Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-11
cATAWBA FALLS JUNKET.


The Southern Power company on
yesterday played the host to the En-
gineers Society of the Carolinas, and |
to q large number Of manufacturers |
and others interested in the big de-
velopments that are being prosecuted
by the company.
The particular occasion Of the en-
was the annual meeting |
of the Society Of Engineers, and the |
most interesting features Of 1t was a
trip from Charlotte to the scene OF the
operations down at Great
Catawba Falls, plenty Of refreshments
including splendid dinner, and most
delightful good fellowship on the part
of the officers of the power company, !
the engineers and all the other MEM
bers Of the party the personnel OF
which was as follows:
r. S. Lewis, w. S. Lee, j. 3. Cothran,
N. L. Gibbon, c. w. Sims, A. Milmow,
Sr., A. Milmow, Jr., w. p. Monatt, Il.
L. Wommack, A. V. Harrill, G. Il.
Neisler, H. Runge, 1. w. Barber, c. A.
Mees, Edward Clarke, Jr., John n.
Roddey, J. Frank Wilkes, A. j. Math-
is, ]. w. Fraser, ]. r. Wilkes, I. ..
Lee, w. H. Wood, r. E. Lee, J. I.
Smith, 1. M. Leish, E. W. Thompson, "A.
F. Ruff, ]. c.. Cauthen, D. P. Leslie,
]. A. Williford, r. T. Fewell, w. w.
Fennell, ]. r, Barron, c. l. Cobb, E.
II. Johnson, J. N. Stewart, Alexander
Long, William Rierson, w. D. Grist,
T. P. Moore, c.. K. Schwrar, w. b.
Moore, A. L. Cornell, w. R. Cornell, L.
c. Harrison, w. c. Dowd, F. D. Samp-
son. N. A. Cooke, H. e. c. Bryant, G.
l.. Winthrop. Hugh Long, ]. Branch
ard, C. E. Hutchison, ]. Lee Croweil,
w. D. Pemberton, G. H. Rutledge, j.
M. Rhodes, william p. Snow, P. M.
Furman, w. S. Ide, r. A. Dunn and j.
c. Rankin.
The party was made UP In Charlotte,
having been rounded up there by
Messrs. L c. Harrison and c. A. Mees,
the clever lieutenants of Mr.. w. >.
Lee, chief engineer and I'd vice presi-
dent of the Southern Power company,
and the trip was made in special
car leaving Charlotte at SIS a. m. and
proceeding by way Of Fort Mill, ROCK
Hill, Chester and Fort Lawn to the
power company's own railroad, wnicn
stretches over the last eleven miles OF
the journey.
The first stopping place on the river
was at the big dam which diyerts the
water to the power house. This dam
Is located at about the middle OF Noun
tain island. 1t Is across only one prong
of the river, and serves to throw all
the water on that side into canal
(the old state canal enlarged), Which
is used for about a mile down below
to a bulkhead, which stores 1t FOR use
through the water wheels.
The power house Is a splendidly con-
structed four-story brick building
standing down In a deep gulch, with
the comb Of the roof only reaching the
top Of the bulkhead or secondary dam.
The bulkhead Is constructed entirely
of cement. It is $50 feet long and
about 10 feet wide at the top. From
the top Of the bulkhead down to the
tail water below the distance Is LOB
feet and from the water surface above
to the water surface below Is u feet.
But there Is no intention to enter
into very full description of the plant
at this time. That will come later.
The party was at first unloaded at the
main dam, and after 1t had made a
pretty thorough inspection Of the sur
roundings was loaded on board the
train again. There was another run
of a mile below to the main works just
described; but as very few OF the par
ty had been so fortunate as TO nave
breakfast, and the morning had al
ready grown very hot, there was not
great deal even in the big surround
ings to revive "fainting spirits"
Proceeding down the hill from the
train toward the power house, some-
body spied on an apparently abandon
ed house a rude sign which read:
"Tife Saving Station" This brought
up visions Of the provision that the
power company had made to take care
of employees who we're so unfortunate
as to fall into the river, and every
body followed the lead Of those who
were curious to investigate. They
found several negroes with green
branches minding flies Off restoratfves
in the shape Of cheese and crackers.
The beer was amply protected In the
great tubs Of ice in which 1t had been
stored. No lives were lost. ....
After thorough Investigation or the
power house, which with its complete
appointments, is worth more extend.
ed description later on, the party went
up to the handsome hotel on top OF
the hill, and lolled around until din
ner was ready. There was lemonade
and other mild refreshments in plenty.
While dinner was being prepared the
power companys photographer got the
crowd on the hotel steps and took
group picture. Dozens OF the jolly
party purposely held beer bottles In
their hands, and Editor Dowd OF the
Charlotte News declared that he was
not only going to reproduce the photo
graph In the News; but he was going
to lend the cut to The Enquirer. Mr..
Dowd stands as the journalistic expo
nent of prohibition in Charlotte, and
was made the butt Of lots OF good ma
tured badinage on account OF his sur
roundings.
The dinner was splendid affair.
There was an abundance OF all man
ner Of good things on the tables spread
in the hotel piaZZas and everything was
splendidly prepared. In addition 10
this, everybody was hungry enough TO
eat sheaf oats and fodder. There were
no formalities beyond an urgent re-
quest to fall to-" and the request
crowd did the best it could to clean
up everything in sight; but was hardly
able to make an impression, even on
the fried chicken. Dinner lasted about
half an hour and after everybody. was
satisfied there was still enough for
hundred more hungry eaters.
At the conclusion Of the dinner, Mr..
E. w. Thompson, the retiring presi...
dent Of the association began to call
for speeches. Mr.. w. s. Lee respond.
ed in a very appropriate manner. but
Mr.. w. A. Leland, his able right hano;
the resident engineer had stepped
away He afterward claimed that he
had to make preparations to carry the
party to the lower works. Mr.. E. M.
Royal, his assistant recited a German |
piece with splendid effect, and each
of the newspaper men made a rev re.
marks under protest. The heartiest
good fellowship prevailed, and "every-
thing went"
After dinner the party crowded into
box cars the curves Of the track be-
ing too sharp for the passenger coach,
and went to the works that are In
progress below, where Rocky creek
comes into the river at the lower end
of the island Here there Is to be a |
plant that will develop from 10000 to
80, 900 horsepower. Operations are be-
ing pushed with great rapidity and al
though II is the largest undertaking
vet attempted, the outlook Is that 1t
will be completed in the shortest time.