Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-22
Well Nigh Prevented the Building
Of Canada's Great Canal,
SETTLING THE DIFFICULTY.
Apostle, Lyman and Ciawson and
Engineer smith Report success
An increasing Ace cunt.

Elders francs NJ. Lyman ana lNuu-
ger Clawson and Engineer j. Fewson
Smith have returned from Alberta,
Canada. after an absence OF five weeks.
The purpose OF their visit was TO bring
about a final settlement between the
contractors Tor church, represented by
NJ. b, Hammond, agent the sub.con-
tractors and the Canadian Northwest
Irrigation company, in the building OF
the great canal in southern Alberta.
We learned from them the following
interesting facts The canal as now
completed commences at q point on
ST. Mary's river and extends a length
Of eighty-siX miles, Of which, for TWEEN
ty-seven miles, natural channels are
made use OF. and for iifty-nlne miles the
water flows along artificial channels.
The canal passes through Magrath and
Stirling. the two new settlements re-
Gently established by the Latter-day
Saints. and terminates al Lethbridge.
Many thousand acres Of land win be-
brought under irrigation by reason Of
this great enterprise.
Difficulties of a most extraordinary
character were encountered In eXca-
waiting Tor the canal, which led TO some
MISUNDERSTANDING, regarding classih-
cation Of material between the sub
contractors and the canal company, but
which were finally adjusted by Messrs.
Lyman, ClaWson aud Smith. and the
Irrigation company TO the general sat
isfactiOn OF all concerned and as a re-
suit. an excellent feeling prevails at
the present time.
The difficulties referred to were due
In the main to a substance known TO
engineers as "gumbo.' which, TO the
surprise Of those unacqualnted with the
country, was found almost the entire
length OF the main canal "Gumbo,
when wet, resembles India rubber, ana
has a power Of resistance that is simply
amazing. AIsingle team and pillow were
useless upon this class Of work Ordi-
narily six animals were attached TO
the pillow, and only then succeeded In
turning over the "gumbo' with indit-
ferent results,
II was related by Elder Clawson that
upon one occasion while watching the
progress Of the work In a certain local.
ity he witnessed the breaking OF dou-
BILE tree, made from a log Of wood three
point Of the plow pierced The "gumbo,
the daubletree snapped like a twig.
Later, he thoughtlessly pushed his
umbrella into the "gumbO, and upon
Withdrawing Il was somewhat aston
shed 10 find that the thimble. which
IS used TO protect the end, had disap'
peared. Upon careful search, II was
found firmly imbedded in the rubber
Ike soil Elder Clawson further said
that President Snow, hearing OF the
troubles experienced by the brethren in
Canada, made use OF an expression,
upon one occasion mo doubt inviting
ly) which. although extremely anus,
ing. was nevertheless expressive and
forceful. He remarked 10 one Of his as
soclates: Have you heard the news
No: we'll they've struck Jumbo In
Canada" Jumbo means something
big. and "gumbo' Is something big-in
fact II Is about the biggest thing in
British America.
When Elder Clawson called attention
In Cardstou. al q publS gathering, TO
the remark OF President Snow, the au.
dience was highly amused because,
mainly OF Us double application. In
this wise; Jumbo could not only be
applied 20 "gumbo,' as representing
something big but also TO policeman
OF huge proportions doing duty in
Cardston. and who was known and
recognized always by the very expires
sive title OF Jumbo" So that when
President Shows remark was quoted
namely. that they had struck
Jumbo" IA Canada. the minda
OF that entire congregation naturally
reverted to Policeman Jumbo and
every one present smiled and looked as
II he really hoped Il were true.
The most serious and unpleasant as
pect OF the work, however, was seen
when the men were eXcavating In water
and "gumbo." knee deep. as was the
case In several places. No matter how
bright and radiant they approached the
task in the morning, at night they were
well nigh unrecognlzable-for they
emerged from the 'ditch" bespattered
from head TO foot. Those were trying
days In one piece OF contract work. II
Is said. the horses mired down In mud
and water, and could only be eXtricat-
ed by the use Of chains fastened around
their bodies. and the employment Of
horse power on the bank.
Such were some OF the difficulties en-
countcred by the sub-contractors as the
work progressed and II was feared for
a time that the work-up to 500. 600
could not be accomplished within the
time specified IN the contract made with
the Canadian Northwest Irrigation Co
namely, December 3lst, 1899. failure
meant the forfeit OF a considerable
amount OF money To meet the emer-
gency, a number Of our people were
called from various Stakes 10 go 20
Canada and assist In the good work.
and those already there were encour-
aged TO remain az their post under the
| direction OF Elder w. ID. Hammond. a
most efficient and faithful man. The
brethren referred 10 responded cheer
fully. without hesitation or complaint
and worked with an energy and deter
mination that was admirable. There
was no obstacle so great, no difficulty
so forhldding but they fearlessly Crap
Piled with II and conquered.
At the close Of 1899. Il was found that
the contract had not only been filled TO
I the Letter. but $4,000 Of work additional
/ had been done.
n was a herculean task. and. II Is
| safe % say IN view Of the character of
| the work, It's location far out from pop
ulous centors. and the pay received for
| the same. namely, half cash and half
land. no other people on the continent
but the Latter-day Saints would have
/ undertaken and carried II through
The digging and eXcavatlng OF the
| canal-that IS 20 say, the portion un-
dertaken by our people from 81 Mary's
and ss4 7s2 in land, making total cost
| of $40 765. The total cost Of the entire
canal will doubtless reach S250000
The lands under the great ditch are
! rich and productive. Small grains and
vegetables flourish there as almost In
no other country We have before as
/ sample potato from Canada, weigh
ing two mounds and one ounce which
was raised upon sod that has never