The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-04
HERCULEAN TASK.
Water Board to Let
An Immense
Contract.
WILL TAKE 3 YEARS.
Three Million Cubic Yards
+ Of Earth to Be
e all Removed.

Clinton, May 3.-On or about June
the metropolitan water board will let
the contract for stripping the soil from
MOO acres or nearly three square miles
of land. This is one of the largest con-
tracts connected with the construction
of [Ythe reservoir.
This calls for the excavation and re-
moval of more. than 100000 cubic
yards of earth. Some of the material
will require to be carried or carried six
miles. and from that distance down to
a mile. Perhaps two thirds of the ter
ritory was formerly covered with for
est. From this soil the stumps must
be grubbed before the surface can be
removed. Some of the excavated ma
terial will be used to fill in the north
dyke. The balance will be disposed of
according to the direction of the board.
The board will give the contractor
three years in which to perform his
herculean task, He will perhaps be
accorded the privilege of subletting
portions of the work. if he desires to
do so. 1t is expected that the big dam
will be well under process of construc-
ton before this contract is complet-
ed. .s-~.
Before the dam is done, the entire
bottom of the reservoir will be a sur
face of sub-soil, upon which not
trace of vegetable matter to contami-
nate the waters will remain.
President Warren Goodale of the
board of trade has made elaborate pre-
parations, in the name of the Business
Mems, Association, to receive the COM
mittee on metropolitan affairs and the
party attending the committee 1t
seems that there will be 95 persons in
this party. Not only the committee
and representatives of the metropolitan
water board are coming, but several
members of the house and one or more
senators, who desire to see for them
selves just how badly Clinton is likely
to suffer.
Several of the smaller cities in the
metropolitan district, outside of Bos-
ton. will be represented by counsel 1t
is expected that the committee will
reach West Boylston about 9 a. m. on
the Massachusetts Central. They may
come in a car attached to a regular
train. or the regular may be followed by
a special train. Starting at s o'clock
three barges will leave this town for
West Boylston. One will start from the
post office. 1t will carry the committee
of citizens who are charged with the
task of entertaining the visitors The
other barges are for the convenience of
the committee and it's friends.
John w. CorcOran, the towns COUNSEL
will steer the party. 1t is not known
what route will be followed. The north
dixie will, naturally come in for a good
bit of attention. The possibility that
the dixie may break away is a menace
to all that side of the town. The pro-
posed site of the great dam will be in
spected. 1t is this dam that the people
of Clinton fear most of all. They be-
lieVe the metropolitan engineers are
skillful, but they recall numerous in
stances when the elements, and par
ticularly when water had defied the
skill of man.
If the dam ever should break away,
there would be nothing of this town left
to see but a hole on the map. Millions
of tons of water would blot it from the
earth in a few minutes. These things
have, been brought to the attention of
the committee, and are the reasons why
the committee will give the matter of
the dam abundant attention.
1t is possible. the committee may visit
the sewer beds. At any rate there will
be dinner at the Clinton house at which
many prominent citizens will be pres
ent.
IAC I'uSluCoo MICH > ASSOCIdllOH Is So
ing to do what it can to make The task
that confronts the committee on met
ropolitan affairs easy.
officer John Stoebel brought joy to
the Yates family, late this afternoon,
when he restored to Mrs. Nicholas
Yates her two little daughters, Elsie
and Maggie. This morning about 9 Elsie
7iafd' Maggie went out to play. They did
not return at dinner time. The chill
dren are but two and three years old
respectively. OF course Mrs. Yates was
alarmed. She had Mr.. Yates 20 at
once to Chief of Police Bates. He had
the officers look carefully for two little
girls who might be astray On their
heats The afternoon wore away with
out the little ones being found, and
. Mrs. Yates became almost wild with
grief
At last Officer Stoebel extended his
search toward the Bolton station. which
is about two miles out of town. In that
neighborhood he found the children tod
ding along, happily unconscious of the
anguish they were causing at home.
The children returned with StO2bel will
lingly enough, and seemed none the
worse for a longer journey than such
little ones often take by themselves.
H. C. Nourse has Joined in the con-
'troversv about the fire in Father Pa
terson's building. He sticks to The
theory that the fire was set py poEs'
and says that a man told him boys Nsre
putting up the shutters, as the 1lremen
were coming the second time, who ran