Connecticut western news., 1899-02-16
HOUSATONIC RIVER POWER.
Facts and Extracts From an Article by B. H Hull, Civil Engineer, Bridge port, Published in the New Milford Gazette Of Jan. I6, 1891.

Facts and Extracts From an Article by
 B. H Hull, Civil Engineer, Bridge.
 port, Published in the New Milford
 Gazette of Jan. I6, 1891.
 The Housatonic has drainage ares of 1943 square miles, and a length, by g general course, of about no miles. The actual distance from Pontoosic Lake near Pittsfeld to the mouth, fol. lowing the river closely is at least 125 miles. The fall of the river is large, amounting to nearly 1000 feet from Pittsfield to the mouth, alternating with stretches of quick water, but is oc. cssionally interrupted by abrupt falls over rocks as at New Milford falls, Bulls Bridge and Falls Village.
 Measurements have several times been taken of the volume of the river in low stages. During the summer of 1878 the river was carefully examined in con- nection with the scheme of diverting its waters for the supply of the city of New York. Results showed minimum flow during the period of guaging 26O cubic feet per second, average for period of 24 hours, stream very low. The flow was guaged at Kent by Mir Loomis of New York, date May 22d to Septem Der ist. A mean flow for the entire season from May 22d to Nov 1st, was 46O cubic feet per second for peried of 24 hours.
 The amount of horse power this would give would depend upon the head and fall that could be obtained. During years 1881 and 1882 occasional obser vation was made of the flow at New Milford falls by myself. These measurements were roughly made with view to finding the minimum flow available during working hours, and I found the minimum for the period stat ed 9l6 cubic feet, stated per second un- der head and fall of feet; this amount of water would give an actual power at 85 per cent of useful effect of 707 horse power, stream during the period of guaging above the average flow at that date
 At Bulls Bridge Mir Hull says, & very large water power could be created at no very great expense. A pocket level indicates fall from top of dam to the foot of upper falls at Bulls Bridge a short distance above the dam; they are apparently about 400 feet in length with descent as shown by pocket level of p feet. The entire fall at Bulls Bridge from the head of the up- per falls to foot of the lower privilege Is about 40 feet, and this might be con- siderably increased artifcially by dam at the head.
 At Swift's Bri1ge, mile or so below Cornwall Bridge, l5 or 20 foot fall can be obtained.
 At Cornwall Bridge fall of 12 feet was formerly. obtained.
 There IS a small power at West Corn wall, head and fall of from 10 to 12 feet.
 The next fall is at Falls Village where greater concentrated fall is to be found than upon any other stream of equal size tributary to LoEg Island Sound. Here the Housatonic river falls abruptly over lime stone lodges, and has a total descent of over 100 feet in short distance. There is power at this privilege s'estimated at 453O un- der 95 feet head fall" (4530 undoubt- edly means horse power, but the article does not say what 4530 means "You cannot find any stream in the New Eng land states of so large 8 flow of water and with 80 good railroad communica- tion to Bridgeport, New Haven and New York. and comparatively low rates and quick time, undeveloped as is the Housatonic river"
 Mir Hull also mentions excellent water powers at Still River, near New Milford, at Brookfeld. at Gidding's dam near New Milford.