Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-07-08
A BIG DAM,
When Completed 1t Win Hold Eight
Billion Gallons of Water


over 1000 feet above sea and nearly
G,OOO feet below the great peak of san
Jacinto i'm Riverside County, there has
now reached the height of 40 feet
what is probably the best built dam in
America. 1t is in a narrow gorge or
solid rock aud built of blocks and gran.
lite from three to four tons each, no
small stone being used. The space be
tween these are filed with rich con
crete, mixed by machinery and ram
med into place by steel rods.
This makes a monolith of the whole
structure, with the advantage Of hay
ing more heXibility than any other
dam of equal strength could have. Its
factor of safety is very heavy and its
peculiar construction viii make it "a
nearly earthquake proof as it is pos
sible for a dam TO be. With stone of
such size it could stand for a long time
Il very heavy overflow, but an ample
waste way will be provided. 1t VIII be
carried to a height Of 100 feet, where
it will hold eight billion gallons. IT
may he built still higher if necessary.
Though so high it is not very expen.
sive on account Of the gorge being very
narrow for the first 100 feet. The
watershed is over 100 miles square of
AZ good mountain watershed as there
is in this part Of the state. 1t is all
high mountain, with steep slopes and
an everage rainfall Of about 40 inches
in six months. When the gate was
shut a few days ago one storm filed it
to depth of 90 feet, making a lake
some two miles long. The lowest sum
mer flow is enough to balance the
evaporation, while tho average viii
furnish a large amount Of spring and
early summer water after the lake is
full
This water win be used upon what
is called the mesa in the rich valley Of
san Jacinto In this valley are many
thousands of acres of the richest land
and 2jO artesian wells are there pour
ing out over 1900 inches Of water
This win build up one Of the most pros
porous settlements in the new county,
with quite a town and alfalfa fiels and
orchards on every hand.
On the west, and some 20 to 40 feet
above the main valley, where the arte-
sian belt is. lie some 10000 acres Of
bench land, that with water, is the
finest of fruit land, and upon which the
water cannot be taken Upon
this the water from Lake Hemett will
be led by pipe and cement ditch and
fume down the canon with fall of
:, 500 feet i'm q few miles which win
give power enough to run electric roads
and lighting plants, besides consider
able for manufacturing.
Uuder the mesa or bench land the
company already owns some 5000
acres Of choice land, over which it will
distribute water, and it viii undoubted-
" sell water to the adjacent lands if
the owners prefer to keep them instead
of selling them to the company, While
has been done here in the
past without any irrigation, the use
of water so far surpasses the best Ne
suits without it that the sale Of all
the water they can reservoir is assur-
ed
This type Of dam was lected r.aln
~ on account Of it's economy Of cement
The hauling Of cement up a long
road was a serious item But
this is not it's only advantage. 1t is
much stronger than ordinary rubble
less apt to crack under any
sudden shock, and also heavier for the
same bulk of material Where a say.
age stream has to be fought and there
is any question about the sufIiciency
Of the wastewav, it is the best type Of
dam If the cleavage Of the rock win
permit the getting out Of large blocks
The overflow can not tear them
loose nor can any ordinary pounding
Of water at the base jar it so as to In
jure the joints Of the structure. It's
economy over rubble masonry win de-
pend upon the price Of cement at the
work and upon the cleavage Of the
rock. It being assumed that in the case
of ordinary rubble work wire rope car
riers would be used to deliver stones
into place