The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-01-05


center of the city, 24.ioch main
leading straight across from the dam
to Magnolia avenue, and one 16-inch
main leading down the boulevard and
Pecan street to Congress avenue, and
the two connected by 20-inch main.
Smaller pipes will connect all parts of
the city, and there will be no dead
ends.
The selection of a site for a reservoir
was attended with considerable diff
Guilty, both on account of the nature
of the ground in the vicinity of the
dam and OF the many hills within the
city limits.
Surveys were made in every direc.
ton and every point was carefully eX-
amined. Tue place finally selected IS
the most suitable site for the resivoir
is at the little Bee creek on the west
side of the river, on property owned
by Mai. j. r. Breckenridge, about
G000 feet from the dam. The contour
of the ground at this place is such
that by building an earthen dam
about 500 feet ong and forty feet high
at the deepest place across the mouth
of small canyon, reservoir with a
storage capacity of 100, O000, 600 gallons
can be obtained at an estimated cost
OF $50, 600. The reservoir will be 300
feet above the low water vel of the
river and lis feet higher than the base
line Of the State Lunatic Asylum
building, the highest point in the
city. In the immediate vicinity Of
this site are two other places
which can be converted into
settling basins or reservoirs
of $1,000, 600 gallons capacity each, at
a comparatively small cost whenever
the city requires additional reservoirs.
The place decided upon has re-.
ceived the approval of all the engin-
GERS engaged on the work, and Mr.
Tanning strongly recommended its
selection. AT the request of the board
a committee of prominent physicians
and sanitary engineers visited the
different locations proposed, and they
reported favorably on the site So.
lected, from sanitary standpoint.
SUBMERGED LANDS.
One of the most serious questions
presented to the board during the
year was that of settlement with
owners of lands for damages that
would accrue from the backing up of
the water on the completion of the
dam.
The survey made in 1890 showed
that some $50 acres Of land would be
submerged, 233 acres of which were
cultivated, aud 326 acres of unculti-
waited lands.
In April last the respective owners
of said lands were notified by letter
that the board was ready to receive
propositions concerning same.
Tue Austin Real Estate Investment
company owning fully one fifth Of the
entire water front OF the lake, prom
pity donated to the city all claims for
damages that might accrue to the
lands owned by said company, as did
also Mr.. j. M. BNroughs owning one
half interest in what is known as the
WOrthing ton tract near the mouth of
Bull creek.
Many replies received from owners
showed dissatisfaction with the sur
vey made in 1890 and the valuations
then placed on their lands by the
agent of the board. 1t was also claim
ed that in many instances slight rises
above the sixty foot level would fur
ther demage their lads, and that a
great deal of the uncultivated land
was heavily covered with pecan tim
Der yielding yearly revenues to the
i'm most cases were deemed
excessive by the board.
After careful considera-
ton of the matter the board
ON June 10th, employed Capt. Dennis
Corwin, an experienced and well
known surveyor and engineer, as
special agent to resurvey the lines of
the submerged lands and to endeavOr
TO effect settlements at reasonable fig
ures, Capt. Corwin at once entered
upon the discharge of his duties and
began the work of re-establishing
the lines and interviewing the owners
of the land. He succeeded in making
agreements to settle at satisfactory
prices with number of owners, and
his action was approved by the board.
The amount paid out during the year
in settlement of such damages was
$2l62. Several owners who had agreed
upon prices had not presented their
claims for payment at the close of the
year,
AS it was necessary to have all the
timber and brush removed from the
lands that would he submerged, the
board advertised for bids 'or cut.
ting and removing such timber
as was found below the sixty foot
level. A number of bids were re-
ceived aud opened on June27, but they
were all found to be so exceedingly
high that the board decided to have
the work done by day labor under the
general uperintendence of Captain
Corwin. Mr.. A. G. Champion was en-
gagged as foreman, a gang of choppers
Il camp was established and
the work commenced at once at the
mouth of Bee Creek, and carried on
without suspension except on account
of bad weather and high water, and
at the close of the year it was nearly
completed.
The work has been we'll done and
has cost the city much less than if it
had been done under contract. The
amount paid out to November 30 for
all expenses connected with clearing
the lands was S2,O9712.
CONTRACTS.
During the year ending November
80 1902, after due notice by
extensive advertisement, contracts
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