communication of this date propoundinp TO me certain
enqu RES in relation to the construction and failure of
the Judith Dam, and respectfully answer them in the
order in which they stated.
LIST. Having examined carefully the plan and speci-
tcatlons OF the Judith DAM have hesitation in
pressing my opinion in favor of the pan believing it to
be ample in its dimensions sustain the volume Of
ter which would mpinge against or flow over it; and
a In,,
original plan avoiding the use of grout and giving
batre to the front face.
End. The specifications call for very good descrip-
ton OF work, which do not think has been faithfully
carried out in all respects. The filling in between the
face walls IS not done in workmanlike manuer, but
often care essy laid, without sufficient attention to
bfeakng j9nts There has been too liberal use Of
mortar and grout the latter very Objectionable in d
work OF that magnitude and exposed position. The
cement used is not of the very best quality.
3rd There Is nc doubt on my mind, that the cause
Of It's failure Is attributable to its unfinished state. The
flow OF the water being naturally attracted to the low
est point, would be greatly accelerated and would
sweep before the ragged eads Of the unfinished part
The displacement of ooe stone would cause that of
another and until the breach was made sufficient
to pass the whole volume Of water. In connection with
this, taking into consideration the green state of the
mortar, Go not think that the failure or sweeping
away OF the Dam, should be matter of surprise under
the circumstances oil such rise in the water.
With great respect,
our obedient servant
w TURNBULL,
Major Topl. Engineers,
BIT Colonel.
To Mes.rs Harold Smyth, Richard G. Morris, Phil
Up st. Geo. Cooke and Henry Exal, Committee
[Col. Harold Smyth, a member of the Committee,
submit ted minority report offering no other opinion
than Col Iurnbulls the subject OF the piGn OF the
dana, "ihe question being peculiarly for science to
decide, and not addressed to inspection In re-
gard to the manner in which the work executed,
Col b IN his report quotes the language OF Col Turn
Dull, on tlat point, and adds:
ln addition to what has been quoted from the Com
mtees Engineer on this point, the undersigned would
add that 1t is his decided opinion that the work
executed IN TIC best manner. From examination the
mortar might be pronounced fair but the grou very
INTERIOR and both entered too largely into the filling up,
between the lace and rear walls. The grouting much
OF It, Is found without sand, with no adhesive power.
lhe Committee had not time or means 10 enter into
an investigation that would be satisfactory at whose
door to lay theiaut OF the effectiveness OF the work
The undersigned, therefore, declines opinion this
point
"On the question, the CAUSE ofthe breach of the
DAM" as this must ever be matter OF conjecture,
the undersigned only say, that with explanations
to the things before the disaster and appearan
nolp he nclines to the opinion that the Companys
Engineer in his supplemental repor: presents as proba-
Bile suggestions can be made"
Mr. Baxter moved that the Reports ofthe Committee
with the accompanying documents be referred to the
Board Of Directors.
Mr. Lyons proposed that the reports be rccommt-
ted with instructions 10 the Committee to enquire
who is responsible for the failure OF the dam.
Mr. Cooke explained the report OF the Committee.
ted by tile stockholders The failure of the dam was
not attributable to the defects in the execution, but to
the unfinished condition to the work.
Mr. Lyons wished 10 know where the responsibility
for the failure rested, and VIVA. measures would be
adopted by the stockholders to prevent the recurrence
OF the diaster.
Judge Mason stated that the work under the
mana gemeut of a superintendent OF Masonry, As
sistan Engineer, Principal Assistant and the Chief
Engineer.
The committee had responded to every enquiry
submitted TO them by the stockholders.
Mr.. Smyth said that he had adopted the views of the
Engineer employed to aid them in the examination.
Major Gwynn said that he was responsible for the
faithful execution OF the work, through the agency OF
others. He prepared TO establish the suffciency OF
the plan and would abide the decision OF the Stockhol-
ders conscious he was that he had been faithful in
| the discharge OF his duties
Judge Mason expressed the hope that the reconstruct
ton OF The Dam might not be delayed by the action of
the Stockholders, on the report the Committee.
Mr. Exall said that change of plan would involve
a vast increase of expenditure. But small portion
comparatively had been washed away, and the remain
der Of the Dam was perfect in its execution.
On motion OF Mr.. Mcfarland,
Res0lued, That the report oil the Committee be ac-
cepted and referred to the Board OF Directors with in
strucous to enquire who responsible for the defects
in the construction OF Judiths Dam, and to take such
action IN relation thereto as the interests OF the Com
pany may require.
Mr. Reins presented the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the President and Directors be
CURED so TO constfue the @So arcle o. ue Oh
the Company, to require all the officers OF the Com
pany to devote their undivided attention to the duties
| of their Offices
Resolued, That the salary ofthe Chief Engineer be
at the rate of $4,000 per annum.
The fist resolution was rejected and the second then
withdrawn.
On the nomination by Mr. Crutchfeld, Judge Mason
was unanimously reelected President THE Company.
Mr.. Pendeton nominated the following gentlemen as
Directors, Major Snead having declined reelection:
| Thos. NJ. Bondurant, of Buckingham.
| Saml. McCorkle of Lynchburg.
Thomas II. Ellis, of Richmond.
| VIM. w. Boyd, of Buchanan, and
Joseph r. Anderson, of Richmond.