The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-13
The Moline Water Power.

water power are before congress asking
for additional appropriations. They have
been encouraged to ask for more money
on plan of improvement made by Mr.. Il.
Fl, Lloyd of this city, whose plan they are
accused of adopting without giving him
proper credit for the same. The grounds
for this accusation are stated to be that
they induced Mr.. Lloyd to prevent the
publication of the following article which |
was prepared for the press some time ago
which we have just obtained
| Mr.. Lloyd has his model of the Moline
water power, and river improvement,eom
pleted, He has made the test which Is
com plete success; far surprising his most
sanguine expectations, Not grain OF
sand can by any possibility get IN to the
dam. 1t will give the water power three
feet three of additional water at low water
mark, that is including foot they lose at
low water, by the cut through the Moline
chain; and one foot three that is given
them by the length of the long wing wall,
The upper wing (which is at point above
the school house, gives another additional
foot and will also give the main stream
foot of water; the explanation OF the lat
ter, the river is contracted at that point
and that foot of water could not be obtain
ed by an excavation; as every yard OF rock
taken out of the bed OF the river fills up
again with the river, so that it lowers the
water in proportion to the quantity of rock
taken out; bu tMr. Lloyd's invention forces
the water up. The plan is so constructed
that it will not cause an overflow on the
river road. as it is open on the upper end
of the upper wing wall forming jetty. git
will give the water power water all the
year round, they will not be troubled with
any slush ice, as they have been nearly
every winter heretofore; aud it will be a
, benefit to navigation also. Mr.. Lloyd was
much discouraged by the engineers who
claimed it to be an impossibility for it to
work successfully as it would be certain to
, form a sand bar at the mouth of the two
-. wings. The only encouragement he got
was from Colonel Flagler. who
expressed confidence in Mr.. Lloyd's judg
ment and ability to create current and SC
2 overcome the difficulty. The Colonel is
very much pleased to hear that the test is
quite successful and the trouble anticipat
c ed overcome; he is from home at present
but when he returns he will inspect il
lie more detailed account of its coDstruc
ton. A great many have already been tt
see it work and are fully satisfied with the
test. One gentleman offered TO bet ont
thousand dollars to ten that it would no
work. bat choke up right off, after wit
Messing it tested he was willing to wager
the same amount but on the other side O
the question. The water power compan,
r express themselves highly satisfied with
I the result of the invention.
, As an explanation of the operations o
the Water Power Company with Mr.
Lloyd he has furnished US with the follow
ing communication upon the subject
which will undoubtedly interest the mem
? bers of the Water Power Go, and othe
citizens Of Moline.
Mr.. Editor.
/ write this for the purpose of showin
t the public how the Moline water powe
company intend to swindle me out of m
invention but | will explain. About ST
weeks ago was talking with Mr.. Atkin
son, President of the Moline water powe
company. In the course of conversation
;" | mentioned to him my intention of goin
D to Washington. He asked me if | coul
a assist them in anyway towards getting tn
o appropriation for the Moline water powe
:, | answered No, | could not do anythin
- as they had no plan worth offering nc
y anything could recommend, he said nc
he knew that, Col. Flagler's plan was {
no account but what are we to do, til
a Col. persists IN saying it is the only thin
At that will do. We have failed in getting
ss through two years and we must do some
N thing; we are willing to accept that rattle
than nothing at all, the water power
almost useless, the mills cannot run stead
- and some of them have shut down, 1t h.
us bust Jim First, have you anything to offe
at any plan you can suggest, yes | said C,
ly give you plan that will be a river il
a. provemeDt as well as improve the wat
power. He said he should be very glad
on could, l made plan and showed it
him, The next day while | was there NJ
John Deere came in to the Office; Mr.. .
lis told him had plan for improving 4
ed water power, | informed them. won
no not do anymore until Col. Flagler knt
ofit. Then Mr.. Deere wanted Mr.. Atkins
IN to go with me to the Col. he answered
he he could not go. that he, Mr.. Deere, b
Tas better go along with me, Mr., d obiecte
Ia he could not talk as he did not understa
- enough about it and suggested my goi
~, alone. l explained that | would u
cal do that as it was not my business, but
to one of them would accompany me | wou
,e- do the talking, Mr.. Deere finally took
over to Col. Flagler asd told him | had
plan to show to him for improving [
water power Mr.. D. then left us goi
on to Davenport and called for me as
ice returned, The Col. looked over my pla
~. said it was good one. but he though
nd should meet with an obstacle, as in chez
= ing the water it would form sand bar
~. its entrance. [ told him that | though
ht could get over that trouble, and that
L. would make a model of it in the creek
ew the cemetery and test it. On our W
s. home Mr.. Deere said if l got this thi
ia; through they would put feather in |
Us cap. | told him / did not like feathe
Judge Gould and myself went down
La Rock Island to the engineers Office
is: Lieut.. Miggs and Maj. Gilman. Th
"a, inspected my plan, but gave no encoural
Ill ment telling me that should only succe
St. in improving navigation; that it would
20; impossible to prevent it from forming
nd sand bar.
told them | was not discouraged, I f
h.; certain of overcoming the difficulty.
n nv return | went to work to make t
model and tested it to the most emit
satisfaction of myself and the satisfactl
OF all others who came to see it. aga
,ol went to Col. Flagier. to inform him of t
'NA test being quite successful and the obsta
sry anticipated overcome. He appear
7as pleased and arranged to go and see ir
ult the following Tuesday. On that day
,.,, went over ID see what time he would
ny and found Mr. Atkinson in the Office wi
Jay him. | waited until he left before spes
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