The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-10

Construction Of Dam Across Connecticut
at Brattleboro.

at Brattleboro.
Brattleboro, March 1o.-The construc-
tion Of big dam across the Connecticut
here l. now web under way, with the ex-
pectation of turning the waters Of New
highlands greatest river into New Eng
lands biggest electric plant, to di4trib-
rte electric power within a wide radius,
Including parts of three states.
While otner places IN the four states
which touch upon it, course have made
much use OF tie Connecticut rivers
great power, the waters have been al.
lowed to pass this point unchecked. The
power here Is believed to be the largest
undeveloped water power in New Eng
land, larger, it Is claimed, than that at
such manufacturing eenters as Man.
chester, N, I'll, Lawrence and Lowell,
Mass, and Lewiston, he. Now that the
plan to utilize the power has material
lied the work Il being rushed to com
pletion BY a force Of $50 men working
cry and night
The cost Of the dam win be more than
million dollars. Its situation Is five
miles south Of this village, abutting on
the Vermont side to the town Of Vernon
and to Ainsdale on the New Hampshire
side. AT this point the ntuFal condi
tions are remarkably favorable far the
work. In the middle of the river viii be
thirty foot log way to take care Of
the annual log drive.
The dam il being built al concrete and
Is Of type known among contractors
as the "agee dam" the up stream wall
being exactly perpendicular II is a
cavity dam, although IN no way le
pendent upon the weight of water for
IL stability The foundation Is 81 solid
rock from shore 70 shore. AMI at only
one point does il he at A great depth At
that point the dam viii be 6s feet high
a1sl about 90 feet wide at the base Ten
By sIuice gates, the sills Of which
viii be ten feet below the water line,
will provide for the escape of water in
the case Of threatening foods.
From the New Hampshire shore the
dam win extend inland 500 feet The
New Hampshire end Of the dam il on
what is known as Coopsr's point About
200 yards of this hlAtf have been re
moved and about $4,000 more viii ~
taken away gradually as the sand is
needed 70 mix with tie concrete The
rock excavation will am0aHt to $1,000
yards. This is being crushed and used
In the concrete About 10000 yards
cf concrete win be required in TIE con
struction Of the dam
The electric power here Developed will
IL 1890 horse power, and tile rignts AZ
the French King rapids. fourteen miles
south Of the present site. have been ac-
QuiYed. where an auxiliary dam viii be
constructed ii petition for charter,
now before the Massachusetts, legisla
ture, Is granted This w0uld materially
increase the available power
While i IS expected that toe new
plant viii benefit mainly the towns Of
RrattiehoFo ana Vernon. vs., Hinsaale,
IN. r.. and Nofthfeld. Mass, note dis
tant points. are also included within the
marketable radius At fifty Or sixtv miles
Within this circle of industry would he
Adams. North Adams Psttsfle'd, Spring
field. Worcester and Fitehburg, Mass
and Nashua ani Manchester. y. r.
Statistics snow thaf within that ra-
dius at least 150nHa horse power j row
generated IS coal II Is expected taat
Iitehburg viii he one 81 the main cen
tiers II distribution for tie new power
The height Of the dam, including 4
fashhoarGs. wiil be "a feet. The power
house. whiea will b built 0f solid ma
sonry, VIII extend from the Vermont
shore $50 feet out into the river. becom-
rig q part 81 the dam itseis Beyond
toe power house VIII Be a sriIlwag 600
feet long. making an $50 foot aam The
s6utmentS VIII run aisganally. 50 that
TIE high water line VIII BE one Of about
81 sven 4aa feet.
The dam viii form 8 pard fAsving
fron 500 feet % q mile IN width and
several mikes N ierztn. giving 8 total
zsezare Of go. Q1o.G10 eabie fest The
drainage ara4 s $500 SQUARE miles The
gster win - back n & pgirt s5me dis
tsaee north g tins town. aHor1ing OPP
r.srtanity for the use of motor trzts and
ether craft.
ne owners n the dana are men eon-
-sisutinr tie g1n1ectisss River Poser
sa7ananv. 81 shieh Heafs Z hasrimsn 81
Boston s. ths general nssuzerr
TIE sfcsrs 81 ttf ooazn4ny are as fpl-
5ses. Prfsizsat. Fraak $ Sfrsessr Z
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