The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
TO MAKE TWO STATES BLOOM,
A GREAT IRRIGATION Project
SETTLED on IN THE WEST.
Platte River 20 he Put In Harness, EnoT-
nous Dams built and Water Turned
over 700 Mile Area-Desert Lands
WIN He Converted 10 Fertility.

nous Dams Built and water Turned
over 700 AlIle Area-Desert Lands
WIN He Converted 10 Fertility.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., dan. 1.-the Path
finder irrigation project ON tho North
Platte River in Wyoming and Nebraska
has been definitely decided upon, and 1t is
now announced that actual construction
will begin on the great dam near Alcova
on Feb. l. This is the greatest scheme OF
reclamation ever undertaken by the ma
tional Government IL involves the con-
struction Of irrigation works of vast ct
tent, including three permanent dams, two
temporary diversion dams three outlet
tunnels through solid rock formations and
several great distributing canals-all these
being built at different points along the
Platte within distance of 20 miles.
1t is a conquest characteristic OF an age
Of industrial progress, great engineering
feats and marvellous invention. When
the plans now being outlined by the Gov
eminent have attained complete reallza-
ton, as they will in a few years, the world
will be astonshed at the Transformations
Even Westerners do not comprehend the
magnitude OF the results TO come from
roclaiming the desert lands Of the arid
States.
The Pathfinder scheme has been under
Investigation by the Government Tor the
last two years ON 1t has been used the
best engineering talent Of the Geological
/ Survey. Its plan was outlined by +, II.
Newell, chief OF the Reclamation Service,
and Engineer Field in charge OF surveys
and construction The topography OF the
country presents many difficult engineering
problems, but these have been solved, and
the massive works 10 be built will last for
centuries.
The system was named the Pathfinder
in honor Of Gen John C, Fremont who
made in the Platte Valley in Wyoming
his most interesting Investigations
Operations on the system begin near
Alcova, Wyo, properly about ten miles
above as the river runs, and in the wonder
ltl canon Of the Platte, where the water OF
the river Tilshes down between precipitous
walls Of granite rising in some places to 900
feet 1t extends, with its collateral dams,
reservoirs. canals and bitches, 200 miles
into Nebraska. 1t is estimated that more
than 900 miles Of bitches will be required
TO distribute the waters.
The next great dam will be built at the
mouth Of Platte Cahon, mile above the
town Of Guernsey, az the river runs. This
will be $50 miles below the initial dam near
/ Alcova.
( Seven miles down the Platte from tho
! Guernsey dam, another will he constructed
/ for fully utilizing the Lingle ditch. private
/ enterprise recently purchased by the Gov
/ eminent. to DO included in the Pathfinder
project.
The towns and cities within the direct
and indirect influence 81 the reclamation
are Aloova. Casper, Glenrock, Douglas,
Grin, Glendo, Hartyile. Guernsey, Fort
Laramie, Goshen, Wyncote and Torringtoni
all in Wyoming. Beyond the Nebraska
line. d dozen or more towns VIII come within
its benefits. and new ones are expected TO
sr,rinR into existence az a result Of the en-
The undertaking will water from 800 600
/ to zoo 600 acres OF arid land, now the
! homes OF the prairie dog and jack rab-
/ bit. covered only with cactus and sage
/ brush. The United States Government,
! through the Secretary Of tho Interior.
I has already made application 20 the Board
Of Control Of Wyoming for USS SO4 acres OF
/ land to be segregated under the system
/ Following the river across the wyoming
/ line into Nebraska $50 600 acres in the latter
/ State will be brought into the same reclama-
/ ton scheme.
Tho initial dam near Alcoya will be in a
| solid eranite formation, the bed rock and
walls on each side being Of this rock. il will
I he 20o feet high. 80 feet long AT the bottom
/ Of the river and 200 feet long, or across
: the river. at the top. The thickness OF
the dam at the bottom will be 81 feet. at
I the top II feet II will be constructed Of
solid masonry laid in cement mortar
In building this Il temporary dam and
! two diversion tunnels will be constructed
/ 20 convey the waters of the river out of
I their natural bed during construction,
/ which will require four years from the day
/ the work begins The diversion tunnels
/ viii be ruin through the solid granite walls
! OF the river canon and will be about 500
/ icet long. with ff5o95 zee END % feet :esff>ee-
! lively
called for proposals for the tunnel CON
/ stI1lction IN connection with the dam,
and bids for this part Of the work will he
opened tomorrow.
/ The reservoir created by the dam VIII
reach from four miles below the mouth of
the Sweetwater to twenty miles above,
extending nearly TO the Seminole Noun
tains aud covering 5000 acres, and will
contain 600 COO acre feet Of wafer. This
reservoir alone will TTigate $50 600 acres OF
land The dam proper viii cost about
81 600.
The Guernsey dam is at the Narrows, a
polnt on the Platte River a mile north OF
Guernsey and about half mile below the
f mouth OF inc 1idDh eAighs iAtlf Aitt
Government has a purity testing for bed
rock.
For the last six weeks this party, with
their drilling machinery mounted on
raft anchored by steel ropes 10 the river
cliffs. has been probing the bottom Of
the river to find a suitable foundation Tor
the great dam The drill takes out the
rock In cores which are saved and arranged
In their natural order. SO that every foot
Of the formation of the river bottom can
be seen at q glance.
At the Narrows the river runs between
two projecting walls Of rock averaging
from % TO 40 feet high. Beyond these
wills the hills rise abruptly on the we-t
bank Of the river. and IN slopes and ter
races on the east bank. The enclosing
rock IL old dolomte limestone. As the
river conyerges between the cliffs u be-
comes quite narrow and the channel deep
ems At the line OF borngs 1t is 1875 feet
across.
Historically the point is peculiarly inter
esting, as 1t Is particu arly described by
Fremont who personally explored the canon
on his first expedition in July. 1912.
Gen. Fremont described exactly the local
ity where the town OF Guernsey now stands,
and recommended II as the most suita-
bic point on the North Plhtte for the es-
tablishment Of military post 10 protect
end keep open for our communications
north and south and east and west, and as
| being central for the control OF the Indian