The last obstacle to the construction of the Charles River Dam was removed yesterday, when, under the laws governing harbor improvements, the approval of Acting Secretary of War Oliver was obtained for the general construction plans.

The agitation for the building of this dam which will be of such great importance to the University, has been of long duration. The project of a tidal basin in the Back Bay was first suggested in 1859, but not until the establishment of the permanent Metropolitan Park Commission in 1893 was it realized that the construction of a river park and embankment along the Charles River was essential to the scheme of public parks. A committee reported in favor of a dam, but nothing further was done. For the past three years, however, the project has been under serious consideration, and during the winter of 1903 Governor Bates appointed a committee, consisting of President Pritchett, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hon. H. D. Yerxa, and Hon. J. B. Holden, '71L., to direct the designing and construction of the dam. This committee has supervised the completion of plans and specifications for the dam, and it will shortly advertise for bids on the construction work. It is expected that active work will be commenced by August 1, but from three to five years will be required for the completion of the improvements. The total cost is estimated at from $2,500,000 to $3,000,000.

The work on the dam, together with the construction of a lock and draw and the dredging of the canals and channels incident to the improvements, will be in accordance with an act passed by the General Court and approved last June, by the terms of which the dam is to be constructed across the lower end of the river, a short distance above the Craigie Bridge. A large fresh water basin, extending from the Craigle Bridge up beyond the Longwood Bridge, will this be created, and the variation of level due to the tide will be largely eliminated. The improvements should increases the desirability of property along the river and be particularly valuable to the rowing interests of the University, as the present necessity of rowing in narrow channels and combatting tides will be obviated.