The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-24
To RUN Tunnel TO
CONSERVE WATERS
This, With Building a Dam,
VIII Form a Great
Lake.
WILL IRRIGATE VAST
TRACT OF UTAH LAND
Plans Provide for Expenditure
of $1,000, 900; Three Years
to Complete Work.

The first practical work OF the reclama-
ton service of the Federal Government In
Utah VIII probably be begun within
the noXt sixty days The project to
be developed is the diversion OF the waters
OF the Strawberry valley by means Of
tunnel for irrigation purposes into Dia-
mond creek. and thence by Spanish Fork
river to the valley about Payson, Spanish
Fork. Mapleton and Springfield.
Will Cost Large Sum.
The Undertaking viii require the ex-
pendture Of about 81 10000, one-half OF
which amount 1t Is estimated Will be used
In driving the tunnel and erecting dam.
and the remainder WIN be required to
complete tho canal and ditch systems for
delivering the water onto the farms
All Surveys Made.
All the surveys have been made. the To-
cation OF the tunnel site has been de-
cjded upon the streams have been gauged
and all the land owners affected by
the work have entered into an assocla-
tion which deals directly with tho Sec
rotary OF the Interior regarding the work
and the opera tion of the system, that
every preliminary detail necessary to the
commencement OF the work has been
completed
Project q Model One.
Mr.. ] II Quinton OF Montrose Colo,
service for Utah and Colorado, and In
charge of the Gunnison tunnel In Colo
rudo, stated Thursday that this Is a model
project Of It's kind. both as TO Importance
and practicability. Tho dam to be built.
he said. was only ffty feet high, and
would form lake covering COCO acres of
ground and hold wa;cr sufficient 10 cover
100, 600 acres one foot deep. This lake. no
suid. would be filled In the spring and
held until tho summer. when the natural
flow of the creeks into the country TO be
lrTiga ted was insufficient for the demands,
when II would be released.
Tunnel Three Miles Long.
The tunnel. which VIII lead to the head
waters OF Diamond creek, Will be Is, 500
feet or over three miles long. and VIII
have a carrying capacity OF 30 cubic feet
OF water per second The area to be irri-
gated is 20 600 acres. The water available
might In some years irrigate a greater
area. but this amount can be taken care
OF every year.
Natural Flow Is Deficient.
The natural flow OF the streams running
into this part OF Utah county has become
sadly deficient TO meet the water de-
mands by reason OF the gradual In
crease OF the cultivated area. The old
farms he said, have been divided into
smaller ones, new farms have been
opened so that there is now a vast ex-
panse OF ground already subdued. the pro-
duction of which can be Increased many
fold by this project.
Estimated Cost Per Acre.
The estimated cost per acre OF the land
affected is S27 but the land owners are
willing to assume their part of the f1nan-
clal burden II 1t should cost as much as
$40 per acre.
Three Years for Tunnel.
While this undertaking has been held
in allegiance and has been discussed ever
since the passage OF the reclama ton act.
II was only within the past year that
steps were taken To make 1t a reality,
The work OF driving the tunnel is the
largest part of the undertaking. but 1t can
be finished. says Mr.. Ouinton within
three years. The other work OF construct
tion Will be carried on concurrently with
the tunnel. so that by the time water is
required for the season OF 1893 1T can be
turned onto the ground.
Consult With Engineers.
Mr. Qulnton came here to consult with
the board of engineers OF the reclama tion
service, which met here Wednesday, and
consists OF George E. Swendsen OF Salt
Lake and w. II. Sanders and A. Z.
Chandler of Los Angeles. The members
from n distance have returned to their
homes,
Officers Well Satisfied.
The reclamation service officers are
extremely we'll satisfied that the Govern