The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-02
WATER COMMISSION
HOLDS MEETING
REGULAR SESSION LAST EVEN.
ING CONSIDERS REPORT OF su.
PERlNTENDENT REResvIck ON
CONSTRUCTION OF DAM.

The Water Commission met las
night In regular session. ]. Q. A
Bowlby occupied the chair. Messrs
J. Q. A. Bowlby, c. J. Trenchard, +
A. Fisher and II. G. Van Dusen wer,
present. Messrs. S. Elmore. A. Bri,
and c. S. Wright We're absent.
After the reading and appoval or
the minutes OF the last meeting, tn,
clerks and treasurer's reports ant
that of the superintendent were reat
and placed on file.
The report of Superintendent Bergs.
wick called attention to the fact that
the contractor repairing the lower
mains had left off the covers Of the
big gates of the distributing system
The matter was referred to the city
attorney
The bills and recommendations of
the auditing committee were approved.
Communications from the Lorenson
Logging Company and j. Q. A. Bowl
by were ordered placed on file. The
request for return of over-charge by
the Tongue Point Lumber Company
was granted.
The request for reduction OF charges
for the past month by Sanborn's can
ney was granted to the extent OF $40.
The distributing pipe froze and burst
during the recent freeze and the wa
ter flowed freely on the wrong side of
the company's meter, which charged
the lost water to the cannery.
The application Of ]. C. Des Oranges
for the position of superintendent,
made vacant by the resignation Of
Lars Bergsvick, was read and placed
on file. Mr.. Des Oranges, who had
come down from Seattle to be pres
ent, was examined. No definite ac-
ton was taken, but Mr.. Des Oranges,
who leaves town this morning will be
notified of the Commissions decision
as soon as made.
The report of Superintendent Lars
Bergsvick on the contemplated dam at
Bear Creek was given.
This stated that the nature of the
ground was different from what had
been expected and the cost in con-
struction of the dam would be much
higher than has been estimated. There
is no solid rock for a base, as was
expected, and the foundation will have
to be extended down until it rests
upon strata of blue clay. The exact
distance from the surface Of this clay
is not known as yet, and makes the
estimates somewhat vague. No solid
rock for a masonry wall was avail
able ami concrete would have to be
substituted.
Mr.. Bergsvick stated that dam s.
feet high and penning up 210,000,000
gallons of water, would cost between
1000 and 100000. A reservoir hold
ing 1OO,000,O0O gallons would cost half
as much.
The larger dam would extend fifteen
or twenty feet below the surface and
rest upon the blue clay sub-soil. Be
cause of the unstable ground the con-
crete wall would have to be heavy,
about 25 feet thick at the base and
eight feet thick at the top.
1t was suggested that, as the city
requires only a hundred million gal
Ions reservoir at present, but would
certainly need a larger one after a
while. that the dam re so built that
though only containing a hundred mil
lions it could be built un when need
ed to contain the two and a quarter
millions. This would cost about $780,
900. The idea was adopted by the
board to the extent of requesting the
superintendent to draw up plans in
accordance with it.
= Owing to the advanced estimate in
49, ooe+ of tho nronoSad dam the
Commission is divided as to whether
it would not be more advisable to con-
struct larger reservoir near town
The present one at the city park Is
not very large and might prove too
small in case Of fire. 1t was pointed
out that with larger reservoir near