The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-12-02
COMPLETION Of the Dams.

completed week ago yesterday, and owing
to the cold, freezing weather ever since, nc
further progress has been made in the head
gates though they are under way, and most
of the material On the ground, so that in the
spring it will be the work of a very few days
10 finish them, and then this magnificent wa
ter power will be ready for use. Our local
readers are perfectly familiar with the location
of these dams, and the general plan by which
the waters of the rivers are united and utlliz-
ed for power; but those abroad may be inter-
ested in more than the mere announcement
that these dams are completed.
For many years the subject of improving
the nats,ral water power at Ottawa has en-
gagged the attention of our leading citizens,
and more especially since the Ottawa Hydraulic
Company turned to account the fine volume
of water that flows through the feeder from
Dayton, and furnishing steady power for q
dozen o, more shops, mills and factories, in
Guiding the mommoth starch works.
Many plans were proposed and rejected,
and there was much discussion from time to
time about the location, it should
he here or there, or on the land Of this or of
that man.
Several partial surveys had been made and
good, practica! engineers differed as to the
fall, the volume and the consequent value OF
the power 10 be obtained. Engineer Wilson
made a survey vt different point on the ILL
nols river for the site of the dam from its
present location, and estimated the cost at
$95O,OOO; but the sum was so great that the
people did not readily agree to raise it. Fin
ally, Marseilles completed her dam and began
to put up factories, and from marsh and Sc
ries of frog ponds rapidly grew into thirty
ing town, and commenced successful rivalry
for business. Cur people became aroused,
and clamored for something for Ottawa.
They held meetings and agitated. They had
become afflicted with "dans- on-the- brain,"
and it soon became evident that they would
vote almost any amount OF money as bonus
towards the water power. At length the agi-
tation eliminated in action, and 100000 in
bonds were voted as gift; and we all re-
tion, marched in a procession to Mr.. Cush-
mans residence and forced this princely gift
upon hiE If he would guarantee the erection
of the dams. Then came long and tedious
delays Mr.. Cushman had his hands full of
other business. He was finishing the new
railroad to Chicago, wh,ch was of vast import
ance to Ottawa, as it was to give US new and
competing route to markets eastward. He
had not thought much about the details Of
the dams. New surveys were made, and 9TH
er plans and estimates considered.
About this time, when the whole affair was
in a maze of difficulties, Mr.. VIM. Thomas
came to the rescue. He volunteered his aid
without charge, and his excellent Judgment,
ripe experience and thorough practical knowl.
edge OF the subject in all it bearings, made
him counselor whose advice was eagerly re-
ceived' He demonstrated that the proposed
site was the worst that could be chosen, be-
ing bed of quicksand with no substantial
banks at either end. He observed that the
Topography of the country around East Otta-
wa shows that nature had left exactly the
place fot a dam at the head of the island. a
bed of rosli and an abutment of solid rock at
the bend 81 the river, against which the ice
IN spring Aay spend its fury in vain, to
be shattered to fragments before reaching
the dam. he tound solid rock in the bed of the
river and on tSoth sides of tie Island, whereon
he could build his foundation >" as firm as the
everlasting hits" and obtain magnificent
head OF water tG feet in height. He ran n
level from the ha2 of the rive, to the cana,
one still morning He got the difference and
drove to the western limit of the Marseilles
water power territory and there ran another
level FROM the top Of the water in the canal to
That OF the river, and thus demonstrated OK.
act'y how much fax ae could depend upon
lie returned and set about getting up plan
Tor dams. His experience as bridge builder
had taught kim that two inch pine plank.
wei spiked together, possess more durability
IMAM heavy tiinbcrs, besides beng much
cheaper, easier 70 handle and requiring no
mcr'lclng and more skilled work in putiiny
them in Why not use this. che cLeaucst ,t
all wooden material. combined witb that other
SAL cheaper article gravel! he wen, hom,
toek out his case of instruments. and ott.r ,
couple of days study and labor. produced
the plans on which the two dams in III. HI.