Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-17
To BEGIN JULY |
0NC0NCRETE DAMS
TEN OUTSIDE AND ONE LOCAL
FIRM MAKES ESTIMATES ON
CONSTRUCTION.
WILL DECIDE TUESDAY
Bids to be Opened by Commissioners
Tomorrow-Dams Designed by
Supt. n. e. Brown Of the
WaterWorks.

Only one local firm of contractors
has entered into the bidding for the
construction of the new concrete dams
at Turkey Island. 1t was hoped that
more local concerns would make esti-
mates, but most of them considered
the undertaking too big. Bids have
been received from ten outside firms.
The commissioners will open the bids
Tuesday, and will decide to which firm
the contract will be awarded. The est1-
mates include all necessary prepare.
tory work, building complete the two
new dams, and furnishing and install
ing all necessary electrical equipment
and machinery for generating electric
al current capable of producing ATS
horse power.
The entire issue Of bonds was
bought by Mccoy & Co., of Chicago,
who offered bonus of S. 10, and who
will furnish blank bonds free for five
per cent bond. The bonds are to be
dated June /, 1914, and will extend
over a period of eleven years.
Work on the dams will be started
about July 1, or as soon before that
date as the river returns to a normal
stage after the spring high water
Superintendent Brown of the water
works stated that the engineers should
have no difficulty in finishing both
dams this year, providing they are not
hampered by severe or unusual wealth
er conditions. The pow r generating
machinery will be installed and ready
for operation by the time the present
street lighting contract expires, March
Is, 1915. ~,
The dams were designed and blue
prints have been drawn by Superin-
tendent Brown. Each of the two struc-
lures will be 351Ha feet long between
the abutments. The present abut-
ments are in good condition and will
be used: the rest of the construction
will be new throughout
The dams are to be of solid concrete
and will rest on a firm rock founda-
ton. The crests will be the same
height as the present wooden dams,
eleven feet from the foundation, or
about nine feet above the low water
level below the dam.
Will Have Fishway.
To comply with the state law which
requires a fshway in all dams on the
states streams, a passage will be con-
structed at the island end of the east
dam through which the fish may pass.
The fishway will be four feet wide,
covered, and with both ends necessar-
lily under water. 1t will contain six
compartments, which will at all times
be filled with water, enabling the fish
to work their way up gradually, with
opportunity to rest in each of the six
rooms.
Adjoining the flshway sluiceway
will be constructed, an opening six feet
in width. The purpose of the sliuce-
way is to control the water level above
the dam and also to allow such debris
as may collect above to pass through
the dam and on down the stream. The
opening will be regulated with slid
ing gate, which may be raised or low
cred by means of wheels on a plat
form above. The fishway and sluice-
way will be the only openings in the
east dam, and there will be none at
all in the west dam.
The commissioners are negotiating
with the Ottumwa Railway & Light
Co for the, purchase Of the street
lighting system, consisting of wires,
poles and lamps. The Railway &
Light Co., have also offered to pur-
chase the surplus power. Since the
power used to light the city at night
will be available for other purposes
through the day, this will be an item
of considerable revenue to the city.