USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1876 > Part 29
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The quantity of metered water consumed, including waste and leakage, is as follows :-
From October, 1875, to April, 1876,
April, 1876, to October, 1876,
102,404,676 gallons, 120,051,928 66
METERS.
During the year six hundred and fifteen (615) meters have been placed on the works, making at the present time in use twenty hundred and ninety; the sizes and kinds of which are as follows :-
§ in.
¿ in.
1 in.
1} in.
2 in.
3 in.
4 in.
Union,
1,257
286
54
9
23
1
-
Desper (new),
364
32
2
-
-
-
Gem,
16
-
1
1
1
3
Worthington,
1
2
-
-
Desper (old),
37
-
-
-
-
.
Great progress has been made the past year in the introduc- tion of meters, and consumers pay their assessments more cheer- fully by meter rates than otherwise. The fact that readings are taken monthly, serves as a regulator, and unusual quantities of water registered are accounted for generally to the satisfaction of the taker. A short experience is often necessary to convince persons that a careless use of water increases the amount of their bills, and simply placing a meter on a service pipe with fixtures in poor condition does not always decrease the bill. If the disagreeable result should occur from defective water pipes, which would ensue from gas fixtures in a similar state, the waste of water would be limited, complaints of large bills less frequent, and the accuracy of meters not so frequently questioned.
401
REPORT OF WATER REGISTRAR.
WATER RATES.
One of the many unpleasant things in connection with the Water Office is the failure to satisfy all takers that their assess- ments are just. The rates are established, and a party must pay accordingly, whether a quart or barrel of water is consumed. In such cases the advantage of a meter is obvious, and but for the expense many parties would possess one. In some cities an annual rental is assessed the water taker, the city furnishing and owning the meter, and liable for repairs.
The desire of the officers in the Water Department has been to act justly and impartially toward all, conscious of the fact that they have public trusts to manage. Many persons make demands as though they deemed it optional with the officers to comply or refuse, the parties forgetting that any private or pecuniary inter- est does not belong to those in the department beyond that of any citizen. In many instances, where the ordinance has been enforced for non-payment of bills, the officers were compelled to listen to language of such a personal nature that courtesy seemed a farce.
The opinion that the city should furnish water at no cost, has not been expressed during the year by those having the wel- fare of the city at heart. Some people are accustomed to regard water as free and inexpensive as air, and not till they are con- vinced that it is a necessity as well as a luxury, will they appre- ciate the expense which the city incurs annually in the mainte- nance thereof.
LICENSED PLUMBING.
I called the attention of the committee of last year to the fact that a large amount of plumbing work was being done which deserved condemnation. The same state of things has existed this year, and the importance of licensed plumbing is manifest. The ignorance of many professing their knowledge of plumbing is so apparent, that in some cities their licenses would be revoked after their first attempt at making a joint or connecting a waste- stop. Numerous instances have occurred, where parties made
-
.
402
CITY' DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
complaints at this office concerning enormous charges demanded by plumbers for trivial jobs of work. Many owners of property have paid the penalty for engaging low priced work, and the city is generally the loser through a waste of water, the result of defective fixtures.
To dilate upon the subject of waste would be to reiterate what has been written in reports connected with the Water Depart- ments for years. The presence of meters has detected many elephantine leakages this year, and but for the number upon the works the cost of pumping water would have exceeded the amount expended. If all the avenues of waste were closed, and did people really exercise discretion in the use of water, our anticipated source of supply would be ample for years to come.
Respectfully submitted.
J. STEWART BROWN,
Registrar.
REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMISSIONER.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :
THE Commissioner presents his Annual Report for the year ending November 30, 1876.
After the break in the dam at Lynde Brook Reservoir, which occurred March 30, the only source of supply left for the city was Bell Pond, containing 30,000,000 gallons that could be drawn.
As the daily consumption was 3,000,000 gallons, arrangements had to be made at once for procuring an additional supply. A connection was made with that part of the 12-inch pipe from Lynde Brook to the Hunt Reservoir, on this side of the valley below the dam, and a pipe laid upon the surface of the ground to connect with the water of Lynde Brook, and, April 1st, a portion of this water was again running into the Hunt Reservoir.
At the same time work was also commenced to turn the water of Parsons' Brook, which was done by laying 785 feet of the wrought iron pipe which the city had on hand, and was so far completed as to let the water from this source into the Hunt Reservoir April 3rd.
As all the supply available was only temporary, arrangements were made to procure an additional supply by pumping. In compliance with an order, passed by the City Council April 11th, authorizing the Committee to procure necessary apparatus for
52
404
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
pumping, Wm. Allen & Sons were engaged to build and deliver at New Worcester, by May 1st, two tubular boilers, capable of furnishing 100 horse power.
A 12-inch pipe was laid from the 16-inch main on Newton street to the pond of Loring Coes & Co., a building erected, and the pump started May 5th, and run four days, when the rains had so increased the amount of water on hand as to supply the city until June 5th, when pumping again became necessary, and has continued to the present time.
The continued drought of the season soon reduced the supply, and another pump and boiler were ordered June 12th, and put in operation July 9th. A fourth boiler was afterward set, and all the water used since July 14th has been furnished by the pumps.
The expense of building, pumps, boilers, connections, &c., amount to $11,260.97.
The running expenses to December 1st have been :
Coal,
$6,843 65
Oil, waste, packing, &c.,
95 44
Labor,
1,474 54
$8,413 63
MAIN PIPES.
Main pipes have been laid in streets where ordered by the City Council, except 75 feet on Union street, south of School street ; this cannot be done until the buildings on the west side of Union street are removed.
Hancock street, 178 ft. 4 in. pipe.
Larch street, to connect with Winslow street, 102
Prescott street, from Lincoln sq. to Concord st., 723 " 12 in. "
Winslow street, from Pleasant st. to Austin st., 819 " 4 in. “
Amount of new pipe laid this year, 1,822 ft.
By a change of grade in Crown street, it was necessary to relay 300 feet of 2 inch pipe south of Chatham street. A 12 inch pipe has been laid in Washington Square and Grafton street, from Summer to Water street, in place of the 4 inch pipe
405
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
which was taken out. In Prescott street, from Concord street to the buildings of the Ames Plow Co., a 12 inch pipe has been laid in place of six inch. In Union street, from Lincoln Square to School street, a 12 inch pipe has been laid in lieu of the 10 inch taken out, to allow the construction of Mill Brook sewer.
In the above streets, 6 inch coated cast iron pipe has been used for branch pipes to hydrants, in place of 4 inch, formerly used, thereby giving greater capacity to the hydrants and preventing loss of head by tubercular formation as in small pipes.
A great portion of the 12 inch pipe from Lynde Brook reservoir to the Leicester road, not injured by the breaking of the dam, was so filled with gravel as to render it unfit for use, and the 20 inch pipe was broken for a distance of 1,277 feet, both of which have been relaid.
Pipe relaid :-
Crown street,
300 ft. 2 inch pipe.
Grafton street,
1,205
" 12
Prescott street,
1,869
66
66
66
Union street,
1,022
66
66
66
66
Through Dam,
680
66 24 66
Below Dam,
1,277
20
66
2,100
66
12
66
Amount of pipe relaid,
8,453 ft.
The basin of the reservoir has been cleared of the vegetable growth of the season and burned over as well as the nature of the ground would permit.
The number of gates set, 6 ; hydrants, 19 ; service pipes laid, 104, or 2,368 feet pipe for the city and 2,345 feet for applicants ; meters, 615 ; leaks repaired, 102; on main pipe, 75 ; joint, 43 ; rust, 27 ; settling of earth, 3 ; soldered branch, 1 ; plug, 1 ; gate, 1 ; hydrants, 5 ; on service pipe, 21; lead connections, 16; split, 2; coupling, 1; stop, 1; union joint, 1. Stoppages in service pipe reported, 115. Hydrant boxes renewed, 39 ; gate boxes, 25; stop boxes, 25.
406
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
Location of hydrants set during the year :-
Eastern avenue, corner Prospect street.
Edward street, Belmont street.
Grafton street,
Temple street.
66 Water street.
66
at Washington square.
Hollis street, corner Gardner street.
Kilby street, Hollis street.
Lincoln street, opposite Perkins street.
Nashua street, at Ames Plow Co.
Oak avenue, between Kendall and Catharine streets.
Prescott street, at Whitcomb's Envelope Factory.
" Witherby, Rugg & Richardson's.
66
" Ames Plow Co. 66 66 6
Salisbury street, corner Forest street. 66
Grove street.
Union street, at Market street.
66 " Lincoln square. Changed from old location of
" Court mills. Union street.
Winslow street, corner Larch street. Wyman street, corner Hollis street.
The value of stock and tools on hand November 30, as per inventory accompanying this report, is $38,968.82.
Respectfully submitted.
FRANK E. HALL,
Water Commissioner.
WORCESTER, Dec. 18, 1876.
407
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
INVENTORY OF STOCK AND TOOLS ON HAND DECEMBER 1, 1876.
6 pieces 24 inch cast iron pipe,
61 pieces 20 inch cast iron pipe,
60 pieces 16 inch cast iron pipe,
16 pieces 12 inch cast iron pipe,
23 pieces 8 inch cast iron pipe, class B,
109 pieces 8 inch cast iron pipe, class A.
10 picces 6 inch cast iron pipe,
3 pieces 20 inch cast iron pipe, becn used,
11 pieces 10 inch cast iron pipe, been used,
180 picces 6 inch cast iron pipe, becn used,
128 pieces 5 inch cast iron pipe, been used,
32 feet 24 inch cast iron pipe,
25 feet 20 inch cast iron pipe,
125 feet 16 inch cast iron pipe,
65 feet 12 inch cast iron pipe,
35 feet 8 inch cast iron pipe,
312 feet 4 inch cast iron pipe,
200 feet 6 inch cast iron pipe, been used,
200 feet 4 inch cast iron pipe, been used,
210 feet 12 inch cement lined pipe,
1,589 feet 10 inch cement lined pipe,
1,596 feet 8 inch cement lined pipe, 434 feet 3 inch cement lined pipe,
700 feet 2 inch cement lined pipe,
72 feet 20 inch cement lined pipe, been used,
137 feet 16 inch cement lined pipe, been used,
107 feet 12 inch cement lined pipe, been used,
273 feet 10 inch cement lined pipe, been used,
784 feet 6 inch cement lined pipe, been used,
950 feet 4 inch cement lined pipe, been used,
330 feet 2 inch galvanized iron pipe,
4 20 inch curve pieces,
6 16 inch curve pieces,
6 12 inch one eighth turns,
8 8 inch one-eighth turns,
10 6 inch one-eighth turns,
20 4 inch one-eighth turns,
4 16 inch quarter turns,
6 12 inch quarter turns,
6 8 inch quarter turns,
5 6 inch quarter turns,
5 4 inch quarter turns,
1 2 inch quarter turn, brass,
1 24 inch branch,
4 16x16 inch branches,
5 16x12 inch branches,
2 16x8 inch branches,
7 16x6 inch branches,
12 16x4 inch branches,
12x12 inch branches,
1 12×8 inch branch,
9 12×6 inch branches,
5 12×4 inch branches,
1 10x6 inch branch,
4 10x4 inch branches,
14 8x8 inch branches,
39 8x6 inch branches,
8 8x4 inch branches,
53 6x6 inch branches,
42 6x4 inch branches,
11 5x4 inch branches, 39 4x4 inch branches,
14212 set sleeves for cement lined pipe,
117 sleeves for cast iron pipe,
18 set 12 sleeves with bolts,
2 20×16 inch tapers,
2 16x12 inch tapers,
6 12x8 inch tapers,
3 12x6 inch tapers,
19 8x6 inch tapers,
15 6x4 inch tapers, 3 4×3 inch tapers, 4 4x2 inch tapers,
2 24 inch bonnets,
1 16 inch bonnet,
2 12 inch bonnets,
16 8 inch bonnets,
22 6 inch bonnets,
33 4 inch bonnets,
1 20 inch plug,
1 16 inch plug,
8 12 inch plugs,
3 8 inch plugs,
16 6 inch plugs,
19 4 inch plugs, 1 12 inch gate,
1 10 inch gate,
17 8 inch gates,
14 6 inch gates,
15 4 inch gates, 6 gate boxes,
11 gate box frames,
17 gate box covers,
8 gate box frames and covers (small),
16 hydrants,
3 flush hydrant boxes,
11 flush hydrant box frames and cov- ers,
19 hydrant wastes,
12 hydrant bowls,
2 brass screws for hydrants,
22 valves for hydrants,
21 nozzles for hydrants,
2 brass tops for hydrants,
408
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
40 hydrant caps,
3 pieces cast iron pipe for hydrant bowls,
150 lbs. post hydrant box hoops,
170 lbs. post hydrant box fastenings,
150 lbs. bolts and nuts for hydrants,
318 lbs. cast iron bands for repairing solder branches,
1,147 lbs. wrought iron bands and bolts for street branches,
347 feet rubber coated pipe,
4,000 feet 1 inch cement lined pipe,
5,147 feet 34 inch cement lined pipe,
1,077 lbs. lead pipe, 50 lbs. solder,
220 lead connections,
80 lead connections, been used,
2 3 inch globe valves,
17 Ludlow gates,
28 1% inch stops for bands,
107 12 inch stops for bands, been used, 123 waste stops,
2 2 inch brass unions,
10 2 inch long brass nipples,
24 2 inch short brass nipples,
117 cast iron stop boxes,
231 cast iron stop box covers,
5,892 lbs. tapping bands,
717 lbs. bolts and nuts for service pipe,
297 brast tees,
243 galvanized iron tees,
268 plugs, 24 combination nipples,
323 galvanized iron nipples,
58 rubber coated nipples,
143 thimble couplings,
24 galvanized iron reducing couplings,
2 malleable iron unions,
25 rubber coated elbows,
543 galvanized iron elbows,
94 brass elbows,
109 rubber packings for tapping bands, 14 meters,
2 meter box frames and covers,
At Pumping House.
Building,
2 Knowles' large steam pumps,
2 Knowles No. 3 steam pumps,
4 boilers,
2 heaters,
pipe, connections, &c.,
1 12 H. P. Haskins engine,
1 12 H. P. portable engine, tools,
1 Knowles rotary pump,
5 boiler pumps,
2 force pumps,
2 copper pumps,
1 wooden pump,
3 tool boxes and chests,
33 wheelbarrows,
76 picks,
4 pick handles,
88 shovels,
15 iron bars,
14 iron tampers,
11 striking hammers,
4 stone hammers, 2 nail hammers,
7 hand hammers,
2 paving hammers,
19 hammer handles,
245 lbs. steel in drills,
17 hand drills, 6 iron spoons,
4 ladles,
72 cold chisels,
24 steel sets,
5 packing irons,
1 large furnace and ladle,
4 furnaces,
23 monkey wrenches,
10 Baxter wrenches,
31 pair pipe tongs,
10 hand axes,
12 long handled axes,
4 axe handles,
1 adze,
6 hand saws,
2 bit stocks and bits,
1 saw set,
2 try squares,
2 planes,
1 drawing knife,
1 grindstone,
1 oil stone,
2 screw drivers,
2 hoes,
1 bog hoe,
1 spirit level,
4 oilers,
8 trowels,
3 soldering furnaces and tools,
1 powder can,
21 files,
2 pair plyers,
2 paving rammers,
1 ratchet and drills,
3 pair tongs for lifting pipe,
5 hay knives,
18 long handled forks,
6 scythes and 12 snaths,
3 spoons for cleaning stop boxes,
6 hooks for removing hydrant waste.
3 forks for removing hay from by- drants,
5 Stanwood's pipe cutters,
1 Chase patent pipe cutter and 14 dies,
5 pipe taps,
1 packing box tap,
6 packed drill stocks and 14 drills,
7 die plates and 18 dies,
12 stop wrenches,
409
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
12 gate wrenches,
12 hydrant wrenches,
3 wrenches for repairing hydrants,
1 platform scale,
9 set cones for lining pipe,
9 set cones for lining service pipe, 5 rubber cones,
2 wagons,
1 Concord buggy,
1 sleigh,
1 harness,
1 hand cart,
3 derricks,
3 set pulley blocks and ropes,
8 dies for cutting packing, Lot of tools for building hydrants.
MISCELLANEOUS.
1 fire alarm gong,
1 test pump and gauge,
6 furnace grates,
3 galvanized iron boilers,
1 copper boiler,
2 boilers for thawing hydrants,
1 press for lining service pipe,
1 tank for testing meters,
37 water pails,
1 truck,
1 hand sled,
3 mixing boxes,
19 pair rubber boots,
7 brooms,
2 coal hods,
77 lanterns,
11 lantern globes, 4 bracket lamps,
2,000 feet chestnut lumber,
3,000 feet lumber, been used,
3,168 feet spruce timber, been used, 539 lbs. pig lead,
330 lbs. old lead, 18 lbs. white lead,
520 lbs. chains,
233 lbs. rosin, 58 lbs. wire rope,
125 lbs. 1 inch rope,
27 pickets for reservoir fence,
13 pair rubber mittens, 3 cast iron sinks,
5 stoves, 1 goose neck,
463 feet rubber hose,
6 212x2 inch hose nipples, 5 tea kettles,
45 tin dippers,
2 zinc dripping pans, -
2 quart measures,
5 tunnels,
2 pruning hooks,
6 wooden rollers,
1 anvil,
1 portable forge,
2 fan blowers,
3 iron vises,
2 wood vises,
3 pair shears,
1 drinking fountain,
112 tons coal,
1 handle basket,
4 carpenters' horses,
5 steam gauges,
1 oil tank,
8212 gallons kerosene oil,
2 jack screws,
14 iron screws, 4 ladders,
800 bricks, 2 desks,
5 office chairs,
4 window frames,
5 oil cloth suits, 1 canvas tent and frame,
10 lbs. rubber packing cloth, 2 vds enameled cloth,
125 lbs. hemp packing,
12 lbs. steam packing,
125 lbs. winding twine,
52 lbs. manilla twine, 7 oil cans,
6 bbls. charcoal,
3 bbls. Portland cement,
56 bbls. cement,
2 nuts and taps for Boston hydrants.
956 feet 18 inch gas pipe for thawing service pipe,
45 lbs. tin pipe for thawing service pipe,
patterns for pipe, gates, branches, hydrant box frames, &c.,
3 sand screens,
1 gimlet,
1 tape line,
1 wood marker,
2 augers,
1 iron bedstead and bedding,
REPORT ON NORTH POND DAM.
CITY OF WORCESTER.
IN CITY COUNCIL, Nov. 27th, 1876.
THE Joint Standing Committee on Sewers, to whom was referred the matter of repairing the dam at North Pond, at an expense to the City not exceeding four thousand dollars, have attended to the business committed to them, and submit the fol- lowing report :-
For a period of more than thirty years the inhabitants of Wor- cester have constantly expressed a deep anxiety in relation to the dangerous condition of the dam at North Pond, and various methods have from time to time, been devised for making such repairs as might seem proper and necessary.
It appears that on the fifteenth day of March, 1850, the Black- stone Canal Company, for, and in consideration of eight hundred dollars, conveyed all its right, title and interest, in and to the North Pond in the City of Worcester, together with the right of way to and from the same, to George T. Rice, Ichabod Wash- burn, Stephen Salisbury, Henry Goulding, William B. Fox, Wil- liam B. Fox, Jr., and Horace Chenery, to be owned and held by . said grantees as tenants in common and undivided, in the propor- tions fixed and determined by an indenture previously made be- tween the said grantees, bearing date Nov. 24th, 1849.
This indenture provided for the purchase of the above named rights and property, the same to become appurtenant to the fol- lowing property, namely, the Brick Mill and Privilege next below
411
REPORT ON NORTH POND DAM.
North Pond, owned by Geo. T. Rice and Horace Chenery ; the Woolen Mill and Privilege next below the last mentioned, owned by Ichabod Washburn ; the Brick Mill and Privilege on Grove street, owned by Stephen Salisbury ; the Court Mill and Privi- lege, also owned by Stephen Salisbury ; the Machine Shop and Privilege on School street, owned by Henry Goulding ; the Red Mill, Woolen Factory and Privilege, owned by William B. Fox, William B. Fox, Jr., and George T. Rice, the same never to be separated or divided, nor disposed of separate or distinct from the respective mills and estates aforesaid.
This property was divided into one hundred and twenty-four shares, each owner paying his proportion of the purchase money, and agreeing to contribute in like manner for repairs, improve- ments or enlargements, to be agreed upon by the said owners. The apportionment was made as follows :
The Brick Mill next below the Pond constituted, -
25 shares.
The Woolen Mill next below, -
11
The Brick Mill on Grove street,
35
The Court Mill, - .
-
16
The Mill and Machine Shop on School street,
7
66
The Red Mill and Woolen Factory, -
30
124
In 1867 the city took by purchase the Water Privilege con- nected with the Red Mill and Woolen Factory, and thereby was supposed to come in possession of thirty shares of the North Pond property. By the construction of Mill Brook Sewer this privilege was destroyed, and also the one on School street, which was purchased in 1872, representing seven shares.
This property having been "disposed of separate and distinct from the respective mills," and apparently in violation of the agreement of the former proprietors, it became a question whether the city owned any property in the North Pond estate after all.
In 1870 the Mayor and Aldermen petitioned the County Com- inissioners, asking them to issue some order or decree whereby the North Pond dam might be made more secure. After due hearing the Commissioners adjudged that the dam was unsafe for 53
412
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
the purposes for which it was designed, and directed the proprie- tors to thoroughly repair the same on or before the first day of December, 1871; and that the water be not raised within four feet of high water mark till the work was done. The repairs ordered by the Commissioners were so extensive that it became a question with the proprietors whether it would not be more economical in the end to build a new dam lower down the stream, taking in Weasel Brook, thereby adding largely to the amount of water to be stored, and yielding a supply twice as large as that of Lynde Brook.
Some doubt was also expressed in relation to the ownership, and it was suggested that the city had no legal right to spend money in maintaining a structure in which it had no interest, solely for the benefit of individuals.
When any effort was made, on the part of the City Council, to deal with North Pond these questions assumed such magni tude as to prevent any decided action, and thus the whole matter was postponed till the May Term of the Superior Court, 1876, when the Grand Jury found a bill of indictment against the pro- prietors of North Pond, together with the City of Worcester. When the case came on to be tried an arrangement was made between the parties, by and with the consent of the Court and District-Attorney, that the mill owners should release all their in- terest, if any they had, in the thirty-seven shares supposed to be- long to the city, so as to remove all doubt in relation to owner- ship, and place the city on an equal footing with the other pro- prietors so far as they were able to do so.
The parties in interest then agreed to contribute in proportion to the number of shares by each owned, to the repair of the dam, with the understanding that all proceedings should be stayed till the October Term, and in case satisfactory repairs were then made that no further action should be had in the case.
The matter was then brought before the City Council by whom the following order was adopted :
"Ordered, That the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers be authorized to accept a deed of release and confirmation from the present proprietors of North Pond of the rights in said Pond and the dam at the outlet thereof which were conveyed to the city by the deed of the Fox heirs and N. A. Lombard ;
413
REPORT ON NORTH POND DAM.
and that said committee be further authorized to join with said proprietors in repairing said dam so that the same shall be in a safe condition when the water of said Pond is raised to its full height."
The Committee on Sewers, at a meeting held Sept. 20th, 1876, voted to authorize Mr. Benjamin Walker to take charge of and superintend the repairs of North Pond Dam.
Plans and specifications were prepared by Percy Daniels, Civil Engineer, under direction of the Committee, which said plans and specifications were approved by the County Commissioners on the 26th of September. On the same day the work was com- menced and continued till the third day of November, when it was finished. The plans and specifications were substantially followed and the work has been approved by the County. Com- missioners, and by your Committee.
The old dam consisted of an carth embankment, protected on the inside by a sca-wall three feet thick. It was constructed in two sections, the north section crossing the old brook-channel be- ing 850 feet long, and the south section, containing the present flume, 450 feet, making a total length of 1,300 feet. Between these sections, covering a space of about 240 feet, is an embank- ment of natural earth, nearly as high as the rest of the dam. The average width on top, including the wall, was about ten feet.
In the north section, near the brook-channel, a small stream of water had percolated through the dam, and showed itself when- ever the water in the pond was raised to within six feet of high water mark. Had the structure been composed of clayey mate- rial, with any considerable head of water, the dam would un- doubtedly have been carried away years ago ; but it being made of gravel, with but slight pressure upon it, and the water appar- ently leeching through among the timbers of an old flume, there was really much less actual danger than would appear at first sight.
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