The Greeley tribune., 1905-04-13
STOP FLOODS
GREAT DAM ON LARIMER
DITCH COMPLETED.
Strongest Dam On Cache la Pou-
DIRE Will Make the High
Waters Powerless
to Damage.

The Water Supply and Storage
company has just completed the
large dam or diverting weir built
across the river at Ships, at the
head of their Larimer county ditch,
which waters all the country between
Fort Collins and Ault. the dam,
which was designed and built by
Engineers Stein & Hedke, is one of
the strongest and most modern as to
the construction of the several dams
thus far constructed on the Cache la
Poudre river.
The dam itself is built of concrete
upon foundation Of bOulders i'm
bedded in the river bottom. 1t is
two hundred feet long and niue feet
six inches deep, rising five feet above
the river bed and three feet above
the bottom of the headgates, thus
assuring a three foot head of water
on the gates and into the ditch at
all times. 1t Is built with curved
head or top and concrete apron, SO
that the water is carried over rather
than making fall.
The construction consists of the
dam itself, the sluice gate, headgates
and abutments, protecting dixie and
breakwater. The sluice gate is eight
feet in width, constructed on line
with the dam and adjoining the
headgates, its object being to carry
off the sand coming down the river,
thus keeping it away from the head
gates and out OF the ditch.
Perhaps the most important part
of tie entire work Is the headgates,
which are of the most modern design
and were built by the American
Bridge company of New York. ac-
cerding to special plans made by the
engineers here. The gates which
are set between concrete piers and
constructed of concrete and steel, are
four in number, each having a clear
width of ten feet. All four Of the
gates are operated from one point,
the mechanism being so arranged
that any or all of the gates can be
opened or closed at one time by one
man. Another modern feature is
chat the gates do not slide in grove
as is ordinary, but roll on a track,
therby lessening. to a large extent,
the power necessary to operate them.
But the most novel arrangement
! of the entire construction, is the fact
that the water tight joint is at the
front of the gates instead of at the
| back, as is usual. This is a depart
ure from the ordinary methods, these
being the first headgates built, known
to the engineers here. working on
this principle, even including the
headgates constructed by the govern
ment.
The height of the gates is two
feet above last years flood height for
protection of the ditch in case Of
flood, and in addition to this is
protecting dyke running from the
headgates to the high ground on the
ditch side of the river, thus forcing
all flood water coming down over the
dam and allowing none to go over
the headgates or get into the ditch
from the upper side.
Another important feature is the
grille or breakwater constructed in
front of the headgates, at an angle of
fifteen degrees from the line of the
river and keeping all floating ma
terial coming down, out of the head
gates and throwing it over the dam.
The entire work, which replaces
the old dam and headgates washed
out by the foods Of last spring, and
the temporary structure put in since,
is constructed with special attention
to the strength and the protection
of the dam and headgates against
floods and high water.
Work upon the dam, which is cost
ing the ditch company $50, 900 to
construct, was commenced last No
vember and Is only just completed,
it being necessary to change slightly
both the course of the river and the
line of the ditch. In the opinion Of
experts the construction will with
stand any possible floods that may
come down the river and the Larimer
county ditch is assured OF a contin-
uous supply of water at all times and
seasons, so far as the dam and head |
gates are concerned. Collins