The Florence tribune., 1901-06-01
THE GREAT NILE.
A Dam That is One of the Greatest En-
 qineerinc Feats.

~ SSi" Hat lS OHc oI tnc 1FeateSt Gn-
 eineerino Feats.
 From the ages of the dynasties of the Shepherd Kings and Pharaohs, ''low Nile" or "high Nile" has meant dearth Or plenty in Egypt. In proportion as the river spread it's fer tilizing waters in flood time along it's bank the crops of the season were as- sured. If for one or more years in suc- cession its volume fell short famine stared the people in the face.
 Imperial Rome depended largely on the granaries of Egypt for the daily bread of her populace, but in her great constructive days she failed to insure the constancy iu the supplies in grain and other products of Egypt's soil which is confidently anticipated by the approaching regulation of the rise and fall of the ancient river.
 Just two years have passed since the foundation stone of the great Nile dam At Asouan was laid. It was bedded on high portion of solid rock and was placed by the Duke of Connaught. Across the river, mile broad there, the massive wall has been steadily built up of ashlar granite, welding to- gether the rocks which form the dan gerous First Cataract. The length of the dam is about 5000 feet. Its length had to be designed to hold in reserve for purposes of irrigation great mass of water.
 When the river is in flood it's waters will gush through the massive sluice gates. h the autumn months the sluiee gates will be closed until the reservoir thus formed is full and ready to be distributed by canals over the agricultural lands on each side.
 When the water is most wanted Gin August and ApriD for the crops of corn, sugar, cotton and rice, the supply in the lower river will be increased from the reservoir. and a fairly even supply of water will be afforded throughout the year. A canal with numerous locks is to be constructed to give passage to the Nile steamers and other traffic.
 Commercially the value of the dam to Egypt in the future can hardly be estimated. Its immediate effect, ae- cording to the Egyptian governments engineer, will be to bring under culti- yation ,O00 additional acres of land. This is, in addition to putting certain districts and levels beyond the ordi- nary risks of flood and drought. An area of 5000 ,000 acres, now in fair eul- tivation, will be converted to land of the greatest efficiency in crop produc- iug qualities. Over the whole area Sir William Garstin, the secretary of State of Public Works, believes the value oi the summer crops will be increased by as much as $50 per acre. Egypt's re- sources for growing corn and cotton win thus be immensely enhanced and are likely to bring her forward as a competitor in the worlds markets.
 From the engineering point of view the stupendous nature of the underi ak ing will be realized from the effect il will have of creating practically lak' of IA miles long, impounding nor, than 1000, 1000, ,0O0 tons of water. A some periods of the year, it is said 900, 00U will raise the river about sixty five feet above it's usual level. It broad enough for carriage road tt run along it's top.
 Nowhere else in the Nile valley, say Sir Benjamin Baker, who has carrie' out the work, were to be found advan tsges of site, sound rock, nuInerou islands and shallows in which to work The openings of the sluices are to b lined with cast iron one and half ir ches thick, so as to effectually guar against the destruction from the cor stant impact of large volumes of wate at high velocity. The width of th dam at the base has been made sue that the pressure on the solid granit masonry will be less than that on an of the other great dams of the worl
 The Imperial Farmer says: IT above article has been floating arour without credit. There is evidently 8 error in the holding capacity of u reservoir. The width of the lake
 not given, but evidently it must be tt miles wide if IA miles long. Assur ing this width the lake would have | average depth of about twenty fee and holding capacity of 1S,432,O 0
 acre feet.
 Troubles of the Citizen.