Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-03

he PURPOSES inteuded;-and that had it been finished
b,pre the occurrence OF the late freshet, it would not
have been injured thereby.
That they fad that the groutug oused in the con-
structon OF the dam has formed cement, but IS
soft aud yielding and does not the TO adj
here with sufficient strength, and that from cause
there appears have been sufficiently strong bond
OF ualon between the ront-tace aud interior mass OF
the masonry.
The committee believe that the dam carried
away in consequence of It's unfinished condition at the
time the fre>het came upon it,-that II was carried
away commencing at the unfinished section near the
Northern abutmeut. and yielding toward the sonsnern
abutmeut, aud that it could not nave 1allen snulla
ueousiy or in mass. -
As the questions propounded to. aud answered by
the en- gineer Col Turnhu fully all those SUD
iects of Investigation that can interest the company
mauv of which only be satisfactorily deermneu w
an engineer your committee respectfully refer the oo
pany upon those subjects, to Col. TurnbaFs report
Respect uily submitted.
RICHARD G. NORRIS,
Philip ST GEO. COOKE,
HENRY EXALL.
LyNcHBuRG, Jan. 25, 1851
TThe Secretary next reada letter dated Luxembourg,
Tan 81 addressed by the committee to Col. William
Turubuil, U. S. A, who had accompanied the com
mittee in its examination of the dam and propoundng
TO HIM certain enquiries, the tenor oil winch VIII SUM
cicutty appear from his reply.l
JANUARY 25th, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: ! have the honor to acknowledge your
communication OF this date, propounding 10 me certain
enqu RES in relation to the construction and failure OF
the Judith Dam, and respectfully answer them III the
order in which they are stated.
1st Having examined carefully the plan and speci-
fcatous OF the Judith Dam have hesitation in ex-
pressing my opinion in favor OF the plan, believing to
be ample in IFS dimensions to sustain the volume OF wa
Ter which would impnge against or flow over it and l
also believe Ii would be perfectly safe TO rebuild on the
Original plan, avoiding the use OF grout and giving
baltre TO the front face
Ind The specifications call for very good descrp-
uon 0S-vork which do nos >Link has been faithfully
carried ou' ell respects. The tillmgrs ss.aAn11G
lace walls IS not done in workmanke manner, but
nearelessiy laid without sufficient attention 10
breaking joints. There has been too liberal use o.
mortar aud grout the latter very Objectionable in
work OF that magnitude and exposed position. The
cement used is not OF the very best quality. ,.,..
3rd. There is doubt on my mind l. .no ea HS
of its failure is attrbuah y dnlnlsned state. ne
es. point, would be greatly accelerated and would
sweep before the ragged eads OF the unfinished part
The displacement of one stone would cause that OF
another; and until the breach made sufficient
to pass the whole volume OF water In connection with
this taking into consideration the green state Of the
mortar, do not think that the failure. sweeping
away OF the Dam, should be matter of SURPRISE under
the circumstances OF such rise in the water
With great respect,
FOUR obedent servant,
w. TURNBULL,
Major Topl. Engineers