Pat Shingleton for April 22, 2008
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This is a repeat article on a unique anniversary. In 1848, Lowell, Mass., was the center of the textile industry. James Bicheno Francis, chief engineer of locks and canals, constructed a system of canals, drawing water from the Merrimack River, providing an uninterrupted source of power to mills. Changes in the river level were controlled by gates and locks built into the canal network. Francis compiled a history of floods on the Merrimack and discovered that during a major flood in 1785, the river crested above Pawtucket Falls at 13 feet 6 inches. Francis realized if the river hit crest levels again; surging water would funnel through the canals, destroying the heart of the city. The rest of the story Wednesday.
Fastcast: Showers.
