New-York tribune., 1901-11-24
AFRICAN IRRIGATION.
THE GREAT PROJECT OF Mr. RHODES.

THE GREAT PROJECT OF NIX. RHODES
Bulawayo correspondence or The London Tele-
graph
An important piece Of work has recently been
dam, which is 10 be used in connection with the
This farm is situated on the northern edge Of the
Matoppos, eighteen miles from Bulawayo, and
Malirna River. This tributary is dry eight months
in the year. and the land around consequently
parched- 1t enters the valley through Poort, a
deep crevice through the range of hills on the
first glance. TO the man with irrigatng thoughts
large scale in his head, this looks an ideal place
lima tributary can be stopped and collected dur
ing the season Of heavy rains, forming large
reservoir. and regulated to water the valley inside
the poort all the year round.
Mr.. Rhodes's schemes are nothing II not big and
in this instance he has built huge earthwork wall
10 dam the tributary. The work was begun By his
taken nearly two and a half years TO complete. 1t
VIII render possible the cultivation OF some Two
soil. The total cost up date has been sonnet hing
the Malima food waters into the reservoir will bring
this total up 10 about $3.50 when. with such an
should be fair for the capital invested The
ScheTe, h9~ever must not ne 1ooheq upon ] as one one
rather ii the light OF an experiment 70 show what
crops can be grown under irrigation IN Rhodesia.
and from this point Of view it should be Of in
estlmable value to the country. ,.-..,. - -.
The dam wall IS a tremendous undertaking TOT so
new country In the making OF II no less {nsn ba
handled From the old surface OF the ground to tne
top OF the embankment the height IS about eighty
level when the reservoir space is filled It's length IS
about 80 feet and top width 10 feet, widening to
thickness Of about $50 feet at the base Inc 'front.'
face Of the dam presents curved appearance seen
from the summit the varying gradients or It's
slope To within 25 OF the top the slope Is IN
Pr for the 10 feet it is in IA and for the last
This face has covered with heavy rubble pitch
ing laid carefully by hand above layer OF broken
have been swept backward and forward in order 10
MI in all the crevices. There are about five thou-
5and square s ga6SS oF b ei eba looking toward
the irrigable lands, is planted with quick grass
Steam and power have been employed Tor the
construction, and manual power eliminated as Tar
as possible. Ploughs loosened the required ma
terial and self-hlling and dumping scoops handed
H. The outlet from the reservoir is by means of
a valve shaft There 1S-inch valves in
the valve shaft one OF which admits water to the
for delivery into the main furrow beyond the en-
bankment. This arrangement admits OF perfect
control and free inspection of the valves at any
The overflow from the reservoirs is in cutting
about half d mile awag from and TO the east OF
the dam embankment- Its dimensions are: Length.
740 feet width feet; depth, Il feet The
floor of this cutting is, naturally, at the high water
level Of the reservoir. or ten feet below the sum-
reservoir 500 0o0 900 gallons A small body of
water was conserved last season. and fifty acres of
lucernel planted as beginning 1t is doing ex-
tremey well under irrigation
The site of the works, the northern edge OF the
Matoppos, is very picturesque The green lucerne
makes q delightful contrast against the dull and
nav browns OF the surrounding country which pre-
vail during the dry season.
A hotel has been built some rising ground
overlooking the dam and expected that IT Will
be very popular a holiday resort for the youth
and beauty OF Bulawayo-become in fact, the
Richrnond Bathing, too, in the hot season may be
induged in though 1t is likely to be attended with
Of water in this country Irresistible attrac-
ton for the crocodile family