New-York tribune., 1874-06-11
THE WILLIAMSBURG DAM.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY TIE
SOCIETY TO INVESTIGATE TIE CAUSES OF ITS
FAnURE-CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE, JAMES b.
FRANCIS OF LOWELL, MASS.
The dam is between 500 and 600 feet long,
and about 40 feet high at tho highest point the
center, Diminishing to nothing at the ends, forming,
whom filed reservoir in the valley above 1t Of an
of Ill acres with average depth Of about 30 feet At
the time of the failure the water about four feet
below the top Of tho embankment not unusual hight
at this season. and within few months 1t has been at
least foot higher The failure took place between
and O'Clock the morning OF May ie, when probably
OF the contents OF the reservoir escaped
In about minutes at tho rate Of about 90 cubic
DER second destroying its through the steep
and narrow valley below i43 lives and property to the
amount of more than 100000 Tho dam consists Of an
eartheu embankment with longitudinal wall of stone
aud cement through its CENTER wasteway 33 feet wide
and Isinch pipe through the embankment and wall at
the lowest point for the discharge of water wanted
Two or three plans for dam at this point wero pre-
sd S Sy the Ss s & % .as
member OF the society. The plan adopted, or rather
the specifications, for IL does not appear that any plan
engineer, now Of New Britain, Conn., who. according
the evidence reported 10 have been given by him at
tho direction Of the direction.
THE MAIN RELIANCE ON THE WALL
On personal examination Of the site and remains of
the dam, find that the bottom Is q very compact
overad byIabout two feet Of gravel and
a few inches Of SOIL The hardpan appears to be imper
yious TO water, or nearly so as any soil well be-
and at the breach is but slightly washed except near
the discharge pipe where there Is gilly several feet
in Depth winch may. hoSever, be due In part to the
former action Of the brook The gravel everything the
hard pan Is washed and porous small spring Is now
embankment above the center WALL which is evidently
superficial aud from the gravel; me embankment IS
formed Of gravel similar 70 tnat a91Ve Described,
SSs fsUm tha sde The just 'atse se
has scarcely .,.s. sRytAiSs tn Ss,o, binding
puddle which would stop the percolation Of water.
From the character OF the bottom, and the material
available for the enbankment, IT is obvious that the
main reliance for retaining the water be in the
cement wall and the complete union OF s base with the
the main office Of the embankment being to
nothing more was required than trenches three feet
Deep or sufficient depth TO give hrm, hard and
bottom for tho masonry 70 rest upon. and which
will not allow the masonry 10 settle - the Intention eyl.
IDENTIFY being only to secure foundation Sufficient 10
prevent settling II for building or bridge abutuent.
totally ignoring thu vital fnnction OF the cement wall by
not adopting means W prevent INC passage of water
under II.
NO SECURITY EVEN ~ BUILT ACCORDING TO sPECI.
FICATIoNs.
II was undoubtedly expected that the embankment
vould prevent the water In the reservoir from
the base OF tho wall and make this the specncs
t,ous proyido the earth to be placed In thin layers
vet and tamped or beaten with o maui for distance
NJ five feet each side Of the entire wall" supmsinR this
10 have been done perfectly possibly with the ma
terla what security could 1t give against Ressure Of
The remainder OF the embankmeut on the To stream
aide being built In layers OF i've feet IN Thickness OF this
porous material could syadeny not 70 h on 70
are informed Ia always clear - might be inferred from
the character ot "? sa,,t ane,t WWcn, "a. a3 ae-