The record-union., 1895-04-24

Erie. Thus, in 1878 great fragments de-
scended at the American fall, in 1923 at
the Horseshoe fall, and since 1855 several
others have materially changed the as
pect OF the falls (Vol. XII, D. 49,
When Father Hennepin first visited
Niagara, in 1913, there was q third 1all
formed on the Canada side by huge
rock, which divided and turned the cur
rent. At the time of the visit OF the
Swedish naturalist, Kahn, in $780, the
rock had fallen down aud left theI cata-
racl, in respect to the number OF falls,
more nearly in its present condition. In
1872 Professor Hall made an exact scien-
tifc, trigonometrical and geological sur
vey of the falls, and from his survey and
map, vivid and exact idea has been
formed of the enormous mechanical
powers which are at work here. =
The falling water acts as d huge saw,
cutting channel in the rock at the rate
OF about one foot year. t3 Johnson's
New Encyclopedia, S39.)
These facts torcibly illustrate the tre-
mendOus power of the element against
which the engineer must contend i'll his
efforts to impound the mining debris.
ct 1t is proposed to erect barrier in the
narroWs OF the uba, upon bed ofdebris
now sixty feet deep, just out Of the
foothills, $50 feet high-as high as
Niagara-over which its waters, concen-
trated IN narroWgorge, charged at times
to their full carrying capacity with heavy
material, on occasions Of great floods will
pour IN volumes equal, perhaps, or nearly
so, TO those pouring over an equal space
at y NlaGara. 1t Is said that this proposed
dam will be debris dam, and less dam
gerous than water dam. But Niagara
cannot be said TO be a water dam in any
other sense than the one proposed when
filled, or nearly filled, with debris. The
danger shown by the testimony will be,
not so much from the pressure above as
from the force and effects Of the water
charged with debris, sometimes with
stones of greater or less dimensions, fall
ing over and down the dam so great a
distance. According to the testimony OF
Hamilton Smith, the very intelligent,
competent and reliable engineer who
built the English dam, there were rocks
in 1t OF ten tons weight, not VesJige Of
which could be found after the breaking
Of the dam III June last. They must have
either been carried by the floods down
the stream or crushed into fragments by
the oYerpowering forces brought to bear
upon them. And according TO the testi-
mOny OF another witness, who followed
down the Guba 10 observe the effects Of the
torrent resulting from the breaking OF
that dam, rocks of much larger dimen-
siOns, before existing in the bed OF the
river, had wholly disappeared. The facts
stated show the enormous resisting power
required to render an impOundIng dam
perfectly safe. Engineers, as before
stated, differ as to the practicabiliLy OF
| building Il safe dam at that or other lndi-
Gated points. We can not presume to de-
termine the posi- Dilities OF engineering
Skill in constructing these restraining
dams, with money enough at command,
where distinguished engineers differ in
opinion upon the problem. 1t is enough
n
mere opinion, and that the opinions OF
men eminent in their profession are not
in accord upon the question. 1t is obvi-
ously impossible that the court should
| determine in advance what dams may be
built that will be sufficient, or prescribe
any conditions upon the fulElIment Of
which defendants should be permitted to
continue the acts complained of.
According TO the testimony Of some
! intelligent witnesses, only about 10 per
| cent. OF the debris would be retained by
any dam, as ali that the water is capable
! OF carrying in suspension would pass
/ over under any circumstances. This per-
centage Of the enormous quantity yet to
/ be mined would add a great deal 10 the
amount now in the streams. a large
/ amount, at all events, would necessarily
! pass over.
"Dams, such as are proposed, properly
/ constructed anG not carried too high, may
well be safe and extremely valuable in
keeping back the debris now in the
stream, and largely mitigating the iu-
juries now existing and threatened, even
though utterly inadequate to protect The
! valleys below in case hydraulic mining is
/ continued and enormous quantities oI
! debris be added TO that already accumu.
! lated. But there are no dams now of any
! appreciabie service in protecting the
rights of complainant from further in
| jury, either from the debris already in
the streams, or such further accumula-
tions as may arise from continuance oi
! hydraulic mining as now pursued. There
is, therefore, no alternative to granting
an injunction"