Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-09
DESTRUCTION AT BOLTON FALLS.
Damage u the Plant by High Water Es.
timatcd at From $1,000 To @IGOO.

Damage to the Plant by High Water Es.
timatcd at From $1,000 to $1,000.
Montpelier, Nov. 2.-1hc Consolidated
Lighting company's electric plant. which
j. in process of construction at Bolton
Ialls, appears to be at war with fate. ana
late has at present the upper hand.
This morning meager reports were cur
rrut to the effect that the plant had been
demolished by high water and that the
dam had been washed out entirely, TAX
ing the power house with it. This was
not true. although very serious damage
has bC,n done.
a Free Press reporter accompanied G..
l.. Fitlin and \. j. Sibley, officials of The
Consolidated company, to Bolton laIlS on
the morning train. The sight of the water
lIIluging over the dam down fifty feet.
churncd into foam and rising in spray was
q magnificent one, but the pleasure of the
scene was married by regrets for the loss
Of propcA-ty involved.
The scene in and about the premises ad-
joining the power house was one of dcvas-
tatiou. Workmen were scattered all along
the river bank with pike poles gathering
the debris of the bridge, Golfer dams and
1ranwayS used in the construction OF the
rev masonry dam. on the south side.
next to the power house the masonry had
been built up TO a. height of forty feet,
sloping away to the opposite side Of the
stream.
The spillway of the wooden dam is 100
feet in breadth, including a cut of 25 feet
blasted out of the solid rock on the oppO-
site side of the stream from the power
house. In order TO protect the construc-
ton of the masonry dam, fash boards.
four feet in height, had been placed on
the wooden dam. These extended from
the masonry bulktead on the south side,
which is some l. feet higher than the top
| Of the dam in order to protect the power
house. to u point about two-thirds of the
way across, so as to turn the water over
10 the nortn enu of the dam, away from
tho place below where the work was being
carried on. Golfer dams bad also been
placed around the new masonry to further
Jiitect it from the action OF the water.
Inspector Lang stated that these flash
boards were responsible for the disaster
TO the work. The increase in volume of
water above the wooden dam ocCasioned
| ~ the recent heavy rains broke these
flash boards down in three places about
~ o'clock Wednesday night, letting the
water down on the new work in torrents,
carrying away Golfer dams, bridges and
IamwaYs.
The weight of this volume of water fall
ing upon the rev masonry and then
snunting off against the brick power
house worked havoc with the building
The water broke into the window on the
end next to the bulkhead. washing it out
and the masonry about it.
The action of the water pouring on the
tALtl - anu I4AO AAAC ~ " NtAA' my
washed out about sixty feet of the brick
wall forming the side next to the stream
with the masonry underpining, which Is
twenty feet in height. The roof remain
cI intact although naturally it has sag
god where the brick work has been wash
ed away.
The interior of the building also suffer
cI. The floor. which was cement laid on
sand, was washed out to a depth of sever
al feet Before the floor went out the two
monster dynamos, ten feet in height were
covered with water, while the four large
wheels. some fifteen feet in height, JUS
escaped being submerged. Fortunately
these machines stood on masonry beds
covered with cement which saved then
from going with the floor. For a time /
was feared the foundation of the dynamo
next TO the dam would be undermined
but the water had lowered over two fee
during the night and was still falling to
nay. 20 that it was though
that the danger had passed. Tn
Interior mechanism of ore wate
wheel has been washed away but it il
hoped that when the water, which to-da,
was still pouring through the building
subsidies it viii be found.
The loss to the company, which include
only the damage done to the power nous
and machinery. is estimated by Mr.. Lam
al from $3.50 to $1,000. He feels assure
that this damage can be repaired IN abou
Ton days, should the waters continue t
subSilc.
Contractor w. II. Wards loss VIII excee'
that Of the company. He lost seven car
loads of Portland cement which was store
in bags u0on the floor of the power house
one derrick and hosting cnglne, whtcI
were used in mid-stream about the mason
~ dam, have also disappeared. Anothe
hosting engine owned by Mr.. Ward, whic
was also in mid-stream, was to-day burie
in water up to its smokestack. Mr.. War
also lost $1,000 worth Of tools.
To the inexperienced eye the s~ituatio
is discouragiug, but those connected wit
the project took matters very cheerful
and are most |sanguine as to the final re
suit. They feel that when they once sue
coed in combining the waters which iioN
through the gorge they will hold captive
power of which this recent demonstrate
l. but n faint reflection. Mr.. Pitkin wa
of the opinion that in the course of tw
weeks one of the dynamos Will he read
for use, The projectors are entitled (
credit fl pushing onward, even thong
',etraincd by the most discouraging OF
faclcS.