Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-09
Purd,,s nam ot Crand penIds

Purdy's Dam at Grand Rapids.
The present seems 10 be most favorable |
time for collecting and recording historical
events Of Wood county. Old residents
will recognize in the following communities
ton to the Cincinnati Gasctte subject that
was Of no little importance to many citizens
on the Maumee years ago:
In the report OF the testimony given to
the Investigating Committee relative to the
Providence dam, witness calls the Purdy
Mills q nuisance. IL is evident that this
witness is not acquainted with the early
history of the Maumee Valley, nsr with
that Of the Wabash Canal. The most fer
tile parts of Wood and Henry counties lie
in the vicinity the Grand Rapids, where
the Providence dam is located. Above the
Rapids there was no fall in the river for q
distance OF over twenty miles, nor was there
any stream discharging into the river on
either eide aftording water-power, conse-
quontly the only water-power to Sccommo-
date a very large scope Of country was that
at the Grand Rapids. Here the town Of
Gilead was laid out with = plan Tor the To-
cation OF water-power in 1881. The eoun-
try was settled, and lots in the town pur-
chased and improved in contemplation OF
hiib uhh ONlici inaiulAOAOiitH bIihk puAh
before the canal wea located Improve
ments to that end were made and in 1886
had so far progressed that a good, substan-
tial srib-dGm WAS built in the south chan
mel, Rnexpensive race excayated, and saw
mill with two saws put in operation. The
proprietor owning the south shore and is.
land in the middle'Of the river was the ri
parian proprietor Of three-iourthS OF the
channel, and Of the use OF tho water flow
ing over these rapids.
In 1885 speculatiOns we're rife in Maui
NEE, Toledo and Manhattan. The canal
about that time was located, and Il was re-
ported that the Board OF Public Works, to
accommodate those spectators, intended
| to conatruct canal OF about three times
| the ordinary capacity of canal for nhyi-
/ cation, for the purpose OF conveying the
/ water OF the river from thi.'point to these
embryo towns for hydraulics, ., and that the
/ board claimed legal right to so appropri-
ate the water. Further improvements at
| Gilead we're suspended. TIE proprietor of
/ Gilead denied the legal ri, ht, as well as
| the justice to Tire Inhabitants, OF the board
! to convert the water OF that river to pri-
/ vate use, and remove tho uter from its nat
! ural location, but proposed to Mr.. Dicken-
son, then acting Commissioner, that if the
! State would build and maintain q good
| tight dam directly across the river, below
the head Of hi5 race, he would convey his
right to the water for hydraulic power to
the State, reserving water at all times
when not required for navigation for six
run Of four aud one-hali feet mill stones
| This was declined. The large canal was
made, a very poor dam was built diagonally
acrosE the north channel, which, with Pur-
{ ~ 10 trki i1l, -,
| Piled until 1916.
! At an early day in the construction OF
| the canal, leases for water-power, we're
! granted by the board. An effort was IN ade
to ercS dam below Purdy's mills and
| drown him out. He brought suit against
| the members individually and drove them
| out. They then cut section out OF this
dam and built one about eighty rods above
| the head of his race across the south chan
! mel, turning the water away from his mill
| Ho again filed bill in chanoery in the
! Supreme Court, then in session in Colun,-
bus, praying an injunction against the
members of the board individually. While
| it was under consideration, being advised
that the right of domain did not extend tc
taking private property for private use, and
that although the Legislature might, BY ar
act, declare stream navigable, they could
not ndke IL 50 without sufficient water in
the channel for that purpose, they accepted
| Purdys proposition as near as they could
with the dam built where it was, and agreed
20 construct a nayigable canal from the
State pond into his race four and hal
feet deep at the upper end, and i've feet a
the race, and contract was entered into be-
tween Purdy and the State Dec. Sth, 1S46
This protected the members personally
The litigation created unplsasantness, anc
the board took its own time to perform thu
contract. In 1847-8 the job was let, anC
Purdy, relying upon the faith Of the State
expended l0,000in building mills Wher
the canal was about two-thirds completed
and the upper end about two and a hal
feet deep down to the solid rock, the iol
was accepted by the board. Purdy's legs
remedy was gone. He made application I,
the General Assembly from time to time
The board would recommend small appro
priations, which when expended made Ii.
tie or no imp ovement, up till the session
of 1901, when he procured the passage 0
a resolution with q number Of interroga
tions requiring answers, when it was ad
mitted by the board that the contract ha
not been performed, and that an appropri
alton would be required of $4,000, whicl
was granted. There were four or Ave ap
preparations made during that time will
which the lesHees ought not to be charged
The whole difficulty about the Providenc
dam and the water-power was created b
the board leasing property to which the
had no more title than "Auld Clooty
had to certain dominions which he ofere
for u certain consideration.
MAUMEE PIONEER.