Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-26

: Island, lt taxes width OF about 100
feet continuing without material alter
alton till approaching 9 Acre Island,
when it narrows to perhaps 20 feet.
The canal or race we believe is about
j. 40 or 90 feet. At the head of Hunt
er Island. two short stretches of boom
aga are required to guide the logs to
the west of the island. This, in the
whole stretch of three miles is all that
is required of artificial construction.
! A brother of Mr.. Garrison, man
noted for his accuracy in engineering,
as we'll as for his general knowledge,
and who was the original surveyor and
platter of the Minneapolis water pow
ers, last season spent considerable time
in making notes. and estimates of the
power afforded by this extraordinary
natural channel. We give few of his
conclusions "By building DAM as
specified in the platt extending across
the main river from the head of a
small island just east of 9 Acre Island,
land with suitable gates and locks to
hold out the water during foods, at
and near the head of 9 Acre Island, |
estimate that the amount of 1898 cubic
feet of water per second can be thrown
in the channel west of 9 Acre Island,
equivalent to 1851 Horse power { Lief
fell's) or 21S horse power Neville 50,
both estimates made for head of Is
feet, there being a head of about 6
feet near the railroad bridge, and over
20 feet a short distance below" at or
near the site of the present mill. Mr..
Garrison then goes on to say "To
meet the required amount of water,
1888 cubic feet per second, there will
be required canal 100 feet wide, with
a mean depth of 5 ID feet" The
fall in the river between the upper and
lower eddys, a distance Of nearly one
mile is % $40 feet 1t will be seen
that the canal mentioned may be con-
tinued indefinitely, affording power for
hundreds of mills with no possible ex-
haustion of water.
The estimated capacity of the boom
now is
OVER 10O,O00,000
feet. The logs therein gathered are
always secure, the rise and fall CT the
river causing the water in the boom to
vary never more than sic inches. The
security of this naturally constructed
boom cannot be over estimated.
While all artificial constructions are
continually requiring an outlay Of mon
ey to make them secure, and creating
distrust, causing sleepless hours and a
most corroding anxiety, this is
ALWAYS SECURE.
Where thousands of dollars are ex~
pended to keep in repair artificial con-
structions, it would require millions
to tear away the eternal bulwarks and
natural anchorages Of defence which
makes this a Gibralter Of security.
Another feature of this unexcelled
boom is, that the bed of the river is a
stratum Of rock which can never be
removed It is endurable, and no
floods can ever wash away or under
mine in any direction.
1t is only a question Of little time,
! the complete utilization of this i'm
mense power and general appropria-
ton Of this immense boom privilege by
the numbering interests of the Wiscon-
sin river 1t is already becoming re-
cognized as the only secure boom on
: the river, and we venture the assertion
that within brief period the fact will
be generally acknowledged that at this
point is the only reliable spot for the
investment of capital in lumber manu-
facture We shall endeavor to induce
Messrs. G. & Go. to procure immediate
" cut Of the Boom and its surround
ings, that the public may see It's mer-
its, and if possible detect It's dement's.
Mr. Garrison's position as the holder
Of lands connected with and adjacent
to the boom, places him in such posi-
ton as to be able to control this vast
| bequest of nature, and We are sure
that he will be so public spirited as to
do every reasonable thing required to
make this gift of nature public as
well as private benefit.
We understand that Sheriff La
vigne opened the bridge last Monday
unlocking it with an ak. 1t seems
, that the parties who ought to have ap-
p ~. roIaatad