The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-18
GRACEFULLY FALLING OVER THE
CREST OF THE DAM.
All the People Went Out to See the Sight
Yesterday, and They Stood En-
,ranced BY the Gorgeous Spec
tacle - Enthusiasm
Unbounded.
eureka.

turned back in their course, have once
more been reunited. The barrier
which spanned the river has been
surmOunted and once more nave the
waters resumed their continuous ana
uninterrupted flow to their far distant
eastern outlet.
Backing up mass OF water OF
almost inc0nceivable vastness, COW
cred by the same Opaque llquld, the
grand granite dam--the creation OF
genius and the handiwork of master
minds-stands firm as the Rock of
GibralLer, menace to the onrushing
dood and the foundation of the future
of this fair City of the Violet Crown.
For over three years have you
waited for this hour, people of Austin.
1t has now come, aud with it arises
in the distant horizon the bright and
blazing sun of our future happiness,
prosperity and wealth. Let us then
give praise; sing glad paens OF JOY
anu JUN Wlbl OliO Nh'''iSA 80
felicitation and cOngratulation.
Did you go to the dam yesterday
morning, noon or night? If you dld,
do YOU suppose there will ever be a
moment in all your life when you
will regret having taken theStrip? II
you did not, The STATESMAN guar
with those who did witness the grand
sight your feelings will be those OF
deep regret.
True, the all important hour ar
rived at 7:20 o'clock on
Monday night, but as
il came the deepening
dusk came with it, shrouding in lbs
gathering gloom all the beauties and
attractions of the scene of sublime
grandeur which broke upon the eye
yesterday morning as the first rays Of
the rising sun cast their shafts OF
golden light upon the greatest water
fall in Texas-the Niagara Falls of the
Lone Star state.
No pen or pencil can describe the
picture that breaks upon the eye OF
the sightseer as on leaving the cars at
the dummy depot he wends his way
through the debris left by Contractor
Corrigan to spot short distance
south of where the old cable engine
house stood or out upon the granite
wall which covers the penstocks.
Doubtless it is whether the
brush of artist could so place
it upon canvass as to DO justice to its
splendor. / must be seen to be APP
preciated, and so thought the people
of Austin, who yesterday turned out
on masse. All day long they went
out Pecan street and the dam boule'
ward in one unceasing stream in all
manner of conveyances and by all
modes of travel. In days agone
large crowds have visited the dam site
when the uncompleted structure was
threatened by the rising flood waters,
but the throng which lined the east
bank yesterday was the largest that
has ever at any one time viewed the
mammoth piece of engineering work.
The best view of the waterfall can
be obtained from the west end OF the
guard wall, Immediately over the first
penstock and to that point hundreds
of people forced their way.
Standing at that point the visitor
cannot but be impressed with the
omnipotence of Almighty God who
has given to an the material with
which he is enabled by the exercise
of the talents with which he has been
endowed to accomplish those things
which at first thought are considered
not only impracticable but absolutely
impossible Only little over three
years ago the Colorado, at most times
comparatively insignificant little
stream nesting along the high bluff
OH the west bank pursued its unhind'
cred course to the guilt. The idea of 9
dam was conceived. What followed
God had provided the natural abut
ments for such dam on either side .
the river. Man did the rest. Without
undue delay the excavations were
concluded and the masonry work be
gun. Rapidly it continued, the
rough, red head of the wall soaring
upward until little over two week.
ago the last stone was placed in posi-
ton, Then we cried Eureka but TIT
lake was not filled. Today it is filled
absolutely and completely-tlled It
overlooking. So once more let us rails
I'D our voices in the glad acclaim.
standing at the point above named
the sight is such an one as to thrill
and entrance the beholder. Stretch
ing away to the north until lost t.
view behind the picturesque bend be
yond Mormon Springs stretches on
an expanse of water unequalled b.
ooy inland hodU mot only i'm TeNas