New-York tribune., 1874-07-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
ADVICE TO RESERVOIR OWNERS.


ADVICE TO RESERVOIR OWNERS.
REPAIRING DAMS WITH sAII-CLoTH-HINIs FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF DAMs-sIMpLE PRECAUTIONS
HYDRAULICS.
TO the Rditor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The Middlefeld Brook Reservoir dis
aster following so soon after the Mill River horror.
must f the hearts OF many miowners and nhab-
iants living in the natural channels OF other
reservoirs with dire forcbodngs OF similar occurrences
There simple but sure preventves OF such catas-
trophies, which, II applied properly and in season.
would insure temporary safety at least at trng cost
compared with the anxiety and risk. few hundred
dollars worth OF cotton duck, known as saiicl0th'
would have prevented either Of these disasters, II ap
Piled an hour before the preliminary breaking away or
" land slide" occurred. If all the appliances were
ready, the labor Of half dozen men Tor Two
hours would have made the preventive efectua, not
only for the moment, but for an entire year. OF unt
the texture became waterroted 80 far as to lose us
strength To prove that this is not mere theory bnt
demonstrated by actual practice. will state the follow
ing incident in my own experience:
Some years ago was appointed by a corporation to
take charge Of the construction OF public work. con-
tracted to be Quilt for the General Government The
contract specified that it to bo done under the di'
recon OF L. 5. engineers and colonel OF the Iopo-
graphical Corps detailed by the then Secretary OF
War jeff Davis, to supervise the construction Among
other things be done the application or cOner
dam long, resist the pressure OF 12feet head
of water at ordinary level was proceeding to put mp
simple structure for the purpose when the army en-
gneers took sole charge of it and proceeded erect
dam their IDEAS rather OF the FORM ald down
in the books. II OF plank, in a frame, and
of triangular form. to rest Oh an uneven rock
5ottom. Tney had clay hauled from distance to
I'LL IN between the sides, and tamped' with great
care. At last it pronounced finished, and the inside
drawn of. About "a hours afterward 1t hfted
with crash, the interior filed again with
water; but. luckily, the natural barriers below had not
been removed. Il replaced and loaded with stone
on the narrow upper edge On the next trial section
OF went out in few hours. Ny relations were sueh
with those charge that could consistently with SELF
respect only look and say nothing The same result
was attained the third trial BY this time the stui
tion grew serious the expense becoming grave and
| the delay ruinOus
| AZ this iuncture It was suggested that perhaps
might overcome the trouble. The officers In charge
| agreed that | might try without interference from
| them As placed in charge, had the dam
replaced. as they had done before; then buying the
secondhand mainsa Of vessel for less than $780, If
remember arign used 1t in the same way as Is done
sometimes TO save vessel with crushed side or bot
TOM The dam was then tried and found to be tight as
a bottle Immediately afterward tornado came along
and raised the water nearly five feet so that instead OF
the top OF the dam being over three feet above hgh
| water, II had head OF water OF nearly foot IN
| N.
kept replacing the earth and stone waShen OUT ~
top. The natural barriers behind had been removed
could feel 1t writhe aud twist beneath me, ana thoug9t
| ut time that rise OF an ineh or two more wOuld
overurn IT, but after an hour OF so perceVeu tna ne
waters were rece ling aud II was saved. fOf month,
afferward IL u filed its mission TO the last. Again.
was at "A later period stOckholder In corporation In
! tereslcd In constructing dam across river uranlhs
about tue slze OF the state OF Rhode island
man Of Xperience employed 70 Dull IL, VINO hau
Iarge aSee - enough would hold an ordinary mill
| pond with safety. But in this spot nothing
| but Ane sand which would almost holt IN
| water and stone and wood, were Obtainable. Nhen
came 20 tne spot disagreed with him as to the manner
constructing the dam, and we nnaily agreed tudI
would nuild the center ana De tLe rdctWays a Ni-a
The spiilway was $50 feet VIDE punt the nlain uih
thickness % foot square timber properly }rac"
! and secured TO The smooth rock bottom. Benhl II
sand and brush. He but his sections Win CT =
dlled with stone with stone and sand nllnS. Ihe
spring Hood unusual hign came; the middle of the
dam was all right aud stands to-day, after ten years
u,c aIthouy trees feet diameter went over III
ana lodged but the stone cribs were wrecked ana
| Ine wings went off 20 acres OF land with them
. III 80 on 20 ~, rnn,frntuV Lhe main dam while he
was at work FOR months atterward on his CRIBS Wheh
trial came IL was proved hat was iot so ue Ino
mention these incidentsto give some advice 10 rese
vor owners who are now fearing Disaster AMI yet know
| not how dispense with their watrrpOwer AT thl5
| season OF the year. Have you an Old dam when lOd
| fear may give way, and yet wish to use Buy some
saicoth costing few or hundreds of dollars ac-
cording tine length aud depth or yOar cmDinkuent,
| and under competent advice You eau place IL III lew
hours 80 your dam FOR year at least You
then sleep IN safety or the me being instead OF
undertaking 10 strengthen your old emDankInen Whicn
may nOneycombed with springs and water-cOursts,
that additional weight at the TOP or sues may
weaken rather than improve II, leave II with sallcOth
protection. Then goDeow 1t aud build timber dam
| which Will less probably. one face OF foot
square enough when properly braced; load II
skilfuiy and 1t Is worth all the stone emDanKment or
walls IN the world for that purpose Tneu the heavier
the pressure OF water rmer will your dam be- and
il liable to undermine as the best stone dam Is
Tarrytogn ". L.. jay IA. 1874. CHAs l. HARVEY.