Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-05
GOOD BEAVER ENGINEERING.

GOOD BEAVER ENGINEERING.
Admirable Work by O Colony of
These Little Animals In Colorado.
At the last meeting of the Academy
Of Sciences member reported a case
Of almost human intelligence exhibit
ed by a colony Of about thirty beavers
in Ell Paso county, near Palmer lake.
A short distance from the town the
beavers had constructed a dam in a
shallow creek that fed the reservoir
that supplies the town with water. The
dam and the beaver houses had been at
this point for many years and formed
one Of the places visited by sight-seers.
At length the dam became a hindrance
to the settlers who used the water of
the creek for irrigation and other pur-
poses. 1t was necessary to break 1t so
that the water could be utilized. The
people on several occasions broke the
dam in the daytime and as often would
the little animals repair 1t during the
following night.
The beavers, becoming disgusted with
the way things were going, decided to
migrate to more secluded spot. They
disappeared suddenly, the entire body
going away together. They went up
the stream about two miles until they
found a point where the mountain
range could be crossed with comfort.
Here they climbed the range and des-
cended into another stream, one mile
beyond and constructed dam.
DR.. J. B. Kinley, the Denver scientist,
who went to the scene and made an in
vestigation Of the affair, says that he
believes that the beavers held consul
tation, and before abandoning their old
home sent a committee Of at least two
perhaps more-out on a reconnoitering
expedition. He found evidence in the
way Of tracks and other things to prove
that this precaution had been taken.
The scouts went in several directions
and finally hit upon the place to- locate
and the route thither and reported to
the folks at home. He said that the
most experienced engineer could not
have performed his work with greater
skill than did the scout beavers. He
did not believe that any Of the rodents
had ever before been so far away from
home and that they discovered this ad-
vantageous spot for their new dams
and houses as result Of thorough
investigation Of the country.
OF all the streams in the country
and Of all the points along the stream
selected there is none so eminently suit
ed for the purposes Of the beavers as
the one they chose. The present abode
of the little animals is especially adapt
ed for their work and they have con-
structed the finest beaver dam ever
seen by any student Of natural history.
The place selected is point where Ma
ture saved them much work and where
they can be protected against the
weather and surprise by the enemy.
They went to work in the new field
ed their dam and erected their houses.
The dam is we'll and strongly built and
Is pronounced by all who have seen 1t
the finest dam in Colorado today.
There is less brush and more dirt than
was ever seen in a beaver dam before.
A short time after this dam was fin
ished some hunters set fire to the brush
and burned out much Of it, so that the
dam could be broken, presumably to
enable them to easily catch the trout
enclosed in the lake. Quickly was this
repaired. After a second experience OF
this kind the beavers rearranged the
dam entirely so that the water Is allow
ed to pour over the top Of the dam for
the entire distance. Thus the brush
and wood are kept wet all Of the time
so that it is now impossible for the plot
ters to destroy the dam at any point
by setting fire to it. This dam Is alb
solutely level on top, Is about 500 feet
long and incloses about Is acres Of wa
ter.
Several members Of the Academy of
Science of Denver, who were interested
by the reports Of DR.. Kinley, have WIS.,
tied the dam and all are loud in their
expressions Of admiration for the re-
markable intelligence exhibited by the
beavers. Some of them believe that
there are at least fifty in the colony,
while others place the number at about
3O-at dusk, when they begin at about
out, the doctor having counted about
thirty at one time.
From some of the people living In the
country the Denver students of natural
science gathered information that led
many of them to alter their notions in
respect to the habits of the beaver.
They say that the beaver uses his tall
simply as a signal-both Of danger and
for other purposes. Actual observations
made reveal the fact that while at
work the beavers obey boss who sig
nails the rest either to begin or quit
work. This signal is made by slapping
the water with the TAIL AS Is known,
this signal is also used on the approach
of an enemy, whether man or beast.
With remarkable alacrity and unanim-
ity the signals are observed by all of
the rest. No evidence could be shown
to prove tnat the tail is used Gas Is