The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17

WAS A GREAT UNDERTAKING
Especial to Tho rlmes- Dispatch. j

Especial to The Times Dispntch.l
LYNClIBURG, VA, February 16.-
The city of Lynchburg has completed
a magnificent concrete block dam |
across Pedlar River, In the northern
part OF Amherst county, about twenty
TWO miles from the city, which is plan
ned to yield daily about 100000 gal
Ions Of water. The dam has a straight
axis. and IL about 400 or 500 feet long
on the crest, and has maximum
height of about seNenty-fvc feet. 1t
has n spillway $50 feet long, and about
eight or ten feet below the crest, which
has granite steps from four to 6 feet
apart vertically, and Is about forty
nine'feet wide a base; maximum width
q OF crest twelve feet.
1t was thought possible that a flow
over the spillway would attain depth
or six feet In extreme flood. which
would tend to produce a vacuum under
the falling water; provision was made
to prevent unbalanced atmospheric
pressure. which, under extreme flood
conditions, would add tons per. running
foot OF dam to the water pressure.
This is relieved by the introduction OF
Il horizontal six-inch Pipe running
of each step both ends of which are
open and project beyond face of wing
walls, and outlets arc made from the
lypipe in the face Of the masonry. This
provision is regarded by tho engineers
as especially desirable on account of
tho height of overtlow--ststy feet
which Is among the highest set con-
3 structed.
The top surface Of the spilway steps
and the crest of the dam are made OF
tough blue granite.
The spillway steps are made OF rock
face stones, twenty to thirty inches
thick and five to seven feet long, the
beds being about the depth OF the
Atone. The stones project into the con-
crete to form q strong bond. and are
laid with one-inch joints. The stones
In the crest are two and q half feet
thick. and are bound together with
abont one-inch twisted steel pins.
On south end OF dam Is beautiful
gate house. about eighteen by thirty
feet, made integral with dam masonry.
and liz built above the top Of the dam
with granite walls and metal roof. The
construction of the dam required to-
tai excavation OF $500 cubic yards rock
and about $500 cubic yards of dirt,
and the structure will take about $500
yards concrete, 500 yards cut stone. and
ten or twelve tons OF twisted steel
The latter for reinforcements in certain
places. According to the engineers re-
port Pedlar River (across which dam
is built) has minimum flow of Gbout
1000, 600 gallons per day. the channel
being about twenty-five feet wide and
two feet deep. The sand used on the
work was dug from the bottom OF the
reservoir about one-half mile above
the dam The sand contained about 20
per cent. OF clay, .oam and vegetable
matter. 1t was washed, and this
amount was reduced to about per
cent, thus furnishing a clean sand
for mortar. The washed sand was
then shoveled by hand into wagons
and hauled by teams sthrec-quarters OF
u mile to storage bins.
Tho cut stone used in the construc.
ton OF the dam was secured about
two miles above the dam, and wa:
hauled about one mile in wagons, from
which it was transferred 10 flat-car.
on n tram-way.
Up Mountain and Down.
Cement was delivered by railroad a
Buena VISTA Va. and hnrleu by
steam tram-wny to within about one
half mile OF the top OF Blue Ridg
lnountains, where storage was pro
vided for several carloads. From thi
point 1t was hauled as. fast as re
ceived in wagons drawn by two to 81,
horses or mules to the top OF tn
mountains, and thence FIVE miles dow
the mountains, descending about 1870
feet to the dam. This was a very OK
penslve part OF the work. the ron
being very rough, both wagons an
teams gave out after comparativel
short service. considerable nun
Der of horses and mules have been los
70 "A +
thirty carloads Of cement was ker
stored at the dam, this being abou
two weeks supply. The buskets ar
handled and emptied into the concret
forms by boom derrlcks, which al
fastened to crib work twenty fec
above the track. Tho derrlcks are rie
ged with wire guys and tackles, an
are operated with hosting engine
The shape and dimensions Of the COZ
crete form is determined by the res
dent engineer. Mr.. p, B, Winfrec, wi
locates them so that each form sha
set at least six days before any az
jacent form is made. The ayeraE
size of a form Is about fifty cub
yards. 1t being required that no for
must be larger than can be con
X pleted ON the day in which it is cor
menced. In getting foundation 4
the dam the efflcavatlon was carried
# sound rock, and its surface was drcsse
cleaned and washed as carefully 4
possible. Rough quarry stones weig
ing from $50 to G,000 pounds, We're 10,
n cred into the concrete forms. and viii
suspended were thoroughly washed
a hose. AS much Of this class of sto
was used as possible IN order
strengthen the work and cheaper t
4 cost Work was begun In July. 1Ol
The contract price OF tho dam alo
was 100000 The dam was design
by Mr.. James Fl. INuertes consulti
engineer OF New York; Chief Engine
ADJ Harry IT, shaner. of Lynchburg, a
Mr.. r. b. Yinfree, resident engine
of dam and pipe-llne Chauncey
Williams, ESD. of New York. Is t
contractor The work was thorough
inspected from start to finish by re