The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-03-11
water POWER!
The Job Under Contract
The Whole Work to be Completed
within the year 1871!

We take great pleasure in announcing to the
citizens OF Ottawa tho fact that the contract
for completing both the dams at Ottawa has
been let to the live and entcrprising firm of
Colweli, Clark & Co., Of this city. That this
means business is evidenced by the fact alone
that the work is given to this firm, because
they are not men who deal in shams, and
whatever Others may think, there can be no
question but Colwell, Clark & Co. are in dead
earnest.
The plan and location of the dam across
the Illinois river are in accordance with the
suggestions of Col. Cushman, and were elabo-
rated and drawn out in detail by Mr.. Mat
thewson, the distinguished engineer Of Lock
port, III. The plan and details of the dam
across Fox river were prepared by Mr. Will
son, of Ottawa, the chief engineer of the Otta-
wa, 0. & F. r. " r. r. They are both to be
built as suggested by Mr.. Thomas, man of
large experience In building dams, with cribs
made of plank spiked together, from the rock
or bottom Of the river to the comb Of the
dams across the river, and tied with joists in
the same torn up and down stream after the
manner of building grain cribs, and the cribs
or compartments are to be filled with stone
and gravel, and covered over with two thick
nesses Of oak plank. The plans and speclfi-
cations are pronounced by competent judges
to be of the very best.
Some have supposed that the Illinois river
dam would injuriously affect the water power
at Marseilss, but such is very far from being
the case The company never designed to
interfere with that power The surveys, lev
els and flow lines taken for the company BY
Mr.. Wilson establish this beyond any reason
able doubt. But to satisfy parties interested
in the Marseilles power, Mr.. Matthewson, who
was known to be friendly to that interest,
was employed to 60 over the ground again, to
give the company his views, which he did in
writing and these are being followed. They
do not, however, differ materially from the
plans of the company from the commence
ment.
The Illinois river dam, like the one at Mar.
settles, will constitute part Of the river i'm.
provement or ship canal, which is sure to be
built some day; tor with steam and ship
canal to Lockport, and the same from the
mouth of the river to La Sale, the slow paced
mile cannot long occupy the intermediate
ground.
Gen. Wilson, L. S. Engineer, IN his report
of the river survey says:
From Marseillss to Ottawa where the fall in
the Illinois River is very rapid, including what
was formerly known ~ the Grand Rapids of
the Illinois," it will doubtless be best to con.
struct an independent canal, and this cana! may
be brought back into the river ut point two
miles below Nsrseilles, or at the mouth of the
Fox River, depending in some degree upon the
local manufacturing interests which should DO
accommodated 20 far a. can be done without
materially adding to the cost of the work or
marring its efficiency for the purpose Of nsvi
| cation.
The pool of the Fox river dam being on
the same level with the Illinois river dam.
and navigable race connecting the two, par
tics interested will see that the abandonment
of the canal for the main through traffic need
not injuriously affect any interest here.