Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-04-26
DISCUSS THE REPORT
Of PROF. S. NJ. SMITH
FINDINGS OF HYDRAULIC EN-
GINEER CONSIDERED.
Meeting of Joint Committees on
Judiciary and Streets and Bridg-
eS of City CounCil-TO Meet
Company Representatives ITO
night.

A meeting of the joint committees
on judiciary and streets and bridges of
the 10y co0ncl. was held at
the city building last evening to con-
slider and take such action as found
necessary upon the report of Prof. S.
NJ. Smith of Madison, an hydraulic
engineer, relative to his findings IN
determining the damages that might
accrue to the city in case of the
raising Rough and Ready dam three
feet, as requested by the Watertown
Gas and Electric company in bill No.
600 A, now before the state legislat
ure.
The matter as embodied in the re-
port of Prof. Smith were discussed a,
considerable length last evening, but
nothing definite was decided upon.
1t was decided to hold another meet
Ing this evening promptly at 7 O'Clock,
to which the officials of the Gas anC
Electric company and their legal
representatives will be invited.
Mr.. Smith, who is professor OF
of hydraulic surveying ut the
Wisconsin university, appears to
be an expert IN his line Fo1
some time ne was engaged in sur
veying undeveloped water powers
in Wisconsin and made a report to
the government on fifty.
In the survey he has made here, it
is claimed that the damages that would
accrue to the city would run up into
the thousands of dollars, fact that
is quite a contrast to the findings OF
two years ago, when it was considered
that $500 would be a handsome sum
in the way of reimbursement to the
city.
1t appears that the company surveys
from the crest of the proposed RAISED
dam, while the survey on the part OF
the city is to determine what the high
water mark would be and what the APP
proximate damage to the city would be.
Prof. Smith has also made a survey tc
determine that the damage would be
to private property, adjacent to that
of the city. but in his report he has
not gone into details. 1t seems tina
the company propose to keep the water
no higher than the high water mark
at the present time or what is supposed
to be the crest of the proposed dam.
In the report of Prof. Smith, it is
suggested that the company put In
slulce ways and that d bond be furnished
sufficient to hold the company liable
for all damages. He also suggests
that permanent monum ents be made
to determine how high the water
should be raised.
1t appears that the company asking
for the privilege to raise the dam
offers to install sluce ways and to
keep the water at a stage of the pre-
sent high water mark and no highe,
and TO make good to all property
owners. In case of disagreement, the
plan is to settle the matter in DISPUTE
by arbitration, the company to choose
one of board of three, the interested
property owner to choose one and the
two to choose the third.
As previously stated, the meeting OF
last night brought forth no results
uther than to discuss the various
phases Of the question. 1t is prob
able however, that the meeting to-
night will determine as TO what action
will be taken by the interested parties.
The hearing on the bill now before
the legislature has been adjourned
from time to time. 1t was to have
come up yesterday, but another ad-
journment to Tuesday. May 9th. The
hearing will be before the senate
committee.