New-York tribune., 1880-09-25

OF reservoir $4,000 900 gallons To protect the
dam in case Of flood side ditch, with a capacity
to discharge 600 gallons OF water second or
5.76O.0O0 gallons an hour, will lead ont OF the
reservoir ten feet below the top of the DAM so that
in no case can the water flow over the embank-
ment unless the reservoir is filed to the level of
this discharge and the water continues TO come
down with such velocity as to raise the water III
the reservoir ten feet i'll spite of the escape thus
provided. This same sluiceway is also TO be con-
nected with temporary reservoir above the one
already described. and is expected to carry of any
water that may come down the canon while the
work of construction is going on. and which might
sweep away embankments only partially COM
pleted.
This single reservoir it will be seen. when full
would hold only water enough TO last four days at
the rate of 400 miners inches. Mr.. Wiley will
therefore be obliged TO construct similar dam in
adjoining canon. and perhaps even third
SURVEYS for Dam Number Two have already been
begrn in De Las Huertas Canon. about three miles
from the scene of the present operations. There IT
is expected to build dam 100 feet high, and go
feet thick at the bottom, and to form reservoir
that will hold 75,0OO.OoO gallons. The two reser-
vors will be connected by pipes. that one may
be discharged into the other. Fortunately In De
Las Huertas Canon there is constant stream.
which. measured before the present rainy season
began. was reported by the engineers to carry $50
miners inches Of water If this stream can be de-
pen ed upon. the amount of water stored in both
reservoirs. with what would run in. would
furnish constant stream of 400 miners
inches for twenty-five days. OF. II 1t was
only used ten hours day. for sixty days
To convey the water from the reservoirs TO
the placers. wrought iron pipes, fifteen inches IN
diameter will be used The pipe line which will
be about fifteen miles long and at its lowest point
l600 feet below the surface of the reservoir, will
have 10 withstand pressure of 720 pounds TO
square inch. Its estimated capacity is 300 miners
inches. $500 gallons of water a minute. A
branch line four six inches i'll diameter. will
supply the proposed smeter and stamp mill at the
god and copper mines. | some OF this pipe at
the Bernalilo station several days after my visit
TO the Sanda Mountains. 1t is Of wrought iron and
has been made either bv drawing or welding. and
a strong cast iron collar has been placed on end
OF each. rvets being used They are 10 be joined
telescope fashion the FONTS being made tight with
molten lead. There were two sizes of the pipe. one
twelve inches and the other fifteen inches in diam
eter the thickness of the she'll of the first being
three-sxteenths Of an inch and that Of the seco ld
one-fourtb of an inch The smaller pipe was
marked as having been tested 20 withstand pres
sure Of coo pounds to a square inch the larger
ought TO withstand pressure of 675 pounds. j
presume these pipes not intended for use AT
the lowest point where the pressure will be greatest
IMPORTANCE OP THE PROJECT.
The success of this plan for getting water upon
the New Pacers depends two things-the
strength of the constructions and the supply of
water. That Mr.. Wiey will see to it that mis-
take is made In regard to the first. NAV be taken
for granted. His great experience a dam builder
Is guarantee that every necessary precaution in
this regard will be taken. The supply Of water is
a more serious question. The annual rainfall in
Santa lie during the last eight years has varied
from 1888 inches in 1874 TO 6.45 inches in 1879.
The average has been go inches Supposng the
rainfall 10 be the same in the Sanda Mountains
and not than one-half of II to be lost by evap
Grafton. sepage etc. before ii is used il is certain
that enough water can be caught on the watershed
In La MADEIRA Canon. which is three square miles
III area. and on that OF De Las Huertas Canon,
which is three times great. to fill the reservoirs
many times during the year. General Grant, who
spent several DAYS In Captain Ruger's camp last
month and carefully investigated the subject
afterwaTd expressed his firm belief that the expert
ment would be a successful one and that the supply
of water on the placers when the hydraulic works
are completed will be ample. The success OF this
enterprise will surpass IN importance any modern
mining operations in New Mexico. and will have
demo rstrated the possibility of obtaining water
supply by method which may be adopted else
where. The magnitude of the undertaking can
only be fully understood by personal visit. The
nearest railroad station is thirty miles distant
from Captain Rugers camp and the road is so bad
that 1t would be considered impossible in any
Eastern State. and this has to be hauled every
pound OF supplies for 200 men and at least 100
horses and mules besides all the heavy material
used in construction. At the time of my visit fifty
men were engaged in building road to Berna
lilo and about 80 in preparing the ground for the
foundations Of the dam. building the temporary
reservoir and waste way, and in other preliminary
work. The camp a scene OF busy activity.
] have written very fully about the San Pedro
and Canon del Aqua property. not only because it
is an Eastern enterprise and because General
Grants name has been connected with IT. but also
because is of the largest mining ventures in
the Territory. upon the success or failure OF which
i'll depend In great degree the future of hydraulic
mining in New. Mexico. General Grant may not
accept the presidency of the company he will not
decide until he goes to New-York and Boston In
September but the work will so on whether he
does or not and will he watched with great interest
by all who desire to see the mining resources Of
this Territory developed. z. l.. W.
GOVERNOR CORNELUS CONDITION..
But NOT ALARMINGLY HL-wHAT THE