The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-06
The Great Nile Dam.

l
shepard kings and Pharaohs Glow
Nile." or high Nile" has meant
dearth or plenty in Egypt. In pro-
portion as the river spread it's fertil-
izing waters in flood time along its
banks, the crop Of the season was as
sured. If for one or more years in
succession its volume fell shor. famine
stared tho people in the face.
Imperial Rome depended largely GU
the granaries Of Egypt for the daily
bread of her populacc, but in her
great constructive days she failed TO
insure the constancy of supplies in
grain and other products of Egypt's soil,
which is confidently anticipated by
the approaching regulation Of the rise
and fall nf the ancient river.
Just two years have passed since
the foundation stone Of the great Nile
dam at Assouan was laid. 1t was bed
ded on q high portion of solid rock
and was placed by the Duke of Con-
naught. Across tho river mile
broad there, the massive wall has
been steadily built up of ashlar gran
lite, Welding together the rocks which
form the dangerous 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 ir-
Figation great mass Of water.
When the river is in food its wa
ters will gush through the massive
s,aice gates. In the autumn months
the sluicc gates will be closed until
the res ,rvoir thus formed is full and
ready to be distributed by channels
over che agricultural land on each
side. When the wateris most wanted
Gn August and ApriD for the crops Of
corn, sugar, cotton and rice, the sup
ply in the lower river will be increas-
ed from the reservoir, and thus fair
ly even supply of water will be afford
ed throughout the year. A canal
with numerous locks is to be construct
ed to give passage to the Nile steam
ers and other traffic.
Commercially the value of the dam
to Egypt in the future can hardly be
estimated. It's immediate effect, ac-
cording to the Egyptian government 8
engineer, will be to bring under cult
vation 100000 additional acres of
land. This is in addition to putting
certain districts and levels beyond the
ordinary risks Of flood and drought.
An area Of 100000 acres, now in fair
cultivation, will be converted into
-ands of the first efficiency in crop
producing qualities. Over the whole
area Sir William Garstin, the sccre-
tary of state for public works, believes
the value of summer crops will be in
creased by as much as $50 an acre.
Egypt's resources for growing corn
and cotton will thus be immensely
enchanted and are likely to bring her
forward as competitor in the world
markets.
From the engineering point Of view
the stupendous nature of the under
taking will be realized from the effect
it will have in practically creating
lake IA miles long, impounding more
than 1000, 100000 tons of water. At
some periods Of the year, it is said
100000 tonsof water minute will
gush through the sluices. The dam
will raise the river about 66 feet above
its usual previous level. It is broad
enough for carriage road to run along
it's 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,
numerous islands and shadows in
which TO work. The openings Of the
sluices arc to be lined With cast iron
one and one-half inches thick, so as to
effectually guard against the destruc-
tion from the constant impact Of large
volumes Of water and high velocity.
Ihe 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.-Baltimor SIN.
The Ideal Schnnlmasfer