Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-08
AN ENGINEERS OPINION.
An Expert Tells What he Thinks Of ths
Conemaugh Dam = safe as Long as
Water Was Not Allowed co Flow.

An Expert Tells What he Thinks Of ths
Conemaugh Dam safe as Long as
Water Was Not Allowed co Flow.
New York TribuneJ
An interesting story involving the construc-
ton and history Of the Conemaugh Lake dam
above Johnstown, was related to a Tribune re-
porter yesterday by ]. B. Montgomery, who
formerly lived in Western Pennsylvania and is
now well known in the West as a railroad con-
tractor. Mr.. Montgomery. who is on visit to
the city, gives avery clear explanation OF the
causes which led to the calamity in the Cone
maugh Valley. THE DAM" said he, was
built about 35 years ago by the State
of Pennsylvania as feeder for the
western division Of the Pennsylvania canal
The plans and specifications for the dam were
furnished by the Chief Engineer of the State.
1 am not sure, but it is my impression, that
Colonel William Minor Roberts held the office
at the time. Colonel Roberts was one Of the
most famous engineers In the country. He
died several years ago in Chilli The contract
ors for the construction of the dam we're Gen.
eral ], X. Moorhead and Judge RI. B. Packer,
of Williamsport. brother Of Governor Packer,
General Moorhead had built many dams be-
fore this on the rivers OF Pennsylvania and his
work was always known to be OF the very best.
In this case, however, all that he had to do was
to build the dam according to the speriHca-
tions furnished by the State. The dam was
of particularly solid construction.
How the Dam Was Built.
There is no significance in tho discovery of
straw and dirt among the ruins of the dam.
Both are freely used when dams are being built
to stop the numerous leaks. The dam had
three waste gates at the bottom, SO arranged
that they could be raised when there was too
much water in the lake and permit the escape
of the surplus. These gates were in big stone
archie es, through which the water passed to the
canal when the lake was used as a feeder. In
1859 the Pennsylvania Railroad Company pur-
chased the canal from the State and the dam
and lake went into the possession Of that COM
Pany. Shortly afterward the pennsylvania
Company abandoned the western airision a,n 0.
feeder. For % years the lake was used only as
fish-pond, and the dam and the gates were
forgotten. Five years ago the lake was leased
to number Of Pittsburg men, who stocked it
with bass, trout and other game fish.
What Perhaps Caused the Break.
"l have heard it said that the waste gates had
not been opened for great many years. If
this is SO, no wonder the dam broke Natur-
ally the fishermen did not want to open the
gates after the lake was stocked, for the fish
would have run out. A sluiceway should have
been built on the side of the dam so that when
Ine water reacneo certain nelgnt the surplus
could escape. The dam was not built with the
intention thas the water should flow over the
top Of it under any circumstances, and If al
lowed to escape in that way the water was
bound to undermine 1t in short time. With a
dam 10 feet high the pressure of . quantity of
water great enough to overflow 1t must be
something tremendous. If 1t is true that the
waste-gates were never opened after the Pitts
burg men leased the lake, the explanation OF
the bursting Of the dam is to be found right
there.