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The failure of the dam to meet expectations and its failure structurally were due to—

• (1) The lack of hydrographic knowledge, causing (a) an overestimate of the minimum flow, and (b) an underestimate of the effect of evaporation.
• (2) The hampering of the engineers of construction.
• (3) The ignoring of geologic formations.

PRELIMINARY PROJECTS.

Texas became an independent Republic in 1836, and a few years later a commission was appointed to consider the question of locating the capital. In their report they referred to the possibility of developing the water power of Colorado River at Austin.

Nothing was done, however, until in 1871, when Mayor Glenn had surveys made by the city engineer. It was the plan at that time to convey the waters of the Colorado, by a canal, from a point near Mount Bonnel to Shoal Creek, for city and manufacturing purposes. In 1873 a charter was granted to certain parties, some of whom are still living, to erect a dam across the Colorado, but it was allowed to lapse by limitation.

The drought of 1877 called the attention of the public to the possibilities of irrigating the lands on Colorado River below Austin by means of a dam erected near the city.

During Governor Roberts's administration (1879-1883) estimates were made, with a view to lighting the public buildings, of the cost of erecting a dam across Colorado River at Bull Creek.

In 1888 the board of trade had surveys made for the purpose of determining the feasibility of damming the river, and during the year 1889 the subject was kept before the people by frequent communications in the newspapers.

In the latter part of 1889, the contest for mayor was largely fought on the issue of building a darn across Colorado River. The result of the election foreshadowed early action in regard to the enterprise. In February, 1890, the city council employed Mr. J. P. Frizell to make a report upon the proposed dam and the necessary adjuncts. The report was submitted on March 26, 1890, and so completely does it discuss the whole problem that the portion which refers to the project in general and the part which deals more particularly with the dam, the water power, and the estimated total cost, are here quoted, as follows:

The city is, at present, supplied by a water company, upon what is termed the Holly system; that is, without the use of a reservoir, the pressure in the pipes being maintained by the action of the pumps, which are operated by steam, and increased by an automatic device upon the occurrence of fires. The company also furnishes power for the electric-light system of the city. I have not been able to obtain any very complete information in regard to the extent and size of the present system of pipes. From what I can learn I judge that the city is rapidly outgrowing the capacity of the pipes. That by reason of their small size, a great and increasing burden is laid upon the pumps to maintain pressure sufficient for