The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-31

OF The reservoir: raised TO maximum OF 66 $50 900
gallons by the of Cash boards, to 775 572 900
gallons In fact this latter amount was stored there
May H. 1878. The outlet and wastcppe OF the rescr
twenty -four inch iron pipes, extending beneath
the dam, gatchouse being erected at each side OF the
dam The stone heading of the arch, which carries
these pipes under the dam the side the water
mass of solid stone masonry IN cement ten ieet
in thickness There also a gate at the lower
gatehouse thirty inches in diameter The dam is
faced with heavy wall of masonry and has in Its body
several spng walls parallel with the face wall of stone
laid The spaces between these walls arc filled
in with clay which when put ill., thoroughly puddcd
aud packed Tho dam the water side Is protected
by closely laid cobble paving TO prevent washing and
attrtion by the waves. When enlarged, in 1870, 1t
strongly built us TO BIO considered entirely safe
II carried up i've feet higher that being tho ultimate
purpose at the time, to be ACCOMPLISHED whenever tho
additional capacity of tho reservoir required.
Mr.. Phncas Ball, city Engineer, was confident that,
even with this proposed additional hcight-whicn,
however, has never been addcd-he dam would be en-
tircly safe Alter the memorable disaster at Mill River,
IN the part OF the State TO aay public apprc
hension aud to fully determine the character and per
mancnce of tho dam, james b. Francis, OF Lowell,
civil engineer second to other in New England was
employed to make thorough survey and report
thereon to the Committee Water OF tho City Coun
Gil This report, dated juno 20, 1874, is as ioows:
REPORT on Tux DAM
GRNrLEMEN In pursuance OF your vote OF the 18th
inst have inspected the dam at the Leicester Rescr
vor CT tho Worcester Water Works, and make the
following report of the sainc:-
visited the dam with your Board on the oath ult
Mr.. Phineas Ball, the engineer under whose direction
IL constructed. and Mr. W. II. Hayward, who
inspected tho work during its progress also pres
cnt, and gave such information as appeared to DO
necessary in relation TO the same The principal
feature Of the dam is the cmbankment This Is of
am thickness made OF excellent material and, from
all Information could gather, Is well put together
In opinion, however, II Is not high enough above
tn, ve Of the wafer IN tho reservoir At the time of
my -isit the water retained by flash boards
ont the rollway TO height of about two feet
abe the sill height OF two anda-haf feet only
beiow the top Of the embankmcnt. Mr. Ball informs
me nat not originally intended to carry the
water SO high, but that 1t is done for the purpose OF
storing larger volume OF water As the necessity Tor
this will probably continue, think the embankment
should be raised about three feet to make the top
OF not less than i've feet above the surface of the water
the when full Tho rolway, think is of
sufficient size TO discharge the surplus water when not
INSTRUCTED by the flash board 1t Is OF course
intended 70 take them on IN -, case On. OF ne
be DONE and TO hc safe at all times, think
the side walls and adjoining wing pilings should be
raised amount equal TO the height OF the lash
boards. The channel to carry oil the water from tho
rolway, now constructed, think, Is liable 10 be
washed out the paving being insufficient IN case tho
roway should discharge water to near its full capacity
~ cbaDn,f should DO washed out the rolway might
70 with H. which would make a breach in the dam
The water is drawn from the reservoir by means of
two cast iron pipes two feet IN diameter They are land
in arched gallery Of masonry eight cet wide
and of about the same height IN the centre. Mr.. Bali
informs Inc that II designed To have an inverted
arch the bottom but IT was omitted On account of
the great influx OF water from springs paving was
substituted, which furnishes Oor which TO lay the
pipes but does prevent the entrance OF any water
either from springs or the reserve that may md us
way to the cotton OF the masonry constructed The
passage OF water from the reservoir TO the gallery is
stopped by tho natural gravel bank and the puddle in
contact with the masonry. By tho plans shown me
u appears that there is about thirty feet IN thickness
gravel al the nearest point between the water IN he
reservoir and the bottom OF the gallery The gate
house and gallery. am informed are both built IN the
natural ground, which solid compact gravel They
have stood two or three years without showing any
sign of failure and see why they should
stand equally well IN future, although, from the
want suitable Inverted arch TO the gallery, think
u the weakest point IN the bottom OF the dam.
suggest that permanent apparatus be put ~ the
brook Just below the dam gauge the leakage
OF the dam and the flow from springs for the purpose
OF Indicating any changes that may take place Tho
volume OF water now flowing from these two sources Is
small bat 1t will be very important hereafter TO have
the means OF knowing whether IL increases or dimin
ishes. Respectfully submitted JAMES ID. FRANCIS
uSEAsSEss
Subsequent to this report September 1874, petit
ton received by he City Council from George W.
olney & Co and other mill owners on Kettle Brook
below tho junction OF Kettle and Lyndc brooks setting
forth that In their opinion tho dam not
tircly safo asking for permanent Waterman
The dam to give warning u danger
should manifest itself They also asked that
be taken carry into effect the dations
tanned In Mr. Francis report This petition was re-
fcrrcd to the Committee Water, and they reported
September IL that according to the suggestion OF Nr
Francis, the water had been drawn OF TOUR and
halt feet lower than when he there that tho
mttec considered tho dam perfectly all times
They also say tina. during tho whole the Water
Commissioner had visited the dam often every
other day, and that more men wore kept
slantly there. They close the report with the
remark that in view OF Mr. Francis opinion
OF the strength OF the dam aud Of the
precautions already taken, the petitioners have
cause for alarm This report Is signed by A. G. Goes,
d. s. Goddard, George Geer and Thomas Doom.
I'll to be borne in mind that the present accident
has not resulted IRON overflow OF tho water the
top OF the dam, which Mr. Francis and the mill owners
seem especially To have feared but from concealed
leak near the base OF the structure 1t may also be
stated that Water Commissioner has continued his
almost daily visits to the dam ana man has been
regularly employed to visit the dam daily and
record the height OF the water from day 10
day Tie Lyndc Brook reservoir Is 33Ik feet
above Green street The Hunt and Bell pond reser-
voirs which relied upon to supply the low service.
50 called about l25 feet above the point The
two Inter OF course depend for their supply upon
Lyude Brook Reservoir but used avoid great
pressure upon the pipes in tho lower part OF tho
city.
SMALL
has existed In the archcd passage under the dam,
through which the outlets pass since u
structed. This supposed to come from springs
which were encountered while oxcavaiing Tor tho
foundations but a safeguard against danger, " the
leak should be In the body Of the dam, weir
put in TO measure the quantity Of escaping
through this leak. Tho Cow Of the water
from this leak has been uniform since put in.
Last Monday the weir. which had Tor month shown
nowagr OF 100 inch showed increase OF 3lOO inch
but Tell again yesterday afternoon 2-lOo nch When
the now Of the break began this weir was
OF course, covered up, aud lis condition Is unknown
A DANGEROUS wASH-OUT.