New-York tribune., 1874-05-19
THE MASSACHUSETTS FLOOD
Continued from First Page

bottom OF the dam. since the trouble was there The
foundation OF the DAM in such case as th Is the hrst
element OF strength The great danger 10 Dc mere sp
prebended is from penetrating through the STRAIT
dcaou OF she dam foundation II one OF the springs is
at the base dsm there danger of the dams Civ
ing vay III there Quicksand IN the foundation there
additional and imminent danger. This latter believe
20 have been the case here The water under these cir
cumstanoes, will rapidly undermine the foundation OF
the structure In the proper construction OF dam al
the feeding springs IN the Immediate vicinity OF the
dam should be intercepted and new channels formed
them IL apparent that il was not the force Oh
water that broke down the Williamsburg dam. IL wasa
clear and reprehensible OF neglect The warning
had already given by the appearance OF the leaK
Beside this undermining OF the dam II might have gwen
WAY through decay. Had the leak. instead of appear
ng at tho bottom OF the dam occurred further up this
wonld be its explanation. But still il might have been
guarded against. The reservoir in question is said 10
have covered extent OF lO4 This is about the
sse OF the larger Of the Central Park
which Of lO6 acres. II anything like the
precautions had taken which have been taken in
enc latter case the calamity could not have occurred
In the case OF the Central Park reservoir
both the pressure Of water and the under
mining guarded against. There are three
conditions 10 be fulfilled in the construction Of such
work. First. and principally, the foot Of the dam
should be properly secured and of proper strength
Second guard against the Of the whole body
Of water against the entire structure and third, the
proper quahty OF materials should be used 20 guard
against a break at any specific point In the present
the should been drawn of last season
nd the dam reconstructed There should nave been no
hesitancY about IT, Some lesson too should be taught
by this disaster think that with the great number
OF dams used in this state there should be state in
these works whose duty 10 should be To have
ater draw of IN OF insecurity. The con
OF the dams should first be approved the same
as buildings now are by the Department OF Buildings.
We have some large dams in the state The Genesee,
Mohawk, SusGuenanua. Allegany. and Hudson Rivers
a have immense dams These dams have been con-
struoted from time 20 me and IN some Instances sup
pUse that II would be Impossible to find out OF what
materials they built from any records that
Exist. There Is branen of engineering which
requires much skill the construction OF dams for
Of water for the that 10 requires
= thorough knowledge Of hydraulics and hydrOstaEcs,
well knowledge OF the strength OF materials and
application these materials. secure the greatest
force. The action OF water Is difficult 10
understand As the course OF river Is altered, II Will
TO work to make "a course for itself The dam con-
srucuOn again requires original mind 10 provide
XpedlentS against eXlgeucles which always new
General principles do not always apply There always
some contingency be guarded against. In con
cnsOn Mr.. Vee SAID that the great point was 10 take
advantage OF the lesson furnished the disaster at
Williamsburg. He thought there should be an imme-
date inspection OF the dams OF this State The plans OF
should always be filed IN some Department
and be approved before the construction was begun