The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1909-12-17

SUCCESSFUL
Test Made Of the Unique
Splash Dam
Just Completed Near the Breaks Of
Sandy. Largest Splash Dam
Ever Built.

The formal test OF the big splash
dam on the Russell fork of the Big
Sandy has been made. and 1t Is
pronounced grand success. The
dam is just below the mouth Of
Pound river. about II miles south
81 Eikhorn City. the present termi-
nus OF the Big Sand division OF
the O., a o. railway and about two
miles above the canyon OF the Cum
berland known as the Breaks Of
Sandy" S>The dam was designed BY
John McDyer. Of Ashland In latter
years, but whc was born and rails
ed" in this county. and II was con-
structed under his Immediate super
vision. The work will be an en-
during monument TO Mr.. McDyer's
skin and ability as an engineer. n
From q recent letter to the Ash
land Independent the NEWS re-
prints some very interesting details
regarding the dam. with an account
OF the formal test just made.
The dam Is the largest splash"
dam OF which there is any history,
having two hundred feet Of water
way. II Is the only dam OF It's
kind in the world. being built who'll
" OF concrete and steel, except the
gates. which are OF steel and wood
There was used as reinforcing one
hundred and thirty-five thousand
pounds of steel members ranging
from one and one-half TO five inch
es we're set from eighteen to forty
eight inches in solid rock TO secure
the foundation. The concrete rests
from two 20 five and one-half feet
iIi the bed rock. There is station
ary dam, five feet high, above the
mean bed OF the river, and on this
rest the gates and in this dam is
fixed five piers forty feet apart and
twenty feet above the fixed dam.
There is "nose" on the piers sim
liar to that ON bridge piers, and on
the down-riyef end Is stairway,
some four icet vide. built in the
masonry. There are i've gates, each
forty feet wide These gates, which
are twenty feet hign above the tor
sill, or twenty-five feet above the
bed OF the river, are so constructed
that they can be extended to twenty
nine feet.
This dana viii be manipulated by
steam trolley or traveller. !"
Area covered by water at full head,
81 acres. Storage capacity OF water
a,549. 500, ,0G0. Storage capacity for
logs, $1,000 mill" logs Strain on
dam at fun head, b22,OOO pounds.
Amount of cement used, 1900, 900.
Total weight OF concrete, 16,230,O00
pounds.
II has reuaned nine months to
complete the work OF construction.
sam Collier q Co., Of Paintsville,
were the %ontractors. The cement
for this work was placed by Ash
land people. the Ohio Valley dill &
Supply Company being the s:,ecess-
ful agents.
Testing the Dam.
The day was ideal--weather
made to or6er the crowd large
and spectacular. The officials of the
great lumoer. company having this
dam built, led by Leon Isaacson,
were on hands early All morning
force OF men were kept busy per-
fectIng arrangements for the test.
Wires we're stretched, batteries
tested, lines and cables manipulated,
gand eyeTy precaution taken to pro-
tectj the. crowd, that had gathered,
from auldanger. "All ready" shout
ed oryille Cure. the man in charge.
The bridge was cleared and pho
togranhers in position. AT 1l:55 the
electric shot was fired that released
tne 1ye massive gates. Ail opened
simultaneously, turning loose wall
Aof water sixteen feet and two inches
\ high this pool Of innocent looking
gwater. as clear as crystal, gentle as
lia mooRbeam, silent as the midnight
IA hernveyard on the bosom of which
N rested thousands Of fine poplar logs.
III Tue twmkiing OF an eye this pure,
Harmless pool was turned into a
naddened cataract. The logs borne
N It's bosom came laundering
through the gases, bounding. leap
ng. turning and thrusting at each