Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-03-15
CHA BEND CANAL.
INTERESTING REPORT TO THE BOARD OF
 DIRECTORS BY A. V. UNTHANE. c. E.

Introductory to the following report of Professor Unthank, 1t Is necessary to say that prior to the recent Hoods on the Glla rlver, the Gila Bend Canal was nearly completed for distance of thir- teen miles from its head.
 The damage done by the flood was confined to the low lands through which the canal was constructed for the first mile. Professor Unthank was employed by the board of directors to make an examination of the canal with view Of making such changes as will prevent disasters in future from high water. His report Is as follows:
 TUCsoS, ARIZONA. March 6, 1884 Tle Board of Dlrectors or the Glla Bend Canal Company.
 GENTLEMEN: 1 have tbe honor to sumbmit the following report upon the | Gila Bend Canal, the result of 2 recon noissance made under your instructions l during the month of February passed. l My investigations were mostly confined l to the head where the canal draws water from the Gila river about twenty five miles north of Gila Bend station on the $. P. R. R. On my arrival here, l found that the recent floods had swept away the head-gHte and also for a dis tance of about 1000 feet the bank next to the rIver 10 within from three to SIX feet of the bottom of the canal thus leaving that part of the work exposed to damage from any extraordinary rise of the river. In order to carry more than three feet of water in this portion of the l canal which Is less than the minimum af Ih6 amount you wIll need when farm jug operations are commenced upUn a large scale ID the valley below, 1t would 1 be necessary ,O restore this embankmeni for a dIstance.Of at least 5000 feet, and when restored it would never have the strength of Q natural emhaukment O. earth n place, nor be reliable in times o hgh water.
 . With a view Of securing perfect
 stability, I would therefore advise taking
 the water out of the riyer oppOsit,
 station Y where the high bluff or mes; romes within 3J0 feet of the head of th, , canal, and where the surface Of thD l ground is five feet above the highes
 water marks discuyeTable in that sec , ton From this poin. | would construc ! | the canal through the high ground
 bacl, from the river to point Of inter a l section with your present works a
 station i5. By this change you will no g l only secure stability, bat yuU will hgv | at hsnd at the point of entering th mesa plenty of rock and adobe soil fo auchOring your head gates, and r-gUlat ing at all times the flow of water mt n the canal
 would also advise taking the wate
 out Of the river 2 feet below the grad
 of the canal as at present established
 also widening the canal to twelve fee |. at the bottom with slope Of one to oa n in adobe and ls to one foot whereye :. sandy soil is encountered. Ihe chang :. in depth of the canal at the head, would overcome by changing the grad . to 1 foot per mile from the head to 7, point below where this grade woul n iuters-ct the present grade of two fec per mile.
 The canal, completed in EccordaHc ,- with the above specifications. will hay ,. a capacity, during low water and witt /, out any dam, Of g3 cubic feet of wats n ! per second oc, with a dam that will rals - the river at the head of the canal thre v feet. its capacity will be increased
 272 cubic feet of water per second.
 cheap brush dam will probably answe
 all the requirements of increasing an e supply of water that may be needed '- the canal during low water for severn IT years: and when the demand become n more urgent than this means of increa l. ing the flow of water in the canal WI ], meet. would advise carrying the hea l- of the canal mp the river about half e mile and just above the rapids where r. three feet additional rise of water ca Il be secured This will give six feet n water at the head-gate.
 q The cost Of carrying out the above rt
 contradictions estimate as follows:
 Cr gl