The Somerset reporter., 1901-12-19

or more. His wheel house WAS pushed
little out Of place and the main shaft
sprung.
The American Wooden Company suf-
fered damage only such rs came from
the submerglng Of machinery in their
wheel house
The fine granite and brick power
house owned by the Shepherd estate
stands out well into the river and reeey-
ed the full force Of the food. The win
dows of the lower floor were badly
SMASHED, one Of them was pierced by
large spruce log, which entered the build
ing half its length and remained there
until the flood subsidized. The injury to
machinery was considerable. Fortunately
the main floor upon which was the costly
electrical apparatus used ia furnishing
power to the Somerset Traction Com.
pany, the Skowhegan Water Company,
Porter's grist mill, the REPORTER Office
and other establishments was At too
great an elevation to be reached or the
damage would have been much more.
The wheel house of the Nolin Manu-
featuring Company was considerably
damaged and the main shaft somewhat
sprung by the pressure Of running ice
and debris piled up thereon.
The lower floor OF the Richards Pulp
mill was flooded to the ceiling, the wiz
dows stove in and everything in way Of
wheel Aears, pulleys and machinery on
the floor thoroughly soaked.
The water side of the old paper mill
and buildings connected Herewith was
subjected to a terrible raking of running
Ice and logs, breaking in windows and
shattering walls.
The foot bridge across the South chan.
mel was swept away early Sunday even
ing. Ii was damaged first by running ice
and logs and later section of Madison
bridge finished the demolition. letting
the cables down where they trailed in
the water, remaining attached at either
shore for some time.
| W. K. Trask, wood worker, on the
lower floor of NJ. T. Aliens mill. had hi.
machinery and stock Of lumber soaked
and his manufactured product also Con.
sidersbly damaged by water. Mr.. Trask
Estimates his damage at $3.50.
Adams & Caswell, who were burned
out three weeks ago, had about %, 900 feet
of pine lumber carried away 1t was in
the lumber sheds belonging to the
Electric Light Company carried away by
the Madison bridge on its Journey down
river. L. w. Weston also had lumber 10
the value of $3.50 in these sheds. Run
ming logs also injured the foundation of
Mr.. Weston's mill, recently burned and
overthrow granite wall in his mill
yard.
Water flowed into the basement story
Of Thompson Brothers on the south
side, the windows were smashed in and
the floor covered with ice. The goods on
this floor were removed to the floor above
and thus saved without great damage
| l.
apparently had close call. The logs.
ice and the large sections of the Madison
bridge raked it underneath giving the
old structure nearly all ii could stand
The water came close up to the floor at
either end and had it gone any higher or
had jam formed it must have gone over
the dam. Some of the timbers under
meath were shattered and the bottoms OF
one OF the trusses were badly broken.
1t is wonder that the bridge stood the
severe strain it was subjected 10.
The Electric Light wires were cut at
either end of the South bridge when it
looked as though it might be carried
away.
The wires from the power house to
the Somerset Traction line upon which
power is conveyed to run the road was
broken down. They were very heavy
wires and the expense Of replacing them
will be considerable.
All the men who could work to ad-
vantage were Immediately employed to
repair the damage. The overlooked
floors in all the mills and the wheel
houses must be cleared of ice, drift
wood, and in many cases, of spruce logs
lodged there. The belts, pulleys, etc,
must be taken out, dried and replaced,
the machinery cleaned and oiled and put
in condition for use. The clearing of
logs, drift wood and masses OF ice in the
pond near NJ. 7. Aliens mill WAS heavy
job, also the removing Of logs, ice, etc,
from the premises where the power
house of the Electric Light Company
and Spears mill stood, is not much
l'ss in magnitude.
The Skowhegan Water Power Com
pany will be at quite large expense in
clearing the bulkhead and channel on
the South side OF the great accumulation
Of ice, logs, drift wood ETC., aud the
wing is Injured in several places 70
the extent of $500 or more. This clear
ing out and repairing will have To hr
done before a wheel can start on the
South side. Ii they get ready u turn
on the water within a week it will he ex-
peditous work.
In addition To the losses noted above