Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-17
JoHNsrowN. November Is. 1880.

JoHNSToWN, November Is. 1880.
Hon. ID. j. Morrell, General Manager Cambria
Iron Company, Johnstown:
SIR:-As you instructed, / met representative
delegation of the ''Sportsmen's Association Of
Western Pennsylvania, " at the old reservoir dam
fork of the Conemaugh River, two and halt
miles southeast from South Fork station on the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
This delegation, consisting of Colonel Unger, G.
A. Carpenter, ESQ.,, Secretary of the Board of Di-
rectors. and a number of gentlemen. brought with
them N. NJ. Mcdowell, Esq, g. E., Of Pittsburg,
to examine the dam in company with your en-
gineer.
This dam is 20 feet high and sS4 feet long. Itwas
originally constructed by State authorities, dur
ing the canal epoch, as a reservoir for storing
water, for use during the dry season Of boating.
1t is designed to hold body Of water go feet deep
covering about go acres of land, and containing,
at an average depth Of 80 feet nearly OOo millions
1t was built mainly with rocks and faced with
earth on its upper pool slope, and covered With
a riprap of stones. About the middle of the dam
a cut stone, arched culvert constructed in
which large discharge pipe was placed with con-
nections with wooden bulkhead. On the north
end an ample overfall has been cut through the
ROCK. 20 feet wide to discharge surplus water dur
ing rainy seasons THE DISPATCH engravings
republished saturday, June l5 18S9 from the
Engineering Record, show the situation both as it
was and is, very accurately john FULToN.J
After the disuse Of this reservoir, the wooden
ed. The consequence was that the water. under
its full pressure with repairs to dam found its
way through the masonry of the culvert, and the
result was the washing out of a triangular notch
of the dam, 200 feet wide at the top and 40 feet
deep. The resultant food past South Fork and
down the COnemaugh did some damage, the ex-
tent of which have been unable to learn. The
break occurred during time of low water in the
During the past season the Sportsmen' IS Associa-
ton of Western Pennsylvania which now owns
this property has put force at work to repair the
breach in the dam, as to raise the water to its
maximum height of go feet. The repair force be-
gan by placing. large rocks in the BREACH facing
these with hemlock 6oughs and hay, and covering
the whole with earth and shale. The facing Of
earth is being made with carts, the material
dumped down a slope from the line of the top of
the dam, thus gravtating the coarsest materials to
the lowest depths-just the opposite of the result
demanded in this case.
done in a careful and substantial manner, or WITH
the care demanded in large structure of this
kind.
When this work shall be completed to the full
section of the old dam the entire embankment will
contain 262 "a cubic yards or Or al6 O94 gross to3s
m p = "a St @ Ine si4Pe
dam is therefore, 2le times that of the pressure
of the water against it.
1t is evident, therefore, thas the water cannot
overturn, or slide, the dam en- masse.
There appear to me two serious elements of
pipe to reduce take the water out of the dam for
needed repairs. Second. the unsubstantial method
of repair, leaving large leak. which appears to
As the water cannot be lowered, the difficulty
arises of reaching the source of the present de-
structive leaks. At present there is 40 feet of
water in the dam When the full head of 80 feet is
reached. it appears to me to be only question of
time until the former cutting is repeated Should
this break be made during season of flood, it is
evident that considerable damage would ensue
along the line Of the Conenaugh. 1t is difficult to
estimate how disastrous this flood would be- as its
force would depend on the size of the breach in
the dam with proportional rapidity of discharge.
The stability Of the dam can only be assured BY
thorough overhauling of the present lining on the
upper slope, and the construction of an ample
discharge pipe to reduce or remove the water to
make necessary repairs.
Very respectfully,
JOHN FULTON