Connecticut western news., 1919-10-23
ASSOCIATION
 INSECTS BIG DAM
Governor Holcomb Urges the Harhessing of All
 Rivers

IHS QudEIeTly mteIluR OI the SLAkE editorial association which was to be held at New Haven this month, waz changed in order to take advantage of the invitation of J. Henry Rora- back, vice-president of the Conn Light and Power Go. to inspect the new dam and power house nearing completion at Stevenson. THse meeting, or rather outing, was one of the most enjoyable and interest ing the association has ever held. With headquarters at the Hotel Clarke, Derby, the editors and news paper men to the number of nearly one hundred were transported by automobiles seven miles up the Hou- satonic river to the site of the com pany's operations. Here an excel lent dinner was served in one of the large mess halls consisting of soup, celery, white and sweet potatoes, roast stuffed chicken, pumpkin pie and coffee. 1t was stated that this was a sample of the fare which the men employed at the dam had re- ceived during the past two years.
 Governor Holcomb was called upon for remarks and was greeted by applause which lasted fully minute as all at the tables rose to their feet. The governor expressed the belief that the entire state would benefit by the mammoth dam and power station nearing completion ''It is a splendid and courageous enterprise" he said, ''to utilize the latent power of this river, and I hope the day will come when the Conneo- ticut River is put to greater use, aa we'll as other rivers of the state"
 Connecticut should make greater use of her natural resources, he urged. While it was true that the builders of the gigantic project at Stevenson initiated 1t as a business proposition, said the executive, they were incidentally conserving huge quantities of coal for the rest of the state, by generating electricity by water power, relieving no small amount of railroad congestion by coal car traffic and ultimately bring ing down the cost of electricity. 'T have followed the progress of this great structure since it's beginning at bed rock" he said, ."and have come to look upon it as great public good"
 Mir. Roraback was called upon for a, speech, but due to the fact that the time was so limited, he requested ehat no time be lost in repairing to tha dam, where under the personal su--l pervision of H. J. Hoard, the engtn-s eer in charge, the dam was viewed and the power house inspected from wheel pit to the roof.
 Everything possible was done by Messrs. Rorabaek and Hoard together with several assistants to fully ex- plain the many interesting features and undoubtedly answer many ques- tions that to a technical person win seem ridiculous.
 1 The Stevenson Dam, which is being built by the J. A. P. Crisfield Con tracting Company of Philadelphia between Oxford and Monroe is about seven miles above Derby. The pro- ject is one of the largest ever as- tempted in the eastern states and ths dam itself is one of the largest in New England. The engineering work is under the direction of H. l. Hoard, and c. W. Blakeslee and Sons are sub-contractors.
 Preliminary work was started in August, 1917, and excavating was begun in the fall of 1917. Six miles of railroad trackage for the com pany's sole use had to be eonsl~usted, three bridges spanning the river were built, one of which is still standing.
 The foundations for the entire dam and power house are on bed rock. Prem the deepest part of the foan la tion to the crest of the dam meas ures 125 feet. From one bank to the other across the dam measures about 1, 200 feet, almost a quarter-miie. The dam is eighty-one feet wide at its base and tapers to the crest which is flat curve about fifteen feet in width.
 On top of the dam, twenty feet above the structure, concrete high- way bridge is being constructed, hav- ing a twenty-three foot roadway and supported from the crest of the dam on large piers. This highway bridge will connect the new road from Stevenson station with the relocated highway on the easterly side of the dam leading southerly to Derby and easterly to Waterbury. 1t has been accepted by New Haven and FafR- field counties in lieu of Zoar's and Bennett's bridges, which are to be abandoned.
 A trip over the country that is to be inundated was made in automo-. piles which gave an excellent idea of the size of the great lake which will be created when the gates of the dam are closed. Another feature that was brought most forcibly to mind on this trip, was the question able value of the highway travelled