The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-01-22


constructed a dam and also a Paper
Machine room which at that time was
one of the largest in the country. Al
ter this lie was President and Engin-
ecr In charge OF two dams, one 40 and
one 60 feet high. and two pulp mills
on the Saranac River near Platts-
burg, \. y.
At this time. hvdrocleetrie stations
were Just beginning 10 attract atten-
ton. and Mr.. Leonard was sent to
Mechanicsyille. \. Y where he con-
structed one of the first hYdro-elec-
trie plants constructed in the Eastern
part of the United States. This plant
proved very successful and attracted
the attention of some New York cap
italists who sent Mr. Leonard to
Porto Rico to investigate the POSSIBLE
tiles OF hydro-electric plant on the
Rio Plata River in the mountains
about thirty miles from san Juan.
After his return to the United states
Mr. Leonard had charge for the con
tractor of the construction OF the Bel
mont Filtration plant at Philadelphia.
an eight million dollar operation.
From Philadelphia Mr. leonard
went to Ellsworth. Maine whore he
made the survey and designed and
constructed a dam and power honse
for the Bar Harbor and Union Power
Company This dam was II feet
high and was the first high h3'.a"
concrete dam eyer constructed ed
nr0ecd very eucccesful Afer Hhe
Ellsworth plant was completed Ar
Leonard had charge Of the coHsfrae-
tion Of the Blue Earth Dam ~ Mn
ue#ata Tbis dam Waz notable e
being eighty feet high ard a having
been constructed on a compacted
sand foundation instead OF Ledge. In
Minnesota Mr. Leonard mo- Mr. W.
C.. Elliott. who is now Superrdend
ent of the work at Skowhegan and
who has been with Mr.. Leonard eyer
since the Minnesota work was com
pleted.
From Minnesota Mr. Leonard re
turned to Maine and designed and
constructed dam across the Penob-
scot River near Bangor and also a
power house. This work involved
several novel features which proved
very successful, among them was the
method of closing the temporary
openings left in the base of the dam
to pass the water during cOnstrnc-
ton. This was accomplished by
sliding heavy concrete slabs down
the face of the dam and over the
, opening Another feature which
proved very successful was an adjust
able crest on the dam, consisting OF
hinged nashboards operated from a
cable stretched across the river Just
| over the dam.
: On this work two of the largest
! gates for handling water ever used
: in New England we're used, these be
> ing thirfy-one feet long and thirteen
t feet high
. After the completion of the Bangor
/ work. Mr. Leonard went to Portland
: Maine. near which place at Hiram
! he also designed and constructed a
! hvdro-elcctric plant for the Cumber-
. land County Power and Light Com
pany This plant is very modern
r. and efficient installation and has eX-
I cited much favorable comment.
After the Hiram work was finished
Mr. Leonard became connected with
, The Central Maine Power Company
and assisted in tho design and con
> snnction of the Rice Ribs plant on
plant is notable as being very eiIlct-
the Messalonskee near Oakland This
, -pIodo w md uoaq 5u!ApQ sP puR luo
, ton in eight months after the work
was started. This remarkable re
=, cord was largely due to the Co-opera-
: ton of Mr.. Elliott.
, Early in his connection with the
Central Maine Power Company, Mr.
Leonard became impressed with the
desrablity of Skowhegan as the
most desirable site owned by the Com
panv for the construction OF large
power plant, and advocated this To-
!, cation from the first. Mr. Leonard
d, is at present in charge OF the new
work at Skowhegan with the title oil
Designing and Constructing Engi-
, neer.