, 1897-11-01
THE BASIN RESERVOIR.
A UNITED PUSH SHOULD BE
MADE FOR ITS ESTAB-
LISHMENT.
Captain C%hittenden's Report is About
Ready to be Submitted-Belief
That Title to Lands Would Aid in
the Enterprise-Some Statistical
Data Upon the Enterprise.

Ddlh SpOA luC GulNlP " loC.
The question of the location of a big
government reservoir west of this city
is Of such vital Importance to the peo.
pie of this section hat the matter
should be kept constantly before the
public and representatives in the
national congress. 1t is known that
other sites in the state are being urged
but they have not the natural advant>
ages, nor would they benefit the large
number of people that would be aided
by this site. Word has been received
upon the matter is nearing completion.
and it is believed Ly some CT our cit,
Eens that he is favorably impressed
with the basin site, but as an engineer
ne will doubtless be guided by the facts
and figures in his possession and his re,
port will be made accordingly. Doubt.
lower Laramie would be aided in theil
efforts to secure the reservoir by offer.
ing to the government a clear title to
the lands which it would be necessary
10 condemn.
Senator Warren will, of course, have
IN immense amount of influence in the
inal determination Of the matter, but
IS a servant of all the people Of the
state he cannot be expected to go be,
hind the returns for the benefit of any
particular section, and for that reason
It is probable that he may be depended
lpon to stand by the recommendations
If the government engineers. That he
will push the project of establishing
government reservoirs with all his
| night is SURE and Wyoming will doubt
ess have a reservoir in the near future
It one of three places-the big basin.
DEVILS gate on the Sweetwater. or on
he Piney in johnson county.
The following accurate statistical in,
formation in reference to the big basin
site will be of interest at this time:
The lowest point in the rim of the
aasin is about 116 feet above the rail-
Dad at Laramie, and the Bottom Of the
'eservoir at the lowest point will be
bout nine feet above water surface In
he Laramie river opposite the town.
The superficial area of the reservoir
will be about $4,000 acres.
1t can be seen from these figures, es-
oecially as to the elevation Of the pro,
posed reservoir above the town Of Lar.
amie, that it would furnish an unlimit-
ed supply of water at a sufficient pres,
sure to carry it to any part Of the city.
md probably to the top Of any build
ing that would be constructed.
In addition, the reservoir would furn-
lsh an enormous water power-such a
power as is difficult to express in fig.
Tres, at. least comprehensive figures
but a tunnel from u to Is feet in diam
eter. discharging water under a head
IF 40 feet, will give some approximate
idea Of the enormous power available.
This will mean a great deal to the city
of Laramie as an inducement for manu-
factories Of different kinds to locate
plants here. The water, after being
used by the manufactures, would be
discharged into the Laramie river,
where it becomes subject to the laws Of
the state, and would supply water suf-
fcient to irrigate at least 200. 900 acres
Of land. in addition to that already ir-
rigated by the Laramie river.
Canals would be brought in from
both the Big and Little Laramie rivers
with a capacity great enough to carry
their high-water flow. The canal lead
ing from the Big Laramie is estimated
at about 100 feet wide on the bottom,
flowing about seven and a half feet
deep, with a capacity of three feet per
second.
Beside furnishing a water way from
the Laramie river to the reservoir, this
canal would he also available as an ,r-
'igating canal for all the lands lying
Nelow 1t, and could be used as such dur
ing the irrigating season..
The canal leading from the Little
Laramie river. estimated to be abou,
% miles long, would lie almost in its
entire length along the range Of hillx
.ust north OF the proposed reservoir,
.hus commanding practically all the
and lying between the Little Laramie
md the proposed reservoir, roughly
speaking estimated at from 2 10000 to
$4,000 acres. The canal Of the Big Lar.
amie will be approximately firm IL tn
Is miles in length, and would probably
intersect the Big LARAMIE some dis.
lance below the Pioneer canal. 1;
would command for irri ration purposes
nearly all the land lying north of the
Pioneer canal. east Of Twin mountains
and south Of the rim of the reservoir.
The question as to whether the a
grafton from 30 large a surface of water
would have any effect on the precip:ta,
tion in the immediate vicinity il one OF
personal opinion only, but at least pre-,
sents a certain possibility.
Roughly speaking the discharge from
the basin would be controlled by 4 tun.
mel from two to two and q half mileA
In length. This would cost from 3175,-
900 to $500, 000. The estimated cos.
Of the canals, $3.50, O00-or a total cost