The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-04-03
TURNER'S FALLS CO.
is NOW AGREEABLE
Changes in Bill Incorporating French
King Rapids Power Co. Meet With
the Approval Of Hostile Inter.
Differences Settled.

Counsel for the petitioners 20 ineorpor'
ate as the French King Rapids Power
company aud to construct dam across
the Connecticut river at gill appeared
Tuesday morning before the legislative
committee on public lighting Of the Massa'
chusetts legislature with a wdnit Of a
bill. which has received the Endorsement
of the Turner'S Falls Power company, and
meets all the objections 10 the construo
tion Of the proposed dam at French King
rapids expressed hy the Turner'S BALLS
company at the hearings ON the bill
week or two ago.
Under The new bill. the dam at French
King NAV not he commenced without the
approval of the harbors and land commits
sion. and the act further provides that
the crest Of the dam Is not more than y
feet above the normal elevation Of the
water at the place where II Is erected, and
such approval may not be given unless
the dam j. 50 constructed that at all times
al high water its spillway may be lowered
10 an elevation of not more than four feet
above such normal elevation.
The dam which the proposed French
King company proposes TO erect at TINS
point is OF the so-callcd collapsible type,
a type OF dam which permits the raising
and lowering Of the crest OF the structure;
and is comparatively new IN the United
States, The clause relative 10 the APP
proyal OF the harbors and land commission
l. inserted TO prevent the erection OF a
dam, under the act. which shall not be
entirely practicable and efficient for the
purpose Tor which il is designed.
Another clause provides that the new
dam shall be so operated that substan.
tally the same amount of water shall
flow down the stream as would have
flowed down had the new dam not been
built and that the new dam shall be so
operated that the same amount OF water
that flows into the mill pond OF the
French King dam in each period OF ~
hours shall flow into the millpond above
the Turner's Falls company. ANY, lrregu'
larity OF flow shall not be- deemed yio.
lation of this clause, however providing
the millpond above the Turner'S Falls
companv during such irregularity is sub
stantally full TO the height of the pres.
cnt dam or to heights otherwise provided
for. This clause further provides that
failure so to regulate the flow OF the wa
ter at the French King dam shall render
the French King company liable to the
Turner's Falls company for damages to he
recovered in an action OF tort and that the
superior court shall have jurisdiction IN
equity on the petition OF the Turner's Falls
company to enforce these provisions.
The last additional clause provides that
the Turner's Falls company shall have the
right to raise the crest OF its present dam
at Turner's Falls or to build new dam
70 n height OF two feet above the present
crest of its dam, or by the use OF flash
boards on its present dam or new struc.
ture at this point to raise the height OF
the water three feet and six inches. The
Turner's Falls company is not held liable
for any damage caused to the French
King property by such an increase IN
height of its dam.
Under this bill it is conceded by the
Turner's Falls company that the new dam
NAV be an advantage To the company, as
il will equaize the flow OF the water,
which would otherwise be made irregular
BY the construction OF dam by the same
interests at Nernon-now about nan com
pleted-to be run only during the day
time.
The companv is authorized to convert
the power at the French King dam INTO
electricity and to transmit. sell and dis
tribute the same in the towns OF Gill,
Mortified and Erving and in any cities or
towns in Worcester county under certain
prescribed restrictions. The company may
furnish in this prescribed locality cleo
tricity for mechanical, manufacturing,
railroad or railway purposes, and IN the
county of Worcester to municipalities and
companies now or herafter. engaged in
the business of furnishing electricity Tor
light, heat or power. electricity for use or
sale for any purpose In the cities OF
Fitchburg and Worcester and in the towns
of Leominster and Clinton, however; 1t Is
provided that this company shall sell
electricity to no other purchaser, with the
exception of railroads or railways, tor any
purpose, in quantities which shall average
less than 300 horsepower, during the time
of operation.