The daily gazette., 1879-12-13
The Broken Golfer Dam.

THE DAMAGE NOT so SERIOUS AS AT
FIRST sUPPOsED-CoMMIsS TO
BE APPOINTED.
The damage caused by the bursting of
the Golfer dam In the Brandywine race,
In front of the city mill, yesterday morn
ing, turns out to be not as serious as at
first supposed, though it is pretty heavy.
This Golfer dam was built in The race
for the purpose of laying the forcing
main to connect with the new water
wheel, (Which has to extend under the
race) without cutting off the water from
Pennypacker's mills, which adjoin the
city mill on the east. The dam was
built OF sand bags, compactly laid, and
held out solidly for several days. The
break occurred at the crown of the arch,
where it was least exoected, and was so
sudden that the men at work in the
trench had barely time to escape with
their lives.
The greatest portion of the loss occa-
stoned by this break was sustained al
Pennypacker's mills. The water rushe |
down the street into the mills, covering
the first floor with water and dirt to the
depth Of several inches. The elevator
happened to be running at the time, and
carried great quaint ties of this water to
the second floor, where large amount
OF wheat was stored. About 400 bushels
Of wheat were thus damaged and render
cd unfit for anything except mill feed.
This is the principal item of loss.
The water also rushed down by the
east side of Pennypacker's mill, land tore
away the main portion of the stone
wharf extending to the line of the city
mill. This wharf, however, is owned
by the city, though Messrs. Penny packer
~ Co. claim that its destruction works
damage TO their business by obstructihg
the creek so much as to prevent vessels
from coming up to the mills to load and
unload. The sloop Ann, with 2700 BUSH
els of corn, is now in the creek, waiting
to unload, and is booked for Bohemia
River, Nd, where more corn is await
ing transportation to PennypIcker's mill.
All Of yesterday afternoon and last
night, men were at work upon the trench
under the race, where the Golfer dam
was built. The water was shut off from
the race, and will be kept of until the
work is completed, which Chief Engin-
eer McIntire, of the Water Department,
says will be by Monday evening, at the
farthest This of course, necessities
the stoppage of Pennypacker's mill for
at least two full days, which will, of
course, add still more to the cost of the
accident. Col. McIntire, however, is
confident that the total damage will not
exceed $1,000, and that it would have
cost the city more than this sum to pay
Messrs. Pennypacker d Co. for their loss
of time had the water been shut off from
the race when the work was commenced
and kept off until its completion.
The damages sustained by this acci-
dent will be estimated by comm isslon
of careful judges, and ex-Councilmap
Joseph X. Philips has been selected TO
represent the city. Messrs. Pennypack-
er & Co., will select representative,
and the two thus selected will choose
third.
The cause of the accident is mystery
In building the dam, n semI-circular
form was select and as the upper side
was supposed to be the weakest point, It
was asspecially strengthened. 1t broke,
however, right in the crown of the arch.
and Col McIntire thinks it was occa-
stoned by the sinking of the lower tier
of bags, which rested on the old eight
inch main that extends under the race
at this point. The earth under this main
was probably soft, aud gave way, thus
allowing the bags to sink.
The water rights of tins race are divi-
ded into seven parts. One seventh is
owned by NJ essrs. William Lea & Son,
whose mills Is next 10 the bridge. Two
sevenths are owned by tie city, and four
sevenths by Messrs. peunypacker q Co.
TIE race this year, is under the charge
of Me>srs. Lea & Son. the parties tax.
ing turns in assuming charge Of the race
and keeping 1t in repair.
BY the shutting off of the water from
this race j: is all turned into the lower
race used by Messrs. Price & Phillips,
who now have more water for their
mill then they have had for a year.
The work Of laying the pipe andfixing
the damaged race will be continued
steadily day and night, aud VIII doubt