14
GREAT RIVER DAM STRETCHING ACROSS
HARRISBURG'S WATER FRONT ONE OF MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD
BUILDING A DAM
ON SINKING SAND
A RIVER'S STORY
Construction of Susquehanna
Obstruction at Dock Street
Marvel of Engineering
SOME "DENTAL" WORK
Quick-Sands Bridged by Use of
"Floating" Foundations of
Concrete For Piers
Overheard the hottest July sun of
years blazed down on the little knot of
men far out on the river's bosom.
"We're down three feet below the
foundation level now, Cowden." said
one of the men to the inspector. "And
we ain't touched bottom yet."
The drill plunged again. Down,
down another two feet or so through
the yielding bottom of the river went
the steel rod.
"No use. we can't reach anything."
finally reported a dripping workman
of the flat. "We've hit a bed of
fiulcksand!"
That, in brief, is the story of one
of the stiffest engineering problems
the board of Public Works had to
face —and solve—ln the construction
of the great river-wide hollow con
crete dam across the Susquehanna at
Dock street. It is another one of the
big public improvements that has
helped place Harrisburg on the map
of the wot;ld. Incidentally it's another
reason why Harrisburg is planning to
celebrate ths week—and setting aside
three days to do It.
The First Bis Improvement
The river dam although only now
in course of final completion was one
of the first big improvements Harris
burg planned for when it first awoke
from its civic snooze in 1901. That
was the year that the city decided to
do something big and when the people
quit authorizing the floating of im
provement loans that time, some
ninety thousands more than a mil
lion dollars had been provided for.
True. $310,000 went toward the con
struction of a filter plant. $365,000 for
the extension of the sewers, $260,004
for creating a park system, SIOO,OOO
for paving street intersections and
$65,000 was set aside for the dam.
The Purpose
The purpose originally was to back
the water sufficiently to cover the
mouths of the sewer outlets along the
river. The construction of the inter
ceptor however eliminated this
nuisance so far as accumulation of
filth in the low water was concerned,
hut the building of the wall and steps]
presented another equally serious,
problem that had to be solved after j
all. The solution was reached through ,
the medium of the dam. This was to !
back the stream up to a sufficient
depth to cover the low and exposed j
ground along the river shores on the I
outside of the wall. So in 1913 the
big job was begun.
Frank N. Skene, of New York got
the contract. His bid was $51,780, .
although the "extras" growing out of
the difficulties incident to the brldg- j
ing of the quicksands ran the bill up !
to about $77,000. Council recently]
provided some $15,000 additional to j
finish the big work.
Now Type of Construction
Just a word about the character of]
the dam. It Is unique for this section I
of the country and its construction j
was watched with unusual interest by !
engineers. How the great 3300-foot |
long obstruction will serve the pur
pose for which it is intended, will be
watched with scarcely less interest.
Instead of a solid breast work the
dam is built with a sloping face, curv- !
ing over a concave top. The dam in j
fact is merely a thick, solid shell of ]
concrete. The system of construction
was well worth watching. Sectional |
forms of frame were sunk at 10-foot |
distances on the foundation rock of;
the river. Upon these, piers were built.
The Pier Bases
The base for each pier was concrete, ,
laid on the cleared rock floor of the
river and through this bed or base,
great bars of seriated reinforced steel
was driven to a depth of four feet.
The moulds for the piers were placed
over this base and when the piers
finally settled the extra durability of
the reinforced steel was assured. All
told the drilling into live rock totaled
some 10,000 feet. Between the piers,
great one-ton slabs of concrete were
laid in grooves. The first slab was
placed at the "toe" of the breastwork
and fitted snugly in position. On top
of this slab, was placed another: atop
of that, another, and so on until the
concave arch w r as reached. A single
curved piece of concrete finished this
off. No cement was used to keep the
slabs in place; the big blocks of mate
rial fitted tightly in place, 'tis true,
but the pressure of the everlasting
tons of the waters of the Susquehanna
rolling along to the sea, heid as no
cement in this world would ever hold.
On the lower side of the obstruction
the hollow spaces between the piers
will doubtless provide mighty com
fortable quarters for the lucky lazy
fish who might want a plac« to loaf.
The Gray Shadow
The job went along swimmingly as
It were, even through the extraordin
arily deep, swift waters of the west
tern shore —"Well's water" as it Is
locally called.
Long strings of coffer dams were
used and the fact that some 1500 bags
were passed into service for this
purpose alone, may suggest some idea
of the size of the job. Building the
dam across the deeper waters of tho
western side of the river, was pushed
ahead with little trouble and only one
real catastrophe One day a work
man slipped into the swirling waters
and the fact that he wore heavy rub
ber boots offset the fact that he was
one of the best swimmers in a whole
ward of expert watermen. His body
was not picked up for days after
ward.
The "Pot Holes"
It was when the contractors reach
ed the stream about midway from the
city shore that the heart-breaking end
of the venture developed.
What the engineers called "pot
holes" were discovered In the bed of
the stream.
Quicksands that swallowed con
crete. foundation stones, by the tons
and yet swirled hungrily for more are
"pot holes." Whereupon the section
across this stretch had to be crossed
much after the style an expert denUst
uses In swinging a false tooth between
two real ones—"bridge work," they
call It.
On Sinking Sands
The excavations In the quicksands
were made as far as possible and when
after half a dozen feet below the
original surface no sounding could be
reached, another coffer dam was con
structed and tons of stone were dump
ed In Upon the temporary footing
• concrete was poured until a solid foun-
THURSDAY EVENING, DARRIBBURG jtfjS&l TELEGRAPH - SEPTEMBER 23, 1915,
HOUSE MAY NOT REST ON FOUNDATIONS OF SINKING SANDS, BUT A DAM CAN
THE GAP IN THE MLAMD omZPS SEE IT
j BEATING FA THEP 6 Uc5QU^
GETTING THE FORMS IN THE COFFEP DAMP
nr,P nQ of 'i^ e fl . rst Improvements authorized In Harrisburg's flfteen-year improvement campaign was the construction of the dam across the Susquehanna at Dock street. While
y0.i.000 was originally voted for the purpose in 1901, extra work cost considerable and eventually ran the total up to about $77,000. The dam is practically completed and represents a
new type of construction for this section of the country—"the hollow concrete" type. While the dam will insure a four-foot rise of water at its breast all the time with a depth gradu
ating; a few inches at Maclay street even in extreme low water, there will be sufficient current all the time to push a thin sheet of flow across the breast. Two big openings, one on tho
island, and one along the city shore, afford passage room for fish and boats —If any of the latter should wish to try it. The construction of the dam by the Frank N. Skene Company,
developed a most serious engineering problem that was readily solved however by Joel D. Justin, principal engineer of the board of public works. This was the bridging of the "quick
sands.
dation on the sinking sands was es
tablished. Then on this concrete base
the regular pier forms were started
much as if solid rock had existed be
neath. And the "floating" section of
the dam was held more firmly in place
by the construction of the additional
piers in the row on either side.
What It Takes to Build a Dam
So, the ingenuity of Joel D. Justin,
principal engineer of the Board of
Public Works, solved a real river
problem, and incidentally questioned
in a mild way the Sunday school hymn
of the house that was built on sinking
sands.
In conclusion, if figures mean any
thing. a final word as to the quantities
of material that were used in building
the river dam might not be amiss.
More than 1450 cubic yards of con
crete, 110 tons of reinforced steel. 300
square yards of rip-rapping. 1000 cubic
yards of stone filling are a few Items.
Reviews Histo r y of City
During Last 50 Years
Interesting addresses on the expan
sion of Harrisburg were given at mid
week prayer services In Ridge Avenue
Methodist Church, last evening by Dr.
Silas C. Swallow and Wilmer Crow.
Speaking on "Harrisburg as It Was,
as It Is, and as It Should Be," Dr.
Swallow went back fifty-three years
and reviewed the growth of the city
to the present day, he then suggested
additional improvements. After point
ing out the advancement of the city
on many lines since the days of the
Civil War. he said the city still needed
a new courthouse, city hall, larger
church congregations, more pastors,
Sunday Schools and superintendents,
a new hotel and more jail room or
fewer salooss.
In his talk on "What Can Christian
People Do to Make Harrisburg Bet
ter," Wilmer Crow said the people
should not fo:get their shortcomings
and they should not forget the Impor
tance of Intellectual and moral quali
ties that need development.
POST OFFICE EFFECTED
BY BIG CELEBRATION
In observance of the great Municipal
celebration activities, to-morrow work
will be restricted at the Post Office.
The Central, Hill and Maclay stations
will be closed from 9:30 o'clock in the
morning until noon. The 10 a. m. and
1 p. m. collections will also be
omitted.
Presidents of Board
of Trade and
Chamber of Commerce
moo—loi.i
1900—Frank R. Ix<ib
1901—Maurice E. Eby
1902—George A. Gorgas
1903 E. J. Staekpole
1901—Benjamin M. Noad
1905—L. H. Kinnard
1900—Herman P. Miller
1907—William Jennings
1908—Charles A. Dlsbrow
1909—Dr. Galen Hain
1910—Francis J. Hall
1911— S. S. Eberts
1912 J. Horace MrFarland
1913—Henderson Gilbert
1914—George B. Tripp
1915—Henderson Gilbert
WHAT HARRISBURG HAS DONE FOR ITS
SCHOOLS IS TO
City Superintendent Tells Some Facts at Big Educational Mass
Meeting at Tech Which Formally Opens Celebration
City School Superintendent.
What Harrisburg has done for the
development of its public school sys
tem in the past fifteen years was in
terestingly told last evening' by Dr.
Frederick E. Downes, city superinten
dent of schools, at the big educational
mass meeting and public school ex
hibition which marked the formal
opening of the great Municipal Im
provement celebration in Technical
High school.
Dr. Downes' talk was In the nature
of a coinparation between the schools
of to-day and of fifteen years ago.
Attendance of scholars and the increase
in the years, the improvement in the
salary rates, the expenditures and the
various important events in the school
history were interestingly brought out.
In concluding his talk Dr. Downes
touched upon the need for a new high
school, wide extension of evening in
struction. introduction of manual work
for boys and girls In the grammar
grades and the inauguration of a more
comprehensive and effective scheme of
physical education.
Fifteen Years
Dr. Downes said in part:
"In the school year 1899-1900 the
average dally attendance in the schools
was 6809; in the year 1914-15, 9562,
an increase of 40 per cent, in fifteen
years. The number of high school
students increased from 615 to 1379,
or 124 per cent. The number of
teachers increased from 190 to 308,
or 62 per cent. The average salary of
male teachers in 1900 was $83.10; in
1915, $131.15, an Increase of 58 per
cent. The average salary of female
teachers during the same period in
creased from $49.28 to $73.90, or 50
per cent. The total amount paid for
teachers' salaries increased from
$99,202.32 to $260,012.71, or 162 per
cent. The total expenditures for
schools fifteen years ago was
$184,661.83; last year it was $451,-
036.41, an increase of 144 per cent.
The assessed valuation has increased
105 per cent, during this period; the
value of school property, now sl,-
450,000, 94 per cent.; the number of
school buildings 12 per cent.; and the
number of school rooms 63 per cent.
The average number of pupils per
teacher, based on the total of teach
ers, was 51, in 1900, as against 37 In
1915. a reduction of 27 per cent.
Manual Training In Schools
In November, 1900, manual train
ing for boys was Introduced in the
Central High school. The work was
optional and was taken that year by
140 students. The introduction of
this work, the demand for it on the
part of students, and the success of
it, led four years later to the estab
lishment of the Technical High school.
In 1901, a school for delinquents
was organized in the Harris building.
A system of physical education was
also worked out by the Superinten
dent and adopted during the same
year, and the Cameron Annex was
erected at a cost of $30,000. In Sep
tember, 1903, the present Teachers
Training School was established, with
eleven students. September, 1904, the
Technical High school began its work
i in the old DeWltt building, the site of
;the present structure. The total en
rollment for the year waa 87. During
' £m
Mk hHH
jEi< PH
DR. F. E. DOWNES
the same year the Camp Curttn school
was completed at a cost of SIOB,OOO.
Thin Is the largest elementary school
In the district, containing 24 class
rooms. ,
The High School Orchestra
"The first high school orchestra, the
forerunner of the present excellent
high school organizations, was organ
ized in the Central High school In the
Fall of 1904, as was also the card sys
tem of discipline, in present use in
that institution.
"The Lincoln school, the second of
the more modern grade buildings, was
dedicated in April, 1905. The cost of
this building was $62,000. Since 1900
there has practically been no time
when important building construction
has not been under way. Twelve new
buildings have been erected in practi
cally as many years, at a total cost,
not Including grounds and equip
ment, approximating $800,000; and
still another, costing $90,000, is under
way. More than 50 per cent, of the
entire value of the school buildings of
the district is represented by the
school construction since 1902.
Changes Grading System
"During the same year the entire
system of grading was changed In the
elementary schools, and a model
school was established In connection
with the Teachers Training School.
District, supervision was begun in the
Fall of 1906. Also, night schools for
adult colored were organized at this
time.
The year 1907 was marked by the
equalization of salaries below the high
school. An Increase in the maximum
salary schedule ol from 7 to 50 per
cent, made this Important change pos
sible.
Teachers' Department
A retirement plan for teachers was
adopted April 3, 1908, and went Into
operation the following September.
Ab a result of this important action*.
22 teachers of long service or physic
ally incapacitated are now being
cared for by the district, in reward for
their faithfulness, and the sum of
$45,000 has accumulated in the re
tirement fund. Harrisburg was the
first city in Pennsylvania to take ad
vantage of State legislation on this
subject. Medical inspection in our
schools was also organized officially
in the Fall of 1908, with the employ
ment of phj'sician and nurse. Here
too we find Harrisburg in the van of
progressive movements.
Inaugurate Patrons' Day
During this same eventful year,
1908, Patrons' Day was inaugurated
in the schools, a detention school for
delinquent Juveniles was opened. Sal
aries were again advanced in the year
1909-1910; half pay, with certain time
limitations, for teachers when ill was
provided; fire drills were rendered
thoroughly efficient in all schools.
In the Fall of 1910, a special school
for mentally deficient pupils was
opened, the city again becoming, by
this action, a pioneer in educational
progress.
The Start of the Open-Air School
in September, 1912, our first open
air school was organized in the Lo
chiel building. Here unfortunate pu
pils suffering with tuberculosis are
housed, provided with necessary win
ter dress, nourished with wholesome
food, provided with medical care, and
at the same time taught the regular
branches of the elementary schools.
The first contribution to the city li
brary was made in 1913, and annual
cotnributions have been continued to
the present. A second open-air school
was organized, university extension
work begun by the teachers, and
parent-teachers' associations formed.
A total of eleven parent-teachers' or
ganizations are now maintained In
various school buildings.
Domestic Economy In Schools
In 1914 district supervision was ex
tended, the number of supervisors be
ing increased from two to five. In
this revision a course in household
economy was provided for, and 175
girls began work in the subject of
cooking. An advisor for high school
girls was chosen and a beginning was
made in the matter of vocational
guidance. Dental inspection, with
two salaried dentists in charge, was
also begun In 1914.
What the Crack of
a Track Starter's
Gun Really Started
An institution that is the outgrowth
of the last fifteen years and that has
done much to put Harrisburg on the
map as a city of college men and col
lege athletics Is the Harrisburg Track
Athletic Association. The story as told
by one of its members is as follows:
"Twelve years ago and prior to that
time there was no place in the city
where there was a regulation track for
the Central high school athletes to
prepare for the Penn relays. In the
early Spring the runners were taken
up along the river in Front street
above Maclay, where there was a cin
der path, or else the old covered Mar
ket street bridge was utilized. Neither
of these places afforded an opportunity
for circular tracks. With the opening
of Spring the lads were taken to
Reservoir Park and the gravel walk
around the top of the reservoir was
tised. With the formation of the Park
Commission rules and regulations were
formulated to control the conduct of
I ersons using the city parks. One of
rules was that the shooting of Ore-
arms was prohibited.
"One afternoon, while Dr. C. B.
Fager, who was then connected with
Central high school, was acting as
starter with a squad of Central ath
letes, he was stopped by a park po
liceman, who threatened to arrest him
unless he refrained from shooting the
pistol. Superintendent Mulford was
appealed to and he gave his further
consent to the use of the park for
running purposes and the gun was
popped for the next two days without
interruption from tho police. But
the "cop" had started something.
"The necessity for a regulation run
ning track was felt aud in several days
Dr. Fager, Superintendent Mulford
and V. Grant Forrer went to the
island and the present quarter-mile
track was plotted. An organization
was then formulated and Dr. Fager
was elected the first chairman, and
has acted in that capacity ever since.
The membership is composed of col
lege men."
Sonic Tilings Done
Some of the things the association
boasts of are the placing of the Penn
sylvania intercollegiate track and field
meets in this city for three years.
Then the colleges decided to hold sub
sequent meets at one of the colleges.
The local committeemen instituted the.
grammar school meet, which is held
under their auspices. It also fosters
the Pennsylvania interscholastic high
school meets that are held every
Spring, and is the only organization of
college men in the State that does this,
all others being usually held under the
auspices of the high schools or col
leges. Expenses for these games are
met by contributions from associaiton
members and citizens of Harrisburg.
The association will help celebrate
the municipal improvements by award
ing medals to the winners of the events
scheduled for the track meet at the
Sycamore playground to-morrow aft
ernoon. The officers of the association
are: Dr. C. B. Fager, Jr., chairman;
G. W. Hill, Jr., secretary, and R. G.
Cox, treasurer.
Some members of the past and
present are: Ross A. Hickok, B. Ed.
Finnegan, J. M. Bombright, the Rev.
S W Herman. B. W. Deniming, George
W. Kehr, W. O. Hickok, 3d, A. H.
Hull, C. S. Davis, Vance C. McCor
mick R. G. Cox, John Y. Boyd, W. R.
Douglas, V. Grant Forrer, Wellington
G. Jones, James A. Bell, Francis J.
Hall, G. W. Hill, R. F. Meyers. 3d,
Dr. J. Harvey Smith, F. L, Mulford,
.John Fox Weiss. E. C. Taggart, the
Rev. J. Stockton Roddy, J. Montgom
ery Trace, Dr. C. B. Fager. H. L. Bow
ers, Daniel M. Dull, W. S. Steele, G.
M. Oves, Piercer B. Tate, Dr. Harvey
F. Smith. A. S. Patterson, H. A. Boyer,
C. W. Davis, S. £. Delby, F. E.
genheim. F. E. Downes, A. R. Ferri
<Jay, Robert Wadsworth, R. D. Benian,
the Rev. T. B. Johnson, Robert Free
and M. Harvey Taylor.
Hang Out That Flag!
Every flag and piece of bunting
In the city should be hung on the
outer wall at once. This Is the
time for universal rejoicing In Har
risburg and the rest of this week
should lie given up to a wholesome,
rational celebration of what has
been accomplished for all the peo
ple.
2,000 ATTEND BIG
EDUCATION MEET
AT TECH HIGH
Fornial Opening of Municipal
Celebration Marked by
Educational Session
THINGS THE KIDS DO
Dainty Foods, Wood Models,
Drawings, Compositions, In
spected by Hundreds
Featured with addresses by the city
superintendent, president of the board
of school directors, former educators
of the city and county, a concert by
the combined orchestras of Central
and Tech High, while rooms and cor
ridors were lined with charts and
maps illustrating tne progress made
in the city's public school system dur
ing- the last fifteen years, the munici
pal celebration was formally opened
In the Technical High school last
evening. About 2000 persons were in
attendance.
The program consisted of three
parts—the concert by the combined
school orchestras from 7.30 to 8.00;
the educational program from 8.00 to
9.00, and the inspection of exhibits
from 9.00 to 10.30. So delighted were
the patrons as well as the players
themselves, with the renditions of the
combined orchestras under Prof.
George W. Updegrove, that there is
already talk of similar concerts dur
ing the holidays and next Spring.
The orchestra was composed of 30
pieces.
Tell of School Progress
The educational program, held in
the auditorium, was in charge of H.
A. Boyer, president of the school
board. On the rostrum were seated
the speakers, Superintendent Downes.
Chairman Boyer, the board of school
directors and the district supervisors,
the Rev. James F. Bullitt pronounced
the invocation. In an address on edu
cational progress, giving a chronolo
gical review of the city schools dur
ing the last 15 years, Superintendent
Downes dazzled his listeners with
amusing statistics of how the school
system has progressed. His address
is printed elsewhere in the Telegraph.
Prof. J. Howard Wert, principal for
many years of the old boys' high school
located at the place now occupied by
Tech, was the next speaker. He
stated that educational advancement
is a continuous evolution, and that in
enjoying the improvements of the •
present we should not forget those
whose labors in years past have made
these things of the present a possi
bility. Prof. R. M. McNeal. former
county superintendent and at present
connected with the State Educational
department, was also reminiscent in
his talk. "There is an increased in
terest in seeing that the work is prac
tical, and that will tit the youth for
better citizenship. The city has
caught the spirit and has provided
equipment for this end. Present pub
lic sentiment as carried through these
plans suggested years ago," were
among his remarks.
Home Makers vs. Home Breakers
Attorney W. L,. Loeser was the final
speaker of the evening. He empha
sized his remarks by using two young
ladies from the domestic science de
partment of the Central High school,
and two of the Tech boys, as illustra
tions. "Young ladies must be trained
to be home makers am} not home
breakers, and the youth of the land
must be so prepared that their educa
tion will tit theiu for making the world
better for their having lived.
In tho library was exhibited the dis
plays from the domestic science de
partment, the music department, and
the Latin display arranged by Jliss
McNiff. The first iloor corridor con
tained the displays of medical and
dental inspection, the work of the open
air schools and a statistical and chron
ological chart showing the advance
ment of the'schools from 1900 to
1915.,0n the second tioor were the
grade drawings. In the third floor
study hall was a commercial exhibit
from Central High school. Besides
many specimens in penmanship, type
writing, book-keeping and shorthand
there were many testimonials as to
what the business men of Harrisburg
| think of the Central graduates, and a
list of where many of them are em
ployed.
The Committee
The following committee had charge
of the school publicity and exhibits:
F. E. Downes, Chairman; L>. ]_>. Ham
melbaugh, photographical and statis
tical; C. B. Kagor, Jr., Technical Higli
school; C. S. Rebuck, department of
medical inspection; E. F. Keller,
commercial; J. J. Brehm, supervision
of exhibits; H. E. Todd, supervision of
construction; E. G. Rose and G. W.
Updegrove, music; Katherine McNiff,
ancient languages; Mary H. Hogan,
drawing, and Krances Hamilton, do
mestic science.
NERVOUS EXHAUSTION
Irritability, oversensitiveness, a dis
position to worry over trifles, head
ache, dizziness—these are symptoms
of nervous exhaustion, neurasthenia.
Very often the patient feels best
and brightest at night. Rest seems
to bring no refreshment, the nervous
system fails to recuperate. This dis
tressing condition is caused by worry
more often than by any other one
thing. Overwork and worry Invite the
disorder.
The treatment Is one of nutrition
of the nerve cells, requiring a non
alcoholic tonic. As the nerves get
their nourishment from the blood the
treatment must be dtrected towards
building up the blood. Dr. Williams'
Pink Pills act directly on the blood
and with proper regulation of the diet
have proved of the greatest benefit lr»
I many cases of neurasthenia. A tend
! ency to anemia, or bloodlessness,
, shown by most neurasthenic patients,
lis also corrected by these tonic pills.
' Your own druggist sells Dr. Williams'
I Pink Pills or they will be sent by
1 mall at 50 cents per box; six boxes
[ $2.50. Begin the treatment at once
| before your condition becomes
■ chronic.
| Two useful books, "Diseases of the
Nervous System" and "What to Eat
i and How to Eat," will be sent free by
! the Dr. Williams Medicine Co., Schen-
I ectady, N. Y., if you mention thl»
paper.—Advertisement