Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-14
Bellows Falls Canal Company.

Certain repairs and Improvements have
just been completed upon the dam of the
Canal Co., which we hope will prove to
be the Inauguration of further improve
ments in this valuable property hereafter,
and in this hope we have made some in
quiries as to the repairs completed last
week. The fact that the dam has been
repaired in mid-winterhas been novelty,
at least an enterprise never attempted
before that we are aware of. 1t certainly
had some advantages over any other sea-
son. The thick ice of the river enabled
the workmen with their teams, lumber,
gravel, &c, to gain easy access to any part
of the dam, which at any other season
would have required boats. The part re-
paired is between the two rocks on the
west or Vermont side of the river which
is 100 feet. They have put on new
covering of 100 feet on this space and
some of the way it is fifty feet in length.
These repairs have consumed some
10000 feet of timber, a ton of iron, and
600 tons of stone and gravel. The work
has been done under the general superin-
tendence of Mr.. j. c. ToLMAN, who is at
present the Agent for the Company, and
who, in accordance with the wishes of the
President and shareholders, has carried
forward the work with most commenda-
BILE energy and enterprise. The overseer
of the work was Mr.. EDMUND BLAKE,
who from his long experience and ac-
quaintance with the Canal doubtless un-
derstands its needs and situation better
than any other man, and all the work
men are commended for their faithful
ness and the interest they took in the
work. Mr.. j. III. WEBB, with one pair
of horses, drew in one day and dumped
off on the ice forty tons of gravel, being
twenty loads and two tons to load.
Arthur Coolidge also drew thirty-eight
| tons in one day in nineteen loads. The
work was commenced January Sth-old
Jackson's day-and followed up every
day without regard to weather, and COM
pleted February 4th, being just twenty
four working days. The expense of
this work will be some $1,000. The re-
suit is that although the river is now
lower than one month ago, the water in
the dam is sixteen inches higher, and
when the canal is cleared of ice it will
furnish sufficient water to carry all the
shops and mills now ON it during the en-
| tire year.
We have thus gone somewhat into de-
tails, because it seems at last to be an
earnest of better things to come, and cal
culated to encourage our people out of
the disappointment they have experience
ed during the last two years. During
the coming season the prospect is good
that the canal will be dug out, the banks
cut down, and thus made wider and deep
er. We do not propose to speculate how
ever, but to make record of what is
actually accomplished. Meantime let
good feeling prevail between our people
and the Canal Company and it cannot
fail to result in mutual benefit.
P. S. Since writing the above we have
for the first time met one of the new and
principal proprietors and a Director in
the Company, who assures us that our
expectations are not only well founded,
but that they will make further improve
ments, during the coming season, and
thus soon increase the capacity, number
of tenants and operatives on the Canal
to double the present amount of business.