The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-28
TWO USEFUL INVENTIONS.

! thought to its wonderful possibili-
ties. The rancher of quarter Of
century ago thought that the an
nual overflow and attendant sub
irrigation of his ranch was all there
was to irrigation; the idea Of aFtifi-
cially conveying water to distant
portions of his bottom land never
entered his mind; nature provided
the seed time and harvest and he
was content
The theory Tor law of evolution
is grand one, and the history of
irrigation is one of the many in
stances that attest to it's truthful
ness. The wonderful results of
natural or "sub" irrigation was
sufficient inducement for man to
attempt, artifcially, the use of wat
er on lands unprovided for by ma
ture. The experiment, as is well
known, was attended with results
that placed it at once beyond the
pale of doubt; its success was man
fold and apparent. The problem
then was how to conduct water from
its natural channels to the uplands.
How satisfactorily this was solved
Tin the United States) needs no
enumeration here. The arid regions
of the country are fairly covered
with bitches conveying the waters
of once mighty rivers and the des-
ert is garden. And here is the
third stage of this grand eyolu-
ton: The waters of our avail
able rivers during the growing
season are taxed to their utmost;
the question is no longer one of
bitches or means of conveyance, but
Of water; the melting snow in
eally spring sends countless volumes
of water coursing down the noun
tain sides which pass unchecked
through the natural channels on
their way to the sea. To stop this |
waste, to gather this water into !
suitable storage basins and hold it |
in check until needed is the problem
that now confront us. In this con-
nection it is with pleasure that The
Tribune this morning announces to
the world the inventions of our
fellow-townsman, Hon. VIM. D.
Arnett, covering this subject.
The most important Of Mr.. Ar
nett's inventions is a sectional and
adjustable dam for raising mighty
volume of water like Snake River
or of closing up canyon and thus
creating a reservoir. Strange as
the assertion may be, engineering
skill is as yet unable to build a dam
combining the two prime necessities
of reliability and economy. This
dam can be made anywhere where
lumber and gravel or sand can be
obtained. 1t consists of series of
boxes, dimensions regulated by
the size of the dam) filled with
sand or gravel. The first tier of
boxes, laying on brush mating
will have to be anchored into place.
Through these boxes at suitable
places, depending on the height of
the dam, run perpendicular iron
rods, of different lengths, the long ;
est on the end up the stream,
secured by taps on the under
side. The work of completing the
dam is now comparatively easy. t
The second tier of boxes, of less /
ength than the bottom ones and in
which there are holes corresponding !
% the perpendicular rods, are placed {
over the rods and sink into position {
rom their own weight. Thus tier
after tier of the boxes are placed
until the desired height is attained.
As the ends Of the shorter rods are /
covered by boxes large nut is run '
IN; one rod runs out with each tier 2
If boxes and when the last tier is
cached the structure is firmly
bound top and bottom. The mid
lie box OF each tier is of keystone
shape; thus all lateral pressure
'nly tends to strengthen the dam.
| he abutments for a dam Of this
lind can be either masonry, piling,
N cribbing. In case of an oyer
low the fail would be gradual, thus
preventing undermining.
Mr.. Arnett's second invention is I
IN effective and economical dam I
or raising water in small streams {
several feet in order to turn it into |
bitches. This is accom-
,lished by series of open frames e
made of lumber or logs, placed
across a stream in tiers. These
Ire held in place by rock and gray
i and an ingenious construction i
# interlocki g. The use of this ;,