Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-06-16
THE WATER PowER LET.

On Saturday evening, last, the let
ting Of the building of the dam guard.
lock and head race ofthe water pc wer, at
this city, was perfected by the Board
of Directories and the work given to D.
B. Scars s. Son, the contract price be-
ing in round Numbers, $3l, 900.
After the bidding was all in, the
company's engineer, in the course Of
further investigation up the river,
above the dam, for several miles, found
that the dam could be raised consider
ably higher without danger Of over
flow and injury to lands lying abut-
ting tho river. This discovery rem
dcred /; in the opinion of the Direc,o-
~ necessary TO lleighten tho dam and
to further strengthen it in the charac-
Of its construction. The result wac,
after much deliberation, that oil bids
were rejected by the Board and let
ting was made to Sears & Son, upon
the basis Of another kind of dam than
that first proposed, one much stronger
and from five to ten thousand dollars
more costly than the other.
The contract is not yet drawn and
signed at this writing, and of course
the letting is subject to al agreement
In details, though all points of any
considerable importance have been
determined upon.
With the consent Of the Board
we shall hereafter publish the contract
entire to the end, that our people may
have full knowledge Of its terms.
We will state, from our recollection,
the main points agreed upon.
lat. The work is to be completed
during the present year, the elements
not preventing. In addition to this
we will state that Sears says he expects
to complete the work, If the weather
be favorable, az early "a November lst
or even earlier.
%. Sears & Son are to build the
dam to any height that the Board and
the Engineer shall conclude to make
1t, and also to enlarge the abutments
and guard-lOck to any extent the same
parties shall deem necessary, without
any extra cost.
3rd. Sears 4 Son are to rip rap or
ruble the banks Of the river on
either side, above the dam, and
also at the mouth of the hesd-race to
such an extent as may be necessary.
4th. Sears & Son are to cement the
bottom Of the dam, to put in nothing
but first class material, to satnrate all
timber exposed to the weather in boil
ing coal tar, to iron tho dam heavily,
to build three houses 14xl6, one at
each end of the dam and one at the
guard lock, paint them and complete
them in tasty manner, in which to
store tools and splash boards, and also
to build bridge over the guard lock
Is feet wide.
9Th. Sears & Son are to mako the
necessary splash boards and their fas-
Jennings to place upon the top of the
dam, and to give good security for the
faithful performance of the work.
9Th, Scars & Son arc to put up
stocks or bonds which shall be worth,
on the market, $4,000 to guarantee
the standing of the dam through the
years 1875-76-77, and further, they
agree that all little extras that may be
necessary to add to tho plans they
shall do without any extra costs, in
other words there shall be no extras.
7th. Sears& Son subscribe 5000 in
stock in the enterprise.
The above we give from memory
and beyond question is substantially
correct.
1t should be rendered that this con.
tract does not cover all the expendi-
lures necessary to carry out fully, the
objects of the enterprise.