The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-06-17

0O10o ~ - 0No
The Dan.
We made an inspection yesterday of the dam
being built across the Illinois river half . mile
above town, and found the work progressing
splendidly. Tho dam on the north side of the
island has reached a height of triae over three
feet, and now the contractors have just finished
. Golfer dam turning the water of the south
channel over this dam, SO as to give them dry
ground for laying tn. foundation and bringing
mp the superstructure to an equal height on the
south side. The bottom ON both sides is solid
rsck, smooth a. a floor, into which the bottom
timbers are sunk in transverse grooves, so as to
render them as immovable as the rock itself.
From such foundation the dam is built up in
cribs, which are filled in with stone and gravel,
rendering the whole apparently as firm and in.
movable as 80 much solid rock. AT the present
rate of progress the completion of not only the
Illinois but the Fox river dam is assured before
frost, when Ottawa will have in complete order
for use by the great manufacturing world the
finest water power west of New York and Penn
eylvania. Both the Fox and Illinois rivers are
by these dams thrown into one pool, about which
cheap land, above and beyond the reach of any
food. is abundant in all directions, upon which
buildings and factories enough can be erected to
give employment to population enough to make
Ottawa the largest city in the west.
CIRCUIT CoURT.-The La Sale county Cir.
cult Court, Hon. E. s. Leland presiding, com.
menced its June term ON Monday, in the newly
fitted up court room, which Mr.. Barber had in
full readiness, according to contract. The job
has been done no less neatly than promptly.
The room il completely transformed, SO that
where heretofore everything looked dingy, dirty,
ungainly and forbidding. everything now looks
neat, tidy, convenient and inviting
The week has been spent on the chancery
docket, large amount Of business having been
disposed of. but mostly Of character to afford
no material Tor newspaper items.
The criminal docket is to be taken up on Mon.
day. There will be one murder trial-that of
James Penn. Five unfortunates are arraigued
for rape three for msnslaughter three for assault
one for forgery and about dozen more for keep
ing gaming Losses, tippling houses, &c.
LEcTuREs.-Tne lectures given by Prof. Ellis
Of Peoria, and Prof. Hall of Aurora, At Turner
Hall, on Thursday evening, were Of high order
and should have been better patronized, though
there was present good audience, as we'll as to
size, selectness and appreciativeness. ..'
Professor Ellis exhibited the properties Of his
pneumatic machine, and fully satisfied the public
that the Board Of Education had made no mis-.
take in buying it for the Of the public schools
Professor Halls lecture on electricity was one
OF the best We ever heard on that subject. He
had with him splendid battery and all the
apparatus necessary. and gave the audience the
benefit OF numerous experiments with the subtle
fluid, showing that it is both passive and active
passing through one like lightning-as it is,
and acting just as it pleases.
The citizens have rarely been offered a. good
an entertainment IS was that on last THURSDAY
evening.