The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-29
CITY DISCHARGES
COMMITTEE ON DAM
AT Special Meeting Last Eve
ming Council Drops
Matter.
REPORT OF ENGINEER
Points Out That There
WOULD Be Very Little, If
Amy, Danger.
REPORT OF ENGINEER

In special session, council last night
fguratively washed it's hands of
the Hawkins dam matter, when a mo-
ton to secure another consult
ing engineer was defeated and the
Investigating committee was dis
charged ON the motion of the
chairman, Councilman Will Bartel.
The report which was submitted to the
Starr Piano company by Professor
Robert l.. Sackett, a consulting engi-
neer of Purdue university, was care
fully studied by the members of coun-
Gil. Promoters of the Hawkins Lake
and Park project, were present at the
meeting and explained parts Of the re-
port.
After the reading of the report Coun-
Gilman Matt Won Pein stated that he
still believes another engineer is nee
essary. He said, Il want the dam to be
built but / believe that as a safeguard
We should secure another consulting
engineer. | admire the pluck of the
men who have gone into this PROPOSE
ton and are helping to finance it."
Ray Robinson, president of the Haw-
kins Lake and Park association stat
ed that in his behalf another engineer
is not necessary but that the promo
ters would not object if the city order
ed an engineer to make further exam
nation He claims that too many con-
sulting engineers would increase the
cost of the dam until it would be i'm
possible to build it. Each engineer"
he said, will add something to the
plans. 1t is doubtful If an engineer
would come here and say that Mr..
Mueller's plans are satisfactory. In
stead, they would think that we want
something added and in order to earn
the money they would recommend
something that would increase the
cost of construction. Engineer Mueller
has a right to demand of any engineer
which may be brought here, the rea-
son for any additions to the plans. He
should then make the engineer pro-
duce proof why changes which may be
recommended, should be made.
Motion Defeated.
Although Mayor Zimmerman asked
that council secure another engineer,
motion to the effect was defeated
by a vote Of to 4.
In part, Sackett's report is as fol-
lows:
The failure of this dam under con-
ditions Of high water would produce
a wave action due to the sudden re-
lease Of some 300 acre feet Of water.
The wave above normal high stage
at the Starr piano plant would prob
ably be from a foot to Is inches.
A reinforced concrete dam of this
type may fail by the whole structure
sliding forward, pushed by the water
pressure; by the dam or spillway over
turning; by the reinforced slabs, be-
tween pilasters, falling under either
excessive earth pressure from behind
or from water pressure; by seepage of
water underneath the dam or around
the ends undermining the structure.
No Danger of Sliding.
Taking the above points in order
after examining the plans, the site,
the work already done and the de-
sign. am of the opinion that there is
no danger of the dam or spillway slid
ing.
The spillway section is of such form
that it is impossible for it to over
run.
The analysis of the reinforced con-
crete slabs and buttressed walls has
not been completed but the design
seems entirely safe against those for
ces upon which we can count
Computations made for the flood
conditions shows that the size of the