The Water Power of Texas. 
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or offsetted in lien of vertical, and the down-stream face to have flatter 
slope, thus increasing the weight of the mass and giving a larger fric- 
tional area upon the base. 
(3) A careful consideration of the merits of the fossiliferous lime- 
stone, which is abundant in the vicinity of the dam, as a building mate- 
rial. It does not seem reasonable that stone which has withstood the 
action of the elements for untold ages should be condemned as alto- 
gether worthless. In view in the excessive cost of granite, both in quarry 
cost and transportation, as given to me in Austin, I believe that the 
limestone of the vicinity should be used in the up-stream face, at least 
to a point fourteen feet below the crest of the dam, and quite possibly 
on a portion of the down-stream face also, and that it will be reliable 
for strength and durability in that portion. 
Assuming that these and other details will hereafter be decided by 
your engineer, I will endeavor to answer, as briefly as possible, the 
inquiry of Mr. Caswell, guided by my personal examination of the local- 
ity and by my best judgment as to the cost of the various items. 
It might be assumed by some that inasmuch as the total length of 
the dam between abutments is 1091 feet, and its total cost was about 
$611,000.00; and as about ninety-one feet at the east end and 500 at 
the west end remain standing, that the interval 500 feet could be 
replaced for its pro rata of the total, or about $300,000.00. This sup- 
position will be found erroneous for several reasons. 
(1) The shattered condition of the ninety-one feet now standing 
at the east end makes its removal and reconstruction a necessity, and 
inasmuch as this is at a place where a very troublesome leak occurred 
after completion of the dam, it is probable that the foundation itself 
ought to be excavated to greater depth. 
(2) A large mass of the original dam is still standing, just far 
enough down stream from its original position to be very much in the 
way of construction of new work, and must be removed. 
(3) A very large deposit of earth and silt east of the present chan- 
nel, also along the toe of the dam on the west side of the channel, must 
be removed for construction of new work. 
(4) An examination by sounding with an iron rod reveals the fact 
that the bed rock in the channel through which the river is now flowing 
is an irregular surface, ranging from 8 6-10 to 12 6-10 feet below the 
assumed low water line, which was the top of the toe of the dam as 
built. This is the result of seven soundings, and is pretty conclusive 
proof that not only the foundation stone is gone from this portion of 
the dam, but that the bed rock itself has been broken up and washed 
out to a depth in some places of more than six feet. The average of 
these soundings is 10 8-10 feet, and while it is not certain that this 
condition extends to the eastern end of the gap, yet it will not be safe 
