The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-01
SHE LEAKED.
THE graf AUSTIN DAM RECEIVES
SOME DAMAGE YESTERDAY.
The Abutmsnt at ths East End of the Head
gate Masonry Found to Be Imperfect.
Water Flows Through and the Bank
Caves In--No Serious Damage

Yesterday shortly a ter noon
Captain Walsh, who was standing In
the lower portion of the power house
where the wheel pits are located,
noticed number of small streams OF
water trickling through straters IN
the rocks. These streams were all
clear with the exception OF one
which attracted Captain Walsh's
attention by being muddy. He asked
the workmen what was the cause OF
the streams and they could not give
satisfactory answer. Within very
short time the stream, increased in
volume and then it began dawning on
the minds of those present that the
DAM HAD SPRUNG A LEAK.
This exciting piece of news spread
like wildfre, and within
~hort time number of Austin people
7Hho had been notified by telephone OF
the state of affairs were ON the scene.
They found Mayor Mcdonald, VINO
was first on the ground, accompanied
by Captain Walsh, experimenting
the attempted stoppage of large hole
in the bank just above the headgate
masonry, where the water was pour
ing into the bank.
THE DAMAGE
to the headgate masonry was slight,
the only thing at all suffering by the
breakage being the wingwalls. The
east wingwall had swagged away
from the headgate masony " such an
extent that gap was apparent. "A
portion of the wingwall on the south
side, while stlll intact at the upper
edge, was undermined pretty badly.
THE HOLE.
In the earth above the dam through
which the water was running around
the end of the headgates seems TO
have passed through the earth in
semi. circle coming out below the dam
lust on a level with the penstocks
about Is feet south of the headgate
masonry making quite an opening IN
the bank. Shortly after the water
began running through h the earth 1t
began crubling away, but 1t was not
until 7so'clock last evening tnat
the entire embankment as far
back as the first railroad
fell in. The fall of the earth material
Iy checked the flow of water by filling
up the opening.
THE WATER REDUCED.
An immediate attempt was made to
lower the water in the lake, and TO
rapidly accomplish this the three
sluce pipes at the west end were
opened. An attempt was made TO
open the first pen stock, but owing TO
not having the proper machinery 1or
this purpose it could not be accom-
plished. Owing to the immense
volume of water in the lake the fall at
IL O'Clock was cnly three inches
with a stream still pouring over the
crest of the dam about 2 inches in
depth.
THE CAUSE.
The cause of this breakage in the
embaukment around the east end is
thought to be the presence OF cave
in that vicinity. The immense pres
surage of water has evidently forced
itself through strata in the rocks
into the cave and thence to an open
ing on Un0 SOubu SlIt0 vi thO hOO'N5 5Nh"
masonry.
THE REASON
why the original designs of the engi-
neers to run the wall of the headgate
masonry some so feet further into the
embankment were not carried
out at the time the other
part of the headgate was finished was
owing to the presence of Mr.. Corri-
oan,s derricks and power house on
that end which prevented the execu'
tion of the plan.
THE DAMAGE.
The damage attendant upon the
break at this particular time is hard
to estimate. But it is not thought it
will exceed over $50 900. True, it will
delay the construction of the electric
light plant some little time and will
necessitate the lowering OF the water
in the lake possibly IL feet,
and while this is not at
all desirable at this particular
time IT will not in the least affect the
..1aors - H. oo,0oino ronottQ which