The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-08-02
DAM WORK
IS BOOMING
Locomotives for Narrow
Gauge Road on Hand.
BLASTING AWAY LEDGE
Power House Win Be Located III
Hinsdale Despite Rumors to Con-
trary-Spur Track from Central
Vermont Will Be Constructed Soon.

Things have been "booming" at
the Connecticut river dam site this
week in more than one sense. Not
only has a considerable amount of
blasting been done but the various
other work has progressed rapidly,
giving the place a more industrious
appearance than ever. About $50 men
are now employed "on the job" and
this number will be increased from
week to week as the project progresses.
The narrow gauge track which is to
encircle the base of the bluff on the
east side of the river is being laid
rapidly and two small locomotives OF
about eight tons each are ready to be
placed on the iron as soon as they
can be used. This railroad will be
used to help remove the earth from
the bluff, which will be entirely cut
away to make room for the east end
of the spillway. Twelve Scranton
scrapers are at work removing the
earth from the top of the bluff and
large force of Italians is making a
hole in the western extremity, cart
ing the earth away in wheelbarrows.
The earth on the rocks north of the
bluff is being removed by means of
stream of water from rotary pump.
The water is pumped to the top OF
the rocks and a force of men throw
earth into the stream as it makes its
way back to the river.
The stone-crushing plant is nearing
completion and will be in operation
within short time. The first crib
of the Golfer dam is almost complete.
1t extends from the New Hampshire
shore to the ledge of rocks in the
middle of the river and is construct
ed of heavy timbers weighted with
rocks and sand bags. A second crib
will be constructed parallel to the
first about 300 feet farther down the
river and third crib will connect
the two in mid-stream. A water tight
planking will be laid on the inside OF
this enclosure and the water will then
be pumped out preparatory to begin
ming the actual work on the dam IT.
self. Mr.. Parks, who has charge OF
the coffer-dam work, makes his head
Quarters at Hotel Ashuelot in Hins-
dale.
A force of men has been at work
during the week clearing the channel
west of the ledge to which the Golfer
dam is built from the eastern bank.
The blasting of the rocks with dyna'
mite in midstream made an attractive
sight, throwing water to various
| heights. This work is not a part OF
I the dam construction but to accom-
modate the annual log drive which IS
now under way. Considerable blast
ing has also been done on the ledge
on the New Hampshire shore where
three steam drills are busily engaged
in boring holes. The rock dislodged
at this point is being used to fill the
coffer-dam. The survey for the spur
track which is to be built from the
main line of the Central Vermont
road has been completed, and it is
probable that work on this track Will
begin within very short time. Most
of the machinery and supplies will
then come by the way of Vernon in
stead of Hinsdale.
Hinsdale people have been some
what agitated about the location OF
the power station, rumor having
been in circulation that it would be
in Vermont. The Almighty has pro-
tected the Hinsdale people in this par
ticular however, as it would be an
impossibility to locate the power
house anywhere except in New Hamp-
shire unless the contractors were
able to make the river flow up hill.
AS has been stated previously the
house will be located on top of the
dam from the west shore of the river
to the ledge in the center. Entrance
to the power house will be from the
Vermont side but it will be in New
Hampshire lust the same.