The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-21
LAST STONE IS LAID
WORK ON THE POWER DAM COM
PLETEsD WITH FORMAL CERE-
MONIES.
CONTRACTS FOR coNDUITs,
BY WHICH THE ELECTRIC CUR
RENT is TO BE DISTRIBUTED
In THE TWIN CITIES.
Z SERVICES.
MEMORIAL
Rev. Nj. ID. Shutter Chosen as Orator
News of the Mill
City.

The last stone in the new dam in the Mis-
siss!ppi river was laid yesterday morning,
William de la Barre being the master of
ceremonies. while Thomas Lowry and Charles
A. Pillsbury guided the huge block of granite
into its resting place. The affair took place
at 10 o'clock, near the west end of the dam,
the block being the last of the granite coping
which is the top of the dam.
work was for time interrupted, and all
the men gathered at the scene of the cere-
mony. Charles A. Piilsbury who is the chief
OF the movement which made the dam posi-
BILE Thomas Lowry and C. c. Goodrich, pres
ident and vice president Of the Twin City
Rapid Transit company, which will utilize the
power 10 be generated by the dam; William
de la Barre, the engineer and father of the
idea of building the dam, with several invited
guests and representatives of the press, gath
cred on the narrow ridge Of the gigantic
work. There was little show and attempt at
ceremony. Several buckets Of mortar were
dumped into the waiting gap, few move
ments of the trowel the hooks Of the Crap
ping iron were put in place, the little engine
gave few spiteful spUrts of steam, the block
OF granite rose in the air, was swung over the
gap, MeSsrs. Lowry Pillsbury lowered it
INFO place and that part was over.
Mr. de la Barre in an exceedingly
happy frame Of mind. and in a short speech
to his men said that inasmuch as the man
to whom they were indebted for two years
of work at good pay was present, that as he,
Mr.. Pillsbury, by his business enterprise and
progressiveness made the work possible, and
II was now practically completed he wanted
three rousing cheers. They were given with
a VIII. Then. as the happy engineer was
about to propose three more for Thomas
Lowry, the foreman yelled Now, boys,
three cheers for William de la Barre The
yel that went up would have moved any
thing but the dam. Mr.. Lowry was given
his turn. and made few remarks to the
men, stating that the completion of the dam
marked one of the greatest engineering feats
or the present century. that nothing like 1t
had ever been accomplished before, and that
1t surpassed in significance even the great
Niagara.
Mr.. Pillsbury also made a short speech
saying that it was one of the happiest mo-
mentS of his life. He hoped that it would
| be the opportunity for affording tens OF
! thousands of men a chance to earn theiI
daily bread; that by giving employment tC
men it would further the prosperity Of the
city and state. He particularly pleased
that the dam should be completed with but
! few accidents, with no discomfort, nc
strikes; that all had seemed to labor in one
accord In performing wonderful task.
The dam Of the ST. Anthony Water Power
company was a scheme conceived several
years ago by William de la Barre and Charles
A. Piilsbury. The engineer saw the Dossibili-
ties of a great power plant by which cleo
! trfcity could be generated and used for manu-
facturlng and commercial purposes. The Teali-
cation of the dream was begun one wear
ago last May, when the first shovel Of dirt
was turned, and the first blast set Off Since
then the work has been progressing steadily
with the exception of the time of the high
water last spring. On an average, geo mer
have been employed. The excavation for the
power house and tailrace was first made;
then the canal and retaining wall was built
and lastly the wall Of the dam itself
| The foundation of the dam is laid abou
! Is feet below the level of the river bed. From
| there it rises up. a solid mass of granite
| rock, until 1t is IS feet above the river. Al
! the bottom 1t is Is feet wide and at the tor
! seven feet Near the west end Of the dan
! is sluiceway with "bear-trap' gate to be-
| lowered during high water. These gates are
! under the water, and when open rise out oil
Inc water like the opening of q big steel trap
Two more Of these gates are at the lower end
Of the canal. At the power house there is a
fall of 20 feet, giving plenty Of power to turn
the 40 wheels that will be eventually put in
| At present but % of these wheels will he
used. They are in large chambers near the
| top of the water, the draft tubes giving the
same force as the fall Of water In many
| respects the scheme which will be used is
| the most perfect. and at the same time is
| said to be the best that has ever been tried
| in the world