The Newtown bee., 1891-01-30
NEwTowN, JANUARY so, 1891.
SHELTON.
OI1EuION.
BIRMINGIIAM's DAM WRECKED.


OF the Ousatonic water company, built
across the Housatonic river about half
mile above the villages of Shelton and
Birmingham, was partly carried away by
the flood, last week Thursday. Early in
the evening, AN immense volume Of water,
estimated at several feet in depth, was
flowing over the top of the dam, carry
ing driftwood and ice. About z 10, it
was discovered that a few cap stones had
fallen from the east or Birmingham end
of the dam and, in a few moments, the
entire wall. for distance of more than
100 feet, suddenly disappeared. There
was delay in notifying the paper mill of
Wilkinson Brothers Il Co. and nearly
half an hour passed before the whistle.
the signal of danger from the dam, was
sounded. By that time, Huntington
bridge was black with people watching
the flood. The whistle sent them flying
toward Birmingham, fearing that the
west end of the dam had given away and
that Shelton's low lying streets would be
swept. Though the water rose danger
ously high, it did little harm to the
bridge. At the dam, for $50 feet. the
water poured in an unbroken flood
through the shattered wall and tugged
at the gate house and abutment on the
east end, until, at last, the gate house
toppled. 1t was instantly caught by the
waters and dashed to pieces, but solid
mass Of masonry, with the iron work of
the gate mechanism, lay on the bed of
the river, few feet below the foundat-
ions from which it had been torn. Then
the river attacked the east bank and, for
long distance, undermined it for depth
of 100 feet. 1t is estimated that two
acres of land was swept away in few
hours. Shortly after midnight, water
ceased to flow over the top of the dam on
the Shelton side and the great volume
passing through the break lowered the
water above the dam so that, by night
fall, Friday, the top of the dam was sew
eral feet out of water, though the flood
still ran down the eastern shore with such
velocity that it was impossible to begin
repairs at once. A special meeting of
the directors of the water company was
held Friday morning, at which it was
decided to spare no pains nor expense to
stop the waste of water at once, fill the
canal and furnish power to the factories.
Engineers Tower and Potter were sent
for, that their united wisdom, with that
of Secretary ID. s. Brinsmade, might de-
wise the best, surest and quickest way of
rebuilding. 1t is stated by Mr. Brins-
made that the cost of repairs will prob
ably not exceed $1,000 and that, with
good weather, they ought to be made,
temporarily at least, in five or six weeks
The foundations of the east end are
doubtless undermined and mud and sand
from the bottom of the river swept away
until the bed rock is reached. This will
allow foundation firm as the hills on
which to build anew.
This dam, which was dedicated in the
fall of 1870, and set back the water for
five miles or more, had been projected
for years and negotiations with land own
ers begun as early as 1864. Nothing was
done, however, for about three years. In
1869, when all but about 200 feet in the
center had been finished, the apron was
taken away, that this part might be COM
pleted. Heavy rains fell, the Housatonic
doomed and the foundations of this CEN
ter section were so badly undermined
that it fell in. Months of work and
about 500, 900 in cash were required to
build it up. At this point, bed rock was
reached by the freshet and it was the
4 g 81; sal,
ed on a rock, withstood the waters while
the other went down. The dam proper
is 637 feet long, but abutments and gates
bring the total to about 500 feet. The
height is % feet. 1t is built in the form
of an arc of circle, the concavity up
stream, to give greater strength and re-
sistance. The canal was built some Is
feet deep and three quarters of mile
long, to supply water power to factories.
This is on the western or Shelton side of
the river and it's gate and the gate house
are on the western end of the dam. The
gate house at the eastern end was for a
shorter canal, about quarter of mile
long, on which one factory is building,
the electric light plant, not yet ready for
occupation. The canal is spanned by
several foot bridges, besides the railroad
viaduct and is now lined with railroad
tracks. On its banks and obtaining from
it both power and water are all of the
manufacturing corporations upon which
Shelton depends for her very existence.
Near the dam stands the paper mill of
Wilkinson Brothers & Co., employing
about 200 hands, which will shut down
entirely until water power can be obtain
ed. In this group of buildings are the
postal card works of AL. Daggett. The
Star pin company will shut down, but
may put in steam and employ all but
about a dozen of their rs men. The Der
by rubber company talks of putting in
steam. Wilcox & Howe will shut down
until water is again obtainable, giving
vacations to about so hands. The factory
of the Shelton brass hardware company
is next in order, but is empty, George
and John Griffin, who have bought it and
are to make buttons, not having yetmov-
ed from Newtown. The Silver Plate
cutlery company will have no work for
about 100 hands. Closing the Adams
cotton mill will mean no work for about
40 hands. d. NJ. Bassett's carriage bolt
works are closed, as are G. N. Mosher's
snap works in the same building; about
so men out. An engine was bought, last
week, by the Derby silver company and
none Of the $50 employees will long be
idle. The Birmingham corset factory
(the first in Shelton, built by Nelson
Tx....s,Ns ,toIY~, ce staam to olive its lao