THE CHARM OF THE WATER-FALL 



When a large lake is dammed to receive and hold 

 the waters from a turbulent brook or creek, thorough 

 construction is of first importance, but this feature, 

 often requiring heavy masonry, may be made to 

 contribute to the picturesque attractions of the 

 water-fall. The stone-work, left rather rough and 

 rugged where it catches the rush of the overflow, will 

 add greatly to the "vigor" of the water-fall; and in 

 this, after all, lies its chief charm. When we consult 

 an engineer concerning the best form of constructing 

 these dams of stone-work, we will probably consider 

 the massive bit of masonry (which he will recommend) 

 an unnecessary expense. We may argue with him, 

 and call to mind the thousands of miles of earth em- 

 bankments that are used in canal banks and in levees 

 along rivers, and attempt to convince him that our 

 half-acre lake, which seems quite a spacious affair 

 compared with the average garden lake, surely can- 

 not demand such costly masonry. But we will find 

 to our sorrow when leaks occur in the big dam breast, 

 that it doesn't pay to economize in the first cost; 

 with a probability in fact almost a certainty of 

 considerable after expense in patching. These big 

 dams of firm masonry make the most charming 

 water-falls. With the broad spillway, the water not 



only flows over a surface that seems well worth while 



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