The Indianapolis journal., 1904-06-08
BIG RESERVOIR OF WATER
WILL SAVE TEXAS LAND
1t Will Be 25 Miles Long, 8 Miles
Wide and 200 Feet Deep,
Cost S3,ooO,oOo.
MATERIALS ON GROUND

Ell PASO, Tex, June THE government
is building a reservoir twenty-five miles
long eight miles wide and two hundred
feet deep, at a cost of 100000. at the june
ton Of Salt river and Tonto creek.
This is one of the results of the reclama-
tion act passed by Congress, and is illustra-
tive of what will be done under the super
vision Of the federal government in re-
claiming arid lands by the sale of public
domains. In ten years the settlers who are
benefited by this structure will own the
dam that provides 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 inge-
nuity. Most of the material viii be taken
from the excavations necessary in making
the basin.
The dam will be a masonry construction
22O feet above the present level and 250 feet
above the bedrock. The stone will come
from the bluffs. which will be cut out to
form spilIway, and the cement will be
manufactured by a plant erected on the
ground. n cement factory has been pur-
chased, and the materials for the manufac-
ture of Portland cement will be taken out
of mother earth almost at the door OF the
plant. This plant will cost about 100000,
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 consideration the prevalent high prices,
the plant VIII be a money saver. Lime
stone, clay and gypsum, necessary in the
manufacture of cement are easily obtaina-
BILE on the creek. The limestone, which
will be obtained when the soil is excavated
to erect factory.
The clay. which runs % per cent, is
found in bed a mile down the basin, and
the gympsum, at per cent, is also found
short distance away.
In connection with the basin the govern
ment is constructing canal twelve miles
| IN length TO take care OF the regular low
| water flow. The canal will dispense With
any gate on the reservoir and will give
/ the lands down the river as much water as
/ they have previously obtained without
/ measuring or trouble of any nature.
By this means a 250-head power will be
] secured, which will me utilized in a large
electric plant, and the water will do all of
/ the work The plant will run the cement
factory, mills, engines used in Quarrying,
/ drills, etc. Its value in the course of erec-
ton of the dam will repay the expenditure
! necessary TO place it in working order, but
| its usefulness does not stop then, as it will
| be run after all work on the structure is
| completed to pump water from the bottom
lands for irrigation purposes. Another
| smaller dam will be constructed eight
| miles down the river toward Phoenix, which
will materially assist this work This dam
! will be used for power.
Clay for common brick is hand and
also for fire brick for lining the cement
furnaces. The Sierra Ancha mountains
| have large forests and the government has
| established sawmills on the reserve, which
| supply the necessary timbers as work pro-
| crosses.
a new wagon road has been built along
the basin, as the old road will be covered
/ by water and the road extended along the
canyon eight miles toward Phoenix. The
city of Phoenix has voted $4,000 in bonds
and the adjoining towns in proportion tC
their size for building this wagon road tC
| Phoenix, a distance of sixty miles.
The settlers who VIII be benefited by tn,
dam have already organized a stock com
pany to take over the project at the expira
tion of the ten years which they consume
in paving for it.