Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-09

FTER FAILURE, FROM EAST BANK
Ms Service for Engineering News
chat they oaeht to do something to
make their structure more respectable
is shown by the fact that they did asI
the advice Of Mr.. Hatten. the original
designer. as t. what repairs should tie
made. fhe facts concerning this af,-
given IN the Following telegram from
Mr. HItt1n T. response TO our request
for statement from him:
Tie account 81 the Austin dam
failure a published in Issue of Engf-
nee@ing News ot March, 1910. contains
all The information have up to the
account 81 yesterdays Terrible disaster
except that Mr.. = WeelnaGa. Consult
ing E.ngIaeer OF New York eity joined
me - recommending method e rein
forcing the dam The plans and
recommendation We're submitted in
February 1917. since which date have
had no further connection with tie
dam and 90 not know what measures
We're taken Ia reinforce H.
Tie PLAZA 81 strengthening proposed
by sir Hattoa WAS to sink q trench
and build cutoff wal! above the dam
% stop TIE water pereolating beneath
It and 10 reinforce the downstream
face IN prevent further movement. w
reproduce here q cross section made
by 4f. Aegmann Il the time. showing
a proposal to reinforce the dam by
dumping heavy rock I'll on the down
stream face as Il means ef satisfying
the desire OF the owners ia Keep the
cost q repairs Love.
L Is to be especially noted that Nr
Neglnann was not asked to visit the
Gam site ard view the condition on the
SPOT. ia fact. ha was not employed by
he owners Of the dam at all, as We are
Informed. but by Mr.. Hatton himself.
He merely gave such general advice as
Was possible under such conditions.
Advice Unheeded.
1t IS 4 year and nine months since
AIr Hatton's recommendations for
strengthening the structure were sub
mitted, and the communications have
never been carried out. The COM
pany's view Of the matter is given IN
the statement of its president, Mr. G.
. Bayess oI Binghamton. y. Y. as
+ October 3.
+ Mr.. Hatton's recommendations were
made vim the idea Of making repairs
ITO the dam So that the water could be
Increased 10 a depth of 80 feet. or so
that II it ever became necessary to ill
1t up the construction would stand the
pressure. While we did not need az
1eet Of water we had thought well to
provide fer it IN case OF emergency.
TINS Improvement was made by
blasting cut and removing a portion Of
tAe spiIlWay. which was done in a
manner to insure perfect safety. While
certain repairs were made for the pur-
pose #e never attempted to carry 50
feet Of water in the incIosure
We did not need that amount Of
water Ordinarily we carried about
10 feet. which was sufficient to furnish
3 us needed power
We are going to detail expert engi-
nccrs to the scene at once, who will
: maEe Il scientific investigation. I be-
llrve that viii he the best way in
d which 10 ascertain Just what did cause
the wall To break.
IN The summer time. during dry sea-
sons, we kept man OF the gate con-
. s'ahuE to regulate the amount of
water ana keep it al height that was
necessary. This man was not sta
toned there at the time Of the acct
dent as II was past the time that lie
lad usually been employed in that ca
pacity and it was not thought neces-
sarY TO have him remain there.
II il almost needless to say that this
i the sort Of explanation which does
not explain The blasting of IA chunk
i, cut II the crest of the dam on the west
bank was done as related above, dur
ing the panic at the time of the origi-
, nal failure in January 1910. So far
, as 'insurinG perfect safety is con-
, cerned.' this old break was partially
{ built mp with concrete. and the forms
. were in place for completion, so that
there was no escape for the water
through this alleged safety-valve.
As Tor the man who was stationed at
gate during dry weather ito regulate
the amount OF water" whatever this
may mean, ii had nothing to do with
safeguarding the structure against an
excessive head. A man employed for
such a purpose would be on the job in
rainy weather ana have nothing to do
in summer droughts.
In the following article the facts
gathered during a visit 10 the wrecked
dam BY a member Of our editorial
STAFF immedi4telg after the disaster are
recorded. Engineering News