FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 40 1 



because of the presence of extensive areas of boulders and rough ground. Generally, 

 fire kindled near the new flow line would not run down the slope, but by first burning 

 the brush adjacent to the standing timber, fires could afterward be started with safety 

 near the water's edge, and it would then burn over the intermediate space, readily 

 running up the slope. 



At points along the margin, where hardwood timber chiefly prevailed, the danger 

 from spreading fire was comparatively slight, although in order that the brush might 

 be burned clean at the first firing, and not require additional labor of picking up and 

 reburning, it was necessary that the brush be dry and closely compacted in the piles. 



A third portion of the flowage consisted of flat lands in the valleys, or bays, at the 

 mouths of tributary streams. Chief among these we may mention Jessups River, the 

 valley of which will be flooded, forming a lake, and having an average width of 

 slightly over one-eighth of a mile. This area was covered with trees, chiefly beech, 

 black birch, swamp maple and water elm. Inasmuch as this area is flat, and lies in a 

 deep valley, unaffected by winds, burning by back-firing was successfully resorted to. 



As to the disposition of the force employed on the clearing, it may be stated that 

 this work was carried on by gangs of men of about twenty each, under one foreman. 

 Laborers receive $1 per day and their board, and foreman $35 per month and board. 

 The average cost per acre of cutting, including some piling, but not the burning, was 

 $7.50, and the rate of cutting averaged one-fifth acre per man per day. 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAM.* 



The new dam is located about 150 feet below the old wooden dam, the site being 

 selected not only on account of the availability of the old dam as a coffer dam during 

 the construction of the new dam, but further because the most economical profile was 

 found at that point. Granitic rock, underlying several feet of boulders in the bed of 

 the river and extending up the west bank within a few feet of the surface, forms the 

 foundations of the main wall and gate house. An independent spillway is obtained by 

 excavating the solid rock of the hill on the west side. The east bank is composed of 

 an impervious sand hardpan, a formation which is quite common in the glacial drift 

 deposits of the Adirondacks. At the east end of the dam the bed-rock in the river 

 was found to extend for a considerable distance almost horizontally under the bank of 

 glacial drift or hardpan, thus determining an earthen embankment with core wall as 

 the natural form of construction on that side. The main dam wall, the wing wall, and 

 the core wall are all joined together, as shown on the plans, the core wall being carried 

 well back on the rock into the impervious drift. 



* The account of the construction of the Indian River dam was prepared by Wallace Greenalch, 

 who was Assistant Engineer on the work. 



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