The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-02-03
.DYNAMITERS BLOW
COLD Spring dam
TROUBLE BETWEEN OWNERS
AND FARMERS EXTENDS
OVER LONG PERIOD
TOWN IS LEFT in DARKNESS
COMPANY OFFERS REWARD OF
$2OOO-CULPRITS STILL
AT LARGE

A county and state wide search is
being made this week by the Sheriff
department at st. Cloud to appre-
bend the person or persons respon-
sible for the dynamiting of the Cold
Spring dam last Saturday night.
Members of the Sank Centre po-
lice force and local deputies. are all
on the lookout for information
which may lead to the arrest of the
dynamiters for whom a reward of
$4,000 has been offered by the Rock
vile Granite Company owners of the
dam.
In official circles the opinion pre-
dominates that the dynamiting was
the out-growth of numerous legal
battles which have conferred around
the property for many years.
With the blowing out of the dam
and the disabling of the power plant
connected with it the village of Cold
Spring and all territory connected
with the plant was thrown into dark
ness. Arrangements have been made
by the Rockville Company to con-
meet with the high tension lines OF
the St. Cloud Power company until
the damage to their property can be
repaired.
The st. Cloud Journal-Press gave
the following story of the dynamiting
of the dam:
ssWith a blast of dynamite disturb
ing the stiffness of the night the citi-
zens of Cold Spring were reminded
at 1880 o'clock yesterday morning
that they had not yet won a COM
plete victory for the retention of the
now famous Cold Spring dam which
has been a subject for court deliber-
ations for the past quarter OF CEN
fury.
Aroused from their sleep at that
early hour the citizens took only
slight notice of the heavy explosion
but when the village awoke again
several hours later the news was
spread that an attempt had been
made to destroy the dam with a
charge of dynamite and that the ma
rauders had partially succeeded IN
their efforts insofar as they wrecked
the power station constructed at the
dam by the Rockville Granite COM
pany, newly organized concern
which has been producing market
able product since January l.
at was evident that two loads OF
dynamite had been placed and that
only one succeeded in doing its de-
signed damage. A charge placed IN
the spillway did little damage to the
dam. The other charge was placed
on the floor of the turbine pits,
completely wrecked the pits, demol-
ished the largest Of three turbines,
partly destroyed another and twisted
the power shaft. The damage is es-
minated conservatively at $l5,OOO.
"The foo: of the turbine pit is
about eight feet below the surface
of the water. The water had been
shut off by the gates and the turbines
were idle over Sunday night. The
dynamite placed on the floor OF the
turbine pit evidently blew the floor
downward and carried the larger
turbine with it. This turbine was
capable of developing 100 horse pow
er. The other turbines were capable
of developing so horse power each.
ssThe dam was only slightly dam
aged according to statement made
by John Alexander secretary OF the
Rockville Granite company, Monday
morning. Concrete retaining walls
on the side and to the back of the
turbine pits and concrete walls be-
tween the turbines were cracked.
Water rushed through the crevices
and through the damaged gates OF
the dam in unusual volume and ear
ly yesterday forenoon was notceable
as far downstream as Rockville.
"a reward of $4,000 has been Of
fered by the Rockville Granite Co.,
owners, of the destroyed property,
for any information leading to the
arrest Of the persons responsible for
the damage. 1t was stated that two
automobiles were involved, but the
gal battle for after the blast but the
occupants of the car are not known.
II is believed the people responsible
are men who were involved in the le-
gal battle for the removal of the
dam"
MIISKRAT BAN LIFTED