Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-04-05


lose money or fill the contract by hiring
horses and mules and teamsters at ruinous
prices, and forfeit the contract itself. He
wagons, offering twice the usual wages,
but still he could get very few. He was
In real trouble with a loss of several thou
sand dollars threatening him.
One day Hamp who knew what a trouble
Riley was in, went down 10 the creek and
cutting several twigs began setting them
up at distance from each other. The
few teamsters who were at work watched
him curiously, but could not make out
what he was doing. He went up the creek
with his sticks, moving one of them at a
time and always sighting from one TO an
other. or rather from one over another to
a third. In this way he worked up TO the
quarry, which was Immediately on the
creek nearly mile above the point where
the bridge was to be built. When he had
done he walked back examining the banks
as he went. Then he presented himself
before Riley Vaughan.
Mr.. Vaug ghan, he said, I've an idea that
will help you out of your difficulty.
Will it hire teams 10 haul stonep asked
Riley.
No; but it will cuable you to haul stone
without teams.
If it will-well, let me hear what it is,
said Riley, changing his purpose while
speaking.
Raft the stones down, said Hamp.
Now look II here, Hamp See, said old
Riley, stood up for you, said you want
no Ounce when everybody else said you
was, but this here looks as if they was
right and was wrong, How in natur kin
| raft down Il creek that amt got no MORN
six icheS O. water in it, . bobin' round
among the stones of the bottom?
Well, you see, said Hamp, I've levelled
from here to the quarry, and there's only
two feet fall or little less, and the banks
are nowhere less than five feet high; and
as there's good deal more water running
down in a day than anybody would think,
it's my notion to build a temporary dam
Just below the bridge-you have enough
timber and plank 10 do it with two hours
work of your men, building it say six feet
high, there where the banks are the closest
together. Before noon tomorrow the
water will rise to the top of the dam and
run over. When it does you'll have six
feet of water here, and four feet at the
quarry, and your men can push RATS down
as fast as they can load them.
How do you know there's only two foot
fallp asked Riley, eagerly.
I've levelled it, said 1lamp.
That is, you figured it out with them
sticks?
Yes.
Are you sure you've got the answer,
asked the old man with eagerness.
Perfectly sure. You see it's simple. |
plant my stick.
Never mind about how you doit; can 7
understand that if you explain it; but look
me in the eyes, boy. This thing means
thousands of dollars to Riley Vaughan
if you've got your answer right. l kin
understand that much, an eff you've
worked out this big sum right for me, III
choke the next man who says you are a
Ounce, jest kase you don't take kindly 10
old Penruddock's chatterin' sort O. learnin'.
I'll do it, or my name amt Riley
Vaughan, an that's what I've been called
nigh onto fifty five years now.
Old Riley was visibly excited. lie
called all his men to the place selected,
and set them to work building the dam
while Hamp looked on. occasionally max.
ing suggestion for simplifying the work.
The dam was finished at three o'clock in
the afternoon, and at six o'clock the water
had risen two feet and six inches, while
the water had passed the quarry.
There! said Hamp, that proves my work
The water is level of course, as far up a.
back water shows itself, and we have six
inches of back water at the quarry and two
feet six inches at the dam so that the fall
is two feet.
1t looks so, said Riley, who was watch
ing the rise of the water. The workmen
had gone home, all of them convinced that
his attempt to back the water mile ur
the creek was the widest foolishness, bul
old Riley and Hamp waited and watched
1t doesn't rise so fast now, said Riley.
That's because it has larger surface; but
it still rises, and the surface won't increase
much more now. as there's a steep place
inst above the quarry. and it can't back
any further up.
The two waited and watched. Midnigh
came and the measurement showed three
feet six inches depth at the dam. Still
they waited and watched. Al six o'clocl
in the morning the depth was four fec
two inches. Then Riley sent a negro bo,
to his house with orders to bring a BIZ
breakfast for two. At seven O'Clock th,
breakfast arrived, and the measurement
showed four feet three inches and half.
It's risin' faster again, said Riley.
Yes, the level is climbing straight VI
the bluff banks now, and no spreading ou
as it rises, said Hamp.
At nine o'clock tho depth was four fee
eight and half inches, and the men at tn
quarry had a raft ready and were begin
ming to load it. Ten o'clock brought fou
feet eleven inches of water, and at nool
there were five feet and four inches.
I've missed it little, said Hamp.
said the water would run over the dam b.
noon, and it has still eight inches to ris
before doing that.
Well that sort Of miss don't count
said Riley. You've worked the sum ou
right, anyhow, an the water's deep enougl
for raftin and still risin'. 1tll 90 owe
the dam in two or three hours more, anC
I'll do what said; III choke any man a
says John Hampden Sees Ounce or any
thing like it. An that amt all. said th
old man rising and striking his fist in til
palm Of his hand. They've been sayin
that old Riley Vaughan didn't valley edi
cation; an now I'll show 'cm. I'm goip
TO make this dam permanent institution
I'm a.going to build Vaughan & See
foundry agricultural implement factor
right down the creek there, an put bi
lot Of improved machinery In it; an Pr
a-goin' to send my pardner, John Hamr
den See, off next week 10 get the rest {
bis edioation as is good for him-not lc
o. words, but principles and facts. Yo
tell your mother you sgoin' to New Yor
right away. boy, an at ole Riley Waugh
ans a-goin' to foot all the bills out o. you
interest in the comm factory. YOU
study all sorts of figgerin' work an ma
chine principles in the big school in Ney
| York, what's called the school Of mine