The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-29
speeial 10 The Scranton 7rfbun,.

LII plOplSLh vi INV W LlCCb IiiC
fast growing consumption of
water in the Lackawanna and
u Wyoming valleys has been a
source of abundant study to the vari-
ous water companies that cover these
sections with their mains. Among the
largest Of these is the Spring Brook
Water company which has at its head
Abram Nesbit, Of Kingston, president
of the. Second National bank Of Wilkes
Barre, Lieutenant Governor Watres
and ex-Congressman Amerman, Of
Scranton. Originally chartered by
local enterprise to supply the villages
of Moosic, Avoca and the neighboring
territory, the above gentlemen soon
saw that it held the key to one of the
greatest water sheds of this section Of
the state. Thus realizing that it might
be made the foundation of a great sys-
tenn of water supply for lower Lacka-
wanna and for the entire Wyoming
valley they, with eX-Congressman
Shoemaker, Of Wilkes-Barre, since de-
ceased, purchased the entire capital
stock of the several companies and i'm
mediately began the work of building
it up to its present great proportions.
Today it furnishes the water supply
southwardly of Moosic, Avoca, Du-
ryea, Pittston, West Pittston, and all
the towns of the Wyoming valley west
of the Susquehanna river as far south
as Plymouth, twenty miles distant
from its intake dams.
Tho rrpao tapf 1a,,nanHo ~ fh;a 70
tory, constantly growing, have up to
this time been provided for by q sys-
tenn of dams which the new stockh
ers put in Immediately after it passed
into their hands, but their apprecia-
ton Of the increase of population in
the territory which the company sup
plies and of the fact that in a few
years the supplying capacity of their
plant would reach its limit led them
some two years ago to plan an en-
largement of the storage capacity of
their dams by extensive and costly
Improvements, of which detailed ac-
count Is appended, that make the
Spring Brook Water company's plant
the greatest probably in this section of
the state. To begin the work of erect
ing such dam as the company had
in contemplation, after careful sur
vey of the territory, they decided to
locate the immense wall at what Is
known as Dolph's dam, near Glen tan
merry, on Spring Brook creek, q short
distance from Moosic. The spot re-
ferred to Is at an altitude of nearly
1900 feet above Wilkes Barre and the
adjoining towns referred to in the pre-
ceding paragraph. The pressure OBJ
tanned by this height can be readily
understood.
WHEN WORK BEGAN.
In the month of October, 1893, the
work of excavating began and many
difficulties that at times were consid-
cred insurmountable were encountered,
but with the pluck and energy char
acteristic of the men who comprise the
company, they were overcome. An
area of forty acres with the aid OF
steam shovels was first excavated to q
depth of twenty feet, where gravel
was found. TO perform this work II
required the labor of 100 men until
April of the present year, nearly seven
months. When the gravel had been
treated to coating of cement the work
of erecting the monster wall was under
taken. The stone used in its construc.
ton was procured at the surrounding
quarries and is the finest quality OF
gray stone, many of the blocks weigh.
ing from eight to ten tons. The stone
that made up the face of the wall are
all dressed and laid in the best quality
of cement. The wall is 20 feet thick
at the base, 35 feet high, and tapers tC
q width of 7 feet at the top or "spill
way" as it is termed. At both end O!
the walls are two core walls much
lighter in construction, being IA feet
at the base and tapering to 5 feet al
the top. The total length of the wal
is 315 feet. The main wall and core
walls are separated by two chambers
one ateach end. These are feet wide
and 10 feet long, and are built of cu
stone. Three grooves, running per
pendicular, are cut into the stone, two
of which are for screens and the
other for stop plank. Th'
screens are of Golfer one-eighth of al
inch thick with an eighth Of an incl
mesh. The stop plank Is of wood, ant
when in use is for the purpose of hold
ing check the large volume of waite
when it becomes necessary to clear
the mesh screens. Into each of thu
basins two immense cast iron pipe
project. They are 80 and "a inches il
diameter, respectively. The 3O-incl
pipe Is the main service pipe and th'
24-inch pipe is a "blow-off" pipe
These screens are operated by trus
arrangement located in small build
ing on the top of the wall. After th'
wall was completed, at the back al
embankment of dirt rising on an in
cline from the bed to within few fee
of the "spillway" was placed ant
pounded with the rammers after every
load until it was considered perfectly
solid. On top of this a coating of small
stone Is laid 18 inches thick for thu
purpose of preventing water rats O
vermin such as frequent dams from
burrowing into the sand.
FED BY MOUNTAIN STREAMS.
During the progress of the worl
watchmen were stationed night anC
day to see that the water while not be
ing drawn by the consumer did no
overflow its confines and damage tn,
work. To provide against any sucl
emergency 1t was the duty of the sen
tinel in charge to open the valve of tn
blow-of pipe.
The dam is fed by Panther's creel
and Green run streams, located nearl.
twelve miles above and has supply o
80, ,000, 900 gallons. 1t has water she'
covering distance of fifteen mile
eastward, little over three miles wild
or an area of forty square miles. Abov
the present dam are three storag
dams. The first is some three mile
distant with capacity Of nearly Is,
000, 900 gallons, the second at Panther
creek, seven miles above, with ca
IN a,t ~ .xF IN 000 000 on1 fl,A thtrI m