The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-10-27
THE DAM.
AN IMPORTANT STEP WILL BE TAKEN
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
And Austin Win at Last Rejoice in Pos
session Of Her Glorious Lake-Ths
Wet Gap VIII be Closed in
About Weeks Time.

When the vote was had on the dana
proposition every one was anxious for
the bonds to be issued; when the
bonds were Issued there was restless
ness for the work to actually COM
mence; when that long deep bed for
the dam was being cut from tho east
bank westward, daily were the
visits Of the people to the
dam to see how the work was pro-
crossing; when the granite and lime
stone commenced to be put into place
great was the rejoicing an1 when
finally the few last stones were to be
laid in the very bed of the river, that
made chain of granite all the way
across it, great was the excitement
and interest and thousands fiocked
out to see the work done. But since
then there has been q time of
SUSPENDED INTEREST.
The great floods of May and June
came and the work had to be sus-
pended for awhile. Then followed the
long hot summer, when many people
were out of the city, and those here
did not brave the sun to watch the
dam. But all this time the work
on that grand structure has
gone steadily on. II was slow work
on the toe at the west end, as 1t had
been slow all the way from the east.
But now at last 1t Is
NEARING COMPLETION.
Mr.. Corrigan has two derricks and
o big force of men carrying seven
more layers of granite and limestone
across the western end of the dam.
This will put the work way above the
water level, and six more days of
clear weather will enable him to COM
plete those seven layers. Three huge
pipes three feet in diameter have been
let through the masonry at the west
end and these are TO be provided with
iron gates. They are for the purpose
of drawing off the sediment and low
ering the water In the lake. Right by
these 1t Is the purpose to leave
for the present ten foot
wide opening until the present wet
gap is closed and then to close 1t I'M
mediately thereafter.
THE WET GAP.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Corrigan
finished the big scow which he will
use in constructing the Golfer dam for
the wet gap and other purposes. He
will build this Golfer dam In the
shape of an angle jutting up stream
above the gap. He will build 1t OF
strong timbers in crib work fashion;
float 1t to the gap on the scow, sink 1t
aud then strengthen 1t Work on
this crib construction will begin at
once and 1t will be ready by the time
: the masons are ready to have the wa
ter turned back on the western end
, of the dam.
THE BARBECUE.
The board of public works, Mr.
Corrigan and the people generally
? are very anxious to have the gap
. closed and the lake raised five or si1
!. feet at least by the time Of the big
: barbecue next Saturday week, and
I Mr.. Corrigan has promised to use
q every effort to that end. With cleal
!. weather for the next eight days, ano
. no mishaps, the thing can be accomp
j lished. With the water shut off from
!. the gap it will not take many days Z
= fill In that fifty-four foot space with
= granite, and when that is done ant
! the ten foot gap closed, on the ives
end, our lake will be about eighteen
J. feet deep at the dam. 1t is expected
. with good luck this can be accomp
!, lished at the latest by Dec /. From
that time on the construction worl
L will be easy sailing.
y BUT DON'T GET IMPATIENT.
q In the mean time don't ge
l. impatient and grumble at tn
delay in the contamination OF you
darling hope. AS fast as money, ma
chinery and men can push the work
!. 80 fast is the dam going up. II
10 being built grandly and to las
g. through the ages. The time OF you
g rejoicing over 1t and the wonders
10 will accomplish for Austin lie yer
~ near at hand.