Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-03-08
THE RESERVOIR.
A GREAT WORK BY THE FLORENCE
 CANAL COMPANY.

A Busy Scene on the Great Levse Under
 Construction---Whata a Visit to
 the Reservoir Reveals-Sub-
 stantial Work of Con
 structiOn.
 It was the good fortune of repre- sentative of THE ENTERPRISE to visit the new storage reservoir under con struction by the Florence Canal Com pany, about fifteen miles south of Florence, few days ago, at the invi- tation of President Geo. N. Pogue. The ride was made in two hours and the route was along the canal, from which could be seen the green fields and other improvements resulting from this source of water supply.
 The country is apparently as level as a floor, with just sufficient fall to render irrigation an easy process, and it instinctively creates the impression that nature fashioned in it's most per feet manner for mans uses the broad acres through which this canal has been built. Alfalfa and grain fields contrast strangely with the desert character of unimproved tracts, and the many miles of wire fences, with oc- casional farm houses of good appear ance and comfortable construction, and now and then windmill used for pumping water for domestic purposes, all present an air of thrift and enter prise that is captivating.
 Upon reaching the initial point of the reservoir embankment where the canal enters, the broad levee, twenty feet wide across its top and as solid and hard as a turnpike, was ascended and the drive continued as far as 1t was constructed--some 7,400 feet. In some places the levee is 24t feet in night with sides sloping at the ratio of two to one, making a width of base at this point of 11S feet. It is built of earth taken from either side and from one hundred to one hundred and twen- ty pressed bowl wheel scrapers of IT cubic feet carrying capacity each, are employed in taking the earth to the top of the great dam.
 Every facility is provided for con- ducting the work in the most substan- tial as well as economical manner. The workmen, numbering about 23O men with ITO teams, are divided into l six gangs, to each of which is assigned a section of 600 linear feet of the dam. Under the watchful eyes of the fore men a layer of loose earth, perhaps eighteen inches thick, is laid uniform ly upon the top of the embankment. Water is then sprinkled upon it by means of hose coupled to continuous line of iron piping laid along the base and supplied by force pump. Ali ter thoroughly moistening the earth heavy corrugated rollers are passed many times over it and the process is repeated as often as necessary until each successive layer is solidly packed and made as firm and hard as a turn pike when new course is added and by these continuous accretions the great structure gradually reaches the line ol the grade and is then finished upon the top and sides as neatly and accur- ately as carpenter bowels piece oi lumber with his plane.
 Up to date about 15O,O0O cubic yards of earth has been put in DO sition, covering a length of ' 400 feet feet of levee. Of this about $500 lin ear feet has been completed up tc grade. There yet remains about 6, ,4OC feet of embankment to build, which will require about two and one-hal months for it's construction with tht present force.
 The contract of MacRitchie X Mich
 ol includes the whole work of con struction in every detail, and the cos will approximate $139000 A fev
 notifications in certain portions o s the work may run up the cost abou . $15,000 above these figures.
 The gate at the outlet of the reser
 voir will be built of brick and irol l where these materials can be used t { the best advantage. The outlet vii . be through a three-foot iron pipe lai - in brick work, for which purpose V huge brick kiln is nearly ready fo e burning near the point at which the, | will be used.
 The site of the reservoir is a natura
 basin across which the dam is bein : constructed 14,000 feet in length. Tn ' deepest portion will be little over 2 u feet, and the area the water will cove
 is about 1900 acres. Its upper side i open and being the natural course ( 2 a large watershed, great volume ( e storm waters will be gathered and in
 pounded, exclusive of the continuou is flow of the canal proper, and whe IF once filled the land owners below wi 1t be insured abundance of water durin q the dryest seasons.
 ,e It IS indeed busy scene and g if one approaches the work the movin ts teams plying back and forth resemb III a nest of industrious ants. MT. Buel
 man, the photographer, succeeded
 securing several fine views by insta of taneous process, of the active Ope le ations.
 as The camps of the men look like as primitive mining camp of fair propc ne tions. There are a few substanti st buildings erected for permanent occ .h patton, among them being comm ut dious mess and bunk house and t of headquarters of the contractors. T' a or three saloons have already sprul es into existence, but so far they Ina ky caused but little trouble.
 When the reservoir is filled it W
 doubtless become a popular resort 4 excursion parties from Florence a .;c' Casa Grande, with possibly Q moo .r., -U light sail upon it's placid waters. T .ry drive is very pleasant one, the roa IJJ good and the distance not an objectiC nu ,"a But it's utility lies in the permane ~. ' development of the country near ov,, railroad, and future generations W 5sI 'aI may dwell amid the blossoms of { eu new paradise it will create, will bl a5 the enterprise and foresight of VI projectors and builders.
 rat Always stop at the Russ House of Tucson. It is @ first class family a tel in every respect. Free bus fir ms all trains to the house. Terms to s
 the times. 5. A. ALLIs, Propritor.