The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-08-03
THE DAM.
ENGINEER TANNING GIVES MOST
ENCOURAGING AND DOUBT
DIsPELLING OPINION.
Engineer Gorham P. Low Takes Charge Of
the Work, Which Has Been Pushed
to Most Flattering stage by
Capt. Vim C. Walsh.

and said he would reduce it to writing
yesterday. He introduced Engineer
Gorham P. Low to the board as the
engineer he had selected to superin-
tend the work of construction AMI
commended his ability and efficiency
in the highest terms. The board at
once took action in the matter, which
was communicated to Mr.. Low in the
following letter:
AUSTIN, July 26.
Mr. Gorham P. Low, Civil Engineer, Austin,
Texas.
DEAR SIR:-At a meeting of the
board of public works held on this
date the following motion prevailed
by unanimous vote:
"That the board employ Mr.. Cor.
ham p. Low as engineer in charge of
construction for the city at $l75 per
month for period OF three months,
and such longer time as may be agreed
upon between him and the city and
that his travelling expenses in reach.
ing Austin be paid by the city"
Respectfully,
w. J. OLIPHANT,
Secretary Board of Public Works
Yesterday Mr.. Low replied TO this
communication accepting the position
of resident engineer in charge of Con-
struction and assumed his duties yes
terday morning.
AS he said he would do Mr.. Fan
ming reduced his report to writing
and handed it in last afternoon about
4 o'clock. 1t will be acted upon by
the board at their meeting this after
noon. The report is as follows:
ENGINEER FANNING's REPORT.
The Honorable Board OF Public Works of Aug
tin:
GENTLEMEN-The excavation of the
trench for the cut off wall, east of the
headgate masonry at the dam has
progressed well since the derricks and
hosting machinery has been in place.
Such machinery was indispensable for
lifting out the loose material through
which the water flowed at time of the
break, and much time was necessarily
consumed in getting the machinery
ready.
The rock on which the headgate
masonry now rests is firm and need
not be disturbed.
The masonry of the dam and of that
part of the headgates row in place is
strong and durable No failure has
appeared in any part of the construc.
ton work, which was due to weak.
ness in it's own construction or design.
L mention this feature of the case
because | am informed that some citi-
zens who have not seen the work have
the impression that the break of the
water was either through the dam or
the headgate masonry. The excava-
ton that has been made in the bank
east of the headgate reveals condi-
tion of the strata of rocks and earths
that had not been suspected during
the construction of the works. Just
east of the headgates there proves to
be q narrow m ass of loose earths and
broken rocks, indicating vertical
displacement. The center of this
loose material is about 20 feet easterly
of the headgates. The direction of
this loose material is not quite paral.
lei with the end of the masonry, but
bears westerly and extends up stream
toward the shore of the lake. The ex-
cavation of the rock, in an early stage
of the work, at "a point about
80 feet above the headgates,
approached near to this loose
material and the effect of the blasting
was to open passage for the water
into the loose layer. This loose mate
rial became exposed at level about
IL feet below the top of the dam, but
the water or entering it passed down
to a level z5 feet lower still and flowed
beyond the masonry of the gates and
then was DETECTED toward the site OF
the power house.
On first inspection of the break
through the bank the proper method
of repair seemed tobe cutoff wall ex
tendeding from the headgate masonry
easterly across this loose strata and
from the bottom reached by the flow
ing water.
When tight layer ofrock is reached
at the bottom this CUTOFF wall will be
started and joined at the one end
with the headgate masonry and at the
other end into the undisturbed rock
on the easterly side Of the loose mate.
rial. Apparently the excavation is
today nearly down to tight layer of
rock.
The foundation W all of the northerly
end of the power house will also be
extended and joined to the back of
this cutoff wall at the end of the
headgate masonry. 1 am of opinion
that these works will make tight and
substantial cutoff and that no further
fear of leaks at the easterly end need
be feared.
There are few small seepages
through the main dam. The flow at
each is quite insignificant, and they
are apparently closing gradually by
the lime concretions at their outlets on
the face Of the masonry; some of them
having closed already. The others
can be quickly calked tight at any
time if it is desirable.
Some seepage appeared on the face
of the rock bluff at the west end OF
the dam after the lake filled. Not
enough water appeared to constitute
stream that could scour the rocks.
The river water is charged with
lime to such degree that it will prob.
ably not dissolve the rock at ALL. L
am of opinion that the seepage in the
west bluff, which has not been alarm.
ing, will gradually reduce by natural