The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-06-08
GREAT DAM.
The Immense Power Plant Beinu
Built On the Susquehanna
At Mccall Ferry.
WILL RIVAL THE NIAGARA PLANT

WILL RIVAL THE NIAGARA PLANT
A recent issue of the Quarryville
Sun Contained a graphic account
and a number of fine illustrations
of the work being done at Mccall
Ferry, from which we CLEAN the
following:
The Mccall Ferry Power Co.
contemplates harnessing the Susque-
hanna river for the purpose of
manufacturing electricity for light
and power and has bought nearly
all of the land in that neighbor-
hood, and water rights, land and
islands for miles up and down
the stream.
The president of the company is
Fl. F. Dimmock, of New York, and
its capitalization is ten million
dollars. Harry Fiske & Sons, of
New York, are the bankers who are
financing the project.
Preparatory work was commenced
last October, since which time
great changes have been wrought
in the vicinity of Mccall Ferry.
All the trees and underbrush have
been cleared away, much of the
timber having been used in tempo
rary construction. Along the river
and up on the side of the hill are
several railroad tracks, placed con-
veniently to expedite the work of
handling machinery, supplies and
provisions. Far up the hill are
eighteen buildings, used as the
company's Offices, dining rooms,
sleeping apartments, hospital,
storehouses, barber shop, SC. On
top of the hill are about dozen
frame houses, of pretty design and
all modern conveniences, for the oc-
cupancy of the officials, engineers,
electricians and others who will be
required when the plant is complet-
ed. This settlement will be known
as Minque. Down along the river
is a very large machine shop and
other work and storage buildings.
About a mile from 1.-THE center of
activity is the Italian settlement.
At present there are about 500
persons employed and this number
is being gradually increased as the
work progresses.
The Golfer or temporary dam is
being built about a half mile below
Mccall Ferry station, at which
point is Fry's Island. The river
is not very wide at this point and
the island is being used to good
advantage in the dams construc-
tion. Three derricks have been
erected on the island, a railroad
track laid there and an engine for
drawing supplies over on cable.
The crib work is being extended
from the island towards the Ian
caster county side. Already three
fourths of the cribs forming the
Golfer dam between the island and
the Lancaster county side are in
place. The depth of the water
here is from 10 to 25 feet. The
cribs are forty feet in length and
extend down the river. TIL ~ are
about sixteen feet wide and are
placed about ten feet apart, the
water being allowed to pass between
until all Of them are built.
When the cribs on this side of
the river, thirty six in number, are
all. in place, the spaces between
them will be closed with timbers
dropped down groves and earth
will be dumped above to prevent
any water from passing through.
This will cause all the water to
flow on the west side of Fry's Is.
land and the result will be dry
river bed on this side, and work on
the dam proper will be commenced
a short distance below.
The dam breast Will be eighty
feet wide at the base and taper to
a width of twenty feet on top. 1t
will be about 5000 feet long, the
overflow space being 265O.
1t will be necessary to build
Golfer dam on the other side of the
island when this permanent work
is completed.
Much of the stone to be used in
the dams construction will be
brought from the hills at Como
wingo, Md, where many men are
now at work quarrying.
An enormous mixer for the sand,
crushed stone and cement will be
installed and when in full working
order over two hundred car loads
Of those materials will be used
daily.
Considerable of the iron work of
the travelling cranes has arrived
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