Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-10
FRESHET.
UNION RIVER BRIDGES AND
DAMS ARE TREMBLING.
BULKHEAD OF REDUCTION conPANY's
DAM GOES oUT-BooMs GONE
AND LOGS In A TANGLE.

Dams and bridges are trembling, and
large crews are working uight and day
watching for signs of weakness and rein
forcing dams by chains and rocks.
To-day the mill owners feel somewhat
relieved, though the danger is by no
means past. Though the sky is still
heavy with clouds, little rain has fallen
for two days, and the river has risen only
one inch in the past twent-four hours.
1t is hoped the freshet has reached Its
height and the belief is expressed that
the water will begin to recede. The river
is running at terrific speed, which is
favorable as giving great vent.
Though the water has not reached the
record high-water mark OF 1887, as
marked on the railroad bridge, miilmen
to man agree that the volume OF water
running now Is greater than in that
memorable freshet. At that time there
was mill on the western side of Whit
comb, Haynes & Co.'s upper dam, which
held back considerable more water than
at present. II that mill was there now,
there is little doubt that the high water
mark OF 1887 would be out of sight under
water.
Already much damage has been done,
but the full extent cannot be ascertained
until the waters have subsidized.
The eastern bulkhead OF the Boston
Reduction Co.'S dam went out with
crash at O'Clock Sunday morning. The
torrent cut q wide sWath through
the old mill. The breaking OF the bulk
head relieves the pressure on the dam and
western buikhead over which the new
mill is built, and the breaking OF the
bulkhead may have prevented much
more serious damage
The loss to the company is estimated at
Sl,O0O. A representative OF the company
said yesterday that they would not wait
for the summer drought before repairing
damages, but would begin as soon as the
freshet shows signs OF abatiDg. A horse
dam" will be erected above the bulkhead
to turn the current away from 1t. tie
thought the breaking OF the bulkhead
would delay operations at the mill
month or two only.
DoN' A~'S ~N NS''-0SN $50 1893
the river from Brimmer's bridge TO the
ELLSWORTH Lumber Co.'S mill. Logs OF
the dinerent companies nave gone adrift
and are badly mixed. serious delay
to operations In the lumber mills Will
result. Booms must be repaired, and
scattered logs gathered. PROBABLY
month Is conservative estimate OF the
delay which will be caused, granting that
no more damage results.
One OF the serious ehects OF the freshet
not so apparent Is the hlling OF the chan
mel In the river below the wharves with
sunken logs and driftwood. shipping
men say that practically all the WORK OF
the dredger for two summers has been
undone.
Brimmer's bridge and the Bangor
bridge are Hooded. They are held In
place simply by the chains and rocks
with which they have been shackled and
weighted by street Commissioner Hurley.
The Bangor bridge Is menace to the
upper dam. There Is a Jam OF logs ABOVE
holds backs the Jam OF logs ana pooms
winch ha'e cohe oo"h iIoin oIilhinel
bridge.
1t Is the general opinion that the rail-
road bridge Is the salvation OF all the
bridges and dams below 1t. There Is little
doubt That II the upper aam shouio give
way, not bridge or dam below 1t, except
possibly the Main street pridge, would
escape.
Though Brimmer's bridge and the Ban
gor Drioge are sun heio III p'ace' !. ID
Impossible 10 say TO what extent the piers
have ALREADY SUFFERED Inc roao each siae
OIL brlmmer's pridge ior many Ieee is
under WATER aho must Dc paoiy "asheo
out.
Dams nave SHOWN signs Oh weakness III
several instances put 'ighance anu
nrop,nt WORK ha va nreuented anv serioua
oreecn' rave iee' VI so'i' "a'e, 70
Lang w. 'As APPN- 49,.