, 1896-12-30

CHy Engineer Z. Z. Whiting has COM
pieted his survey from Second street to
the big basin and is now preparing his
report TO the city council, which body
ordered the work performed.
He found that the lowest outlet from
the basin. at the northeast, was 113 feet
above Second street, on Grand e
and lao feet above the bed Of the river
directly west of the city. From Second
street to the rim of the basin is a triie
over o Il and three-quarter miles. The
fall from the basin TO the river bed
would give a pressure for manufacture
ing purposes of more than 60 pounds,
and at Second street it would be about
so pounds.
The more the proposition is looked
into the greater its magnitude appears.
Civil Engineer Holmes. who has Just
completed a survey of this wonderful
freak of AZURE computes the area in
excess of eight miles in length by two
miles in width, and the average depth
would be about 40 feet. But this first
great lake is not all that could be es-
abolished with small expense. A chain
of lakes could be made that would back
The water clear to Sheep mountain and
lake in Lake Hattie. From the noun
lain to the east rim of the basin the
descent is cry gradual.
To fill this vast depression in the ups
lands would be no small undertaking
and would require a longer period of
time than many have anticipated. In
round numbers it would hold 1874, 900
million gallons. During the high water
period, in the spring and early sum.
mer. the Big Laramie river flows about
500 cubic feet per second. Suppose that
this amount could be ,taken from the
Big and Little Laramies to I'LL the basin
Three hundred cubic feet per second
amounts in round numbers to 5000 mil
Lion gallons in 80 days. Thus it will
be seen that it would take about 90
months of the high water period to fill
The basin provided there was no seep>
'SN 'F' Ao a. HlbVl II was
cnce filled it would be an easy matter
30 keep it filled. During the period
from September to the opening of the
irrigation season the greater portion of
the water running i'm the two rivers
could be turned into the basin without
detriment TO the interests of anyone.
OF course there would be a tremen-
dous absorption of water before the
basin could be filled, but it is not believ-
ed that this loss would be nearly SO
great as in other lakes, as the soil is OF
a clayey nature which is peculiarly suit
able for the holding of water. 1t is
probable that one-half of the water run
into the basin during the first year
would be absorbed in the soil.
Water could be brought into the basin
by G of a 2O-mile ditch, tapping the
Big Laramie river in the vicinity of the
Sodergreen ranch. This ditch could be
constructed at a cost of perhaps $40, 900.
II it was found necessary to connect the
Little Laramie also. a ditch could be
taken from the river at a point in the
reighborhood of the Gresley & Logan
ranch. running around the base OF
the south end Of Table mountain.
The magnitude Of this great under,
taking is almost beyond comprehen-
sion. The power which could be secur,
ed would be more than sufficient to
light the city and run all the machinery
which is likely to be used here for
years to come. Aside from this ii
would furnish Laramie a water supply
unequaled by any city in the west. The
average pressure would be sufficient fol-
all purposes and once completed the
system would be without further ex,
pense.
To the people of the valleys below
and Of the Wheatland colony it would
prove a priceless boon, furnishing as II
would a never-failing supply Of water
in times when it was most needed for
irrigating purposes.
1t is believed that the seepage would
cause springs to break out to the north
and northeast of the reservoir, thus
greatly enhancing the value OF thou
sands OF acres of land along the rivu-
lets which would thus be formed. The
evaporation from its surface would
have a tendency to increase the rain.
fall, thus returning to the soil in an
equal distribution this source Of loss
to the reservoir proper.
Many are Inclined to raise the ques-
ton that the quality Of the water would
not be as good for domestic uses a
that from the city springs. But grant.
ing the truth Of this statement, 1T could
be easily filtered between the basin
and the city and made as pure as any.
Again the use of the reservoir need not
do away with the city springs. Water
from that source could be used for do
nestle purposes and the water from the
reservoir for Irrigation, but h softer
river water would soon commend IT.
self to the housewives who do thir W
washing and 1T would be the favorite.
In the future. shoud the size OF the
7 lENn A1mIT MN