The morning call., 1893-09-30

Gorrili OF this city. and will be $50 feet
long on TOP. the plan being curved on a
radius OF 800 feet. Its maximum height
above the foundation will be- 127 feet nine
| inches. The front face Of the wall Is made
70 conform TO the curve described by the
water in oyerfiowinC, and to defect it into
the basin in front OF the dam.
The dam is built of "cyclOpean rubble, "
and is model of sOlidity. Huge rock s,
weighing from SIX to ten tons were first
laid on the bottom. All their projecting
pieces were cut off, aud a fat but rough
surface was prepared for the lower bed.
Before being placed in the bottom, all
stones, whatever their size, were scrubbed
and subjected to the action of numerous
jets of water under pressure of seventy
i've feet.
The process of construction was de-
scribed by r. W. GorrilI. its engineer. as
follows:
"a level bed was first prepared in the
rock and covered with a two-inch layer of
cement mortar. which was beaten to free
il OF air. A large stone was then lowered
into position by steam crane and was
beaten down into the mortar by blows
from heavy handmalls. Other large
stones were similarly placed, but so as not
TO touch each other. The spaces left be-
tween them were filled with concrete.
which was thrust into the narrow spaces
with Hampers.
Lie HoTk WIlIlII tue Tedc0 OF edc0
crane was brought np from six to eight
feet before the crane was moved. In each
course the Immense stones were laid so as
bind with those in the course below. No
horizontal joints passed through the wall.
as the top of each course was left with
projecting stones and bellows, which per-
NIT it to he we'll bound with the next
course. To make the back face thoroughly
water-tight, the vertical joints were filed
with mortar alone, and Into this broken
stone was forced"
The La Grange dam will distribute water
over territory embracing $4,000 acres.
The TurlGck district comprises about 1885,
600 and the Modesto district $4,000 acres.
The water will fiiw over tn e dam into two
bitches. One will be thirty miles long
and 100 feet wide, the other twenty-eight
miles long and eighty feet vide. The
waters of the TuOlumne River will be
banked ND by the dam in the rocky can
Won. A lake will thus be formed four
mites long and half mile wide. An idea
Of the solidtty OF the dam may be gathered
from he fact that at its base it is III feet
9 inches thick and that of solid stone,
forming an indestructible barrier to the
lake of water behind.
One OF the largest grain-gr0wers Of the
State is L. NJ. Hickman of Hickman,
Stanislaus County. He owns the Lide
ranch, comprising 10000 a res, all in
wheat. His land is located near the dam
and he believes that the distribution OF its
waters will change the agricultural aspect
of the section, which is now exclusively
devoted to the raising of grain.
what we have always needed in the
central California countess" said Mr..
Hickman at the Palace yesterday. SIS the
ability TO produce diversity of crops. We
have had no rain since March S last, and
nothing but wheat and barley can be
raised. AT the present low prices tor
wheat farmers cannot make penny. They
can hardly get 81 for another. 1t is esti-
mated that Stanislaus County raises an
nually 100000 tons of wheat. The rate
this year is Sc ton less than two years
ago. That difference of $4,000, GOO just
about represents the profit, so this years
work has been for naught.
Until 1891 we farmers were accus-
toned to receive 81 80 to ST 60 bushel for
our wheat. In that year there was a big
crop the world over, and we have been
ever since working off the surplus These
improbable seasons for grain-growers are
liable to recur, but by having diversity
OF crops we farmers can avoid being caught
again. That is why we feel so jubilant
over the La Grange dam. The water will
be turned into the bitches on January l
next"