Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-27
THE GREAT NILE DAM.
Importance Of the Work That Has Just Been
Finished at Assouan.

From the ages Of the dynasties Of
shepherd kings and Pharaohs a 'low
Nile" or "a high Nile" has meant
dearth or plenty in Egypt. In proper
tion as the river spread its fertilizing
waters in flood time along its banks,
the crop Of the season was assured. If
for one or more years in succession it's
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 Of supplies in grain
and other product 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 Assouan was laid. It was bedded
on a 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. It's
strength had to be designed to hold in
reserve for purposes Of irrigation
great mass Of water.
When the river is in flood its wa
ters will gush through the massive
sluice gates. In the autumn months
the sluice gates will be closed until the
reservoir thus formed Is full and ready
to be distributed by channels over the
agricultural land on each side. When
the water Is most wanted Tin August
and ApriD for the crops of corn, sugar,
cotton and rice, the supply in the lower
river will be increased from the reser-
voir, and thus 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 es-
timated. It's immediate effect, accord
ing to the Egyptian governments en-
gineer, will be to bring under cultiva-
ton 100000 additional acres Of land.
This is in addition to putting certain
districts and levels beyond the ordina-
ry risks of flood and drought. An area
of 5000 900 acres, now In fair cultiva-
first efficiency in crop-producing quail
ties. Over the whole area Sir William
Garstin, the secretary Of state for pub
lie works, believes the value Of summer
crops will be increased by as much
as $50 an acre. Egypt's resources for
growing corn and cotton will thus be
immensely enhanced and are likely to
bring her forward as q competitor In
the worlds markets.
From the engineering point Of view
the stupendous nature Of the undertake
ing will be realized from the effect 1t
will have in practically creating lake
IA miles long, impounding more than
1000, 900 900 tons of water. At some pc
RODS Of the year, it is said 9000 900 tons
of water a minute will gush through
the sluices. The dam will raise the riv-
er about 66 feet above it's usual previ-
Gus level. 1t is broad enough for car
riage road to run along its top.
Nowhere else in the Nile valley, says
Sir Benjamin Baker, who has carried
out the work, were to be found such
advantages Of site, sound rock, numer-
GUS islands and shadows in which to
work. The openings Of the sluices are
to be lined with cast iron one and one
half inches thick, so as to effectually
guard against the destruction from the
constant impact Of large volumes of
water at high velocity. The width Of
the base Of the dam has been made
such that the pressure on the solid
granite masonry will be less than that
on any other of the great dams Of the
world.-Baltimore Sun.