The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-27
GUILDS GIGANTIC RESERVOIR.
Dimensions Are IS Miles Long and
EIGHT Miles Wide.

! Ell Paso, Texas, May 26-The govern
ment is building a reservoir twenty-five
miles long, eight miles Wide and 800 feet
deep at cost of 50, eoo, 900 at the junction
of Salt river and Tonto creek.
This is one Of the results of the re-
ciamation act passed by congress and is
illustrative of what will be done under
the supervision of the federal govern
ment in reclaiming arid lands by the
sale OF public domains. In ten years
the settlers who are benefited by this
structure will own the dam that pro-
vides water for their own fields.
Everything required in the construction
of this reservoir is on the ground, placed
there seemingly by nature to be used in
putting life in the desert by mans In
genuity. Most of the material will be
taken from the excavations necessary in
making the basin.
The dam will be a masonry structure
22O feet above the present level and 25C
feet above the bed rock. The stone will
come from the bluffs, which will be cut
out to form spillway. and the cement
will be manufactured by plant erected
on the ground. a cement factory has
the manufacture of Portland cement Will
be taken out of mother earth almost at
the door of the plant. This plant will
cost about s100. 900. and will more than
pay for itself when the diminished cost
of the cement is taken into consideration.
The site of the dam is a long distance
from any factory, and taking into con-
sideration the prevalent, high prices the
plant Will be money saver. Limestone.
clay and gypsum, necessary in the manu-
facture of cement, are easily obtainable
on the creek. The limestone, which runs
about seventy-five per cent in the manu-
facture. will be obtained when the soil is
excavated to erect a factory.
The clay. which huns twenty-three per
cent, is found in a bed a mile down the
basin. and the gypsum. at two per cent
is also found a short distance away
In connection with the basin the gov
ernment is constructing a canal twelve
miles in length to take care of the regu-
lar low waterfow. The canal will dis
pense with any gate on the reservoir and
viii give the lands down the river as
much water as they have previously OBJ
tanned without measuring or trouble OF
any nature.
By this means a $50 head power will be
secured. which will be utilized in large
electric plant, and the water will do all
of the work. This plant will run the
cement factory, mills, engines used In
quarrying. drills, etc. Its value in the
course of erection of the dam will repay
the expenditure necessary to place X in
working order, but its usefulness does
not stop then as it will be run after all
pump water from the bottom lands for
irrigation purposes. Another smaller dam
will be constructed eight miles down the
river toward Pnenix. which win ma
terially assist this work. This dam Will
be used for power.
Clay for common brick Is on hand and
also for fire brick for lining the cement
furnaces. The Sierra Ancha mountains
have large forests and the government
has established saw mills on the reserve
which supply the necessary timbers as
work progresses.
4 new wagon road he's been built along
the basin as the old road will be covered
by water and the road extended along
the canyon eight miles toward Phenix.
The city OF Phenix has voted $1,000 IN
bonds and the adjoining towns in pro-
portion 20 their size for building this
wagon road TO Phenix, a distance of sig
ty miles.
The settlers who will be benefited BY
the dam have already organized a stock
company to take over the project a. the
expiration Of the ten years which they
consume in paying for IL