The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-08-18
THE DAM.

Announcement is semi-oficiaIly
made that the committee appointed
at the instance of the city council
ito examine into the ACCESSIBILITY of
rebuilding the Point Mill dam
across the West Fork river, will
make an exhaustive report to the
council at its session tonight.
In view of this it may be we'll to
express in way what is likely to be
the reportof the committee. When
the committee held its first meeting
twas decided that the mill dam was
too far down and away from the
city proper to be of good service to
the city and change of location
was considered. The point at which
are the old railroad abutments near
Broaddus Institute was discussed.
just what the committee decided on
cas- to this is not definitely known.
nor is the Telegram informed as to
what location the committee will
recommend.
After serious and careful consider
alton of this very important subject.
the Telegram is of the opinion that
the old dam is too far down the river
to be of very great benefit. although
there is no disputing the fact that
some good would accrue. Again.
the railroad abutment location would
only have Elk creek as a resource.
Thus would the water in the West
Fork river escape and, therefore. be
unused. This leads to the thought
that some wav must be devised to
utilize the West Fork water, and
then follows the fact that the dam
must be somewhere below the mouth
of Elk creek, If all the water in this
section is to be made available. That
location can be Just below the mouth
of Elk creek, and the dam thus To-
Gated will provide fine body OF
water up both the river and Elk
creek.
The cost of constructing a dam at
the point herein suggested Will be
more than is necessary to rebuild the
mill dam, and yet not as much moro
as might be imagined. An estimate
carefully made places it at not more
than So, 500, and of this amount
fully 81 900 can be raised by public
subscription, in fact, that amount is
practically assured. With such a
voluntary subscription by citizens.
the council itself can well feel en-
couraged to appropriate the residue
for such commendable purpose.
The council discussed for months
the matter of putting dam across
the river for water supply and had
no idea that the one now building
could he constructed at such n fabu-
lousIy low price. The general and
prevailing opinion in the council
was that it would cost at least
SIS, 900 or $4,000, but, the contractor
is building it for less than So, 300
Taking this fact into consideration
and adding $500 to the cost of the
present dam, it is seen that the two
dams will cost less than what it was
thought the first would cost. But
that is not all. The 81, 900 or more
raised by subscription reduces the
cost of the two dams far below the
amount it was thought the one would |
cost. ~
The dam under discussion would
provide a body of water that would
help the sanitary conditions of the
citV beyond human conception. 1T
would afford beautiful waters for
boat riding, and what fine places
there would be for skating in winter
both on the river and the creek.
There is also another considera-
lion which is BY no means ipsiR-
1fficant. 1t is the beauty such