Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-11-10
Water Gaps.

The fencing of branches and creeks
than run through farms has always
been, and I suppose always will be, a
vexing Question for the farmer to
meet. He wants gate or gap that Is
inexpensive, strong and lasting When
we think of the damage done nearly
every year to bridges and water gaps
by high water we see the necessity Of
studying this question very closely.
Three points must be taken into con-
sideration in the construction of wat
er gaps, namely, that after the water
gets to certain height it will either
go over, around or under the obstruc-
ton in its way. We must so arrange
them that there will be as little as
possible in the way of the water to
check it; also taking into considera-
ton the fact that during times of high
water a great amount of driftwood
and other trash will be carried down
by the water to dam up and overflow
your field above
I will give way that has been
tried successfully in this locality to
meet the water gap question. For the
smaller streams a post is set on each
side of the stream in line with the
fence. These posts should be placed
deep in the ground, when the water
is low. They need be no more than
| ten or twelve inches in diameter. Dig
| the hole some three feet in diameter
and fill in around the post with con-
crete. Take the bark off the post so
| the concrete will adhere to it. Bore
| two holes through each post, one near
| top and the other near the bottom.
Take an eye made of iron, with one
| end bent to make an eye that will
take an inch rod and the other end
cut screw for tap; place one of these
| in each hole and screw up tightly.
the upper end; just supposing your
two posts are twenty-four feet apart
take fourteen-foot rails or poles and
bore an inch hole in the upper eye,
then through the holes in the rails,
using washer made of short blocks
of wood next to each rail to hold
them the proper distance apart. Now
|
is necessary for the two eyes to be
far enough from. the post that the
ends of the rails will not strike the
post and keep them from swinging,
the other side being fixed in a similar
manner. The loose ends are laid to-
gether like rail fence, being placed
down stream. During a time of high
water the rails will be pushed down
stream and around against each bank,
allowing the water to pass through;
after the water goes down sufficiently
lay up the rails and your gap is as
good as ever.
For larger streams another form of
gap is sometimes used. Take two
logs, the first one place in ditch or
trench that has been dug across the
bottom of the stream; the ends of this
log should extend into the bank on
each side. Place the other log six OF
eight feet below the first and twelve
!, or fifteen inches higher than it. This
log should extend we'll into the banks
, since it does not touch the ground
except at the ends. A post set or
, each side of the stream just below
J, this log will help to hold it in posi-
) ton. Spike poles on these logs about
three inches apart, the upper end!
extending into the bottom of tn,
} creek far enough so that no drift cal
: catch on them. Be careful not to ge
J, the lower end too high or. it will
: catch the drift wood.-The Indian,
: Farmer.