Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-19
WORK ON SHOSHONE PROJECT
Rapid Progress Made in Constructing
Irrigation Fumes.
MAIN DAM WILL BE HIGHEST IN WORLD
Structure VIII he $40 Feet from
Bed Rock To Top-RiEht 10
Lease Reserve Lands
Upheld.
(From a stan Correspondent

WASBlNGTON, March S,-(Speclal,)-
Work ON the shoshone project in Wyoming
progressed rapidly during the month of
February. The 1ume at the dam site has
been So far completed as to divert the
river around the side OF, the remaining
portion Of the temporary dam so that the
work of erecting that structure across the
main channel was undertaken on March l.
A. large force is employed on the out
let tunnel, which has Il cross-soction Of
11x12 feet. The rate OF progress has been
IS feet daily or a total of li3 feet durir
the month The excavation was in OK
ceptlonslly hard granite, the drilling be-
ing done with standard drills and the blast
ing with Go per cent dynamite. Plans Cor
the main plant have developed rapidly dur
ing the month.
The work Of grading is now i'm progress
for boiler house. cement house. storage
bins for sand and stone and for the crush
ing outfit. 1t is proposed to put in four
boilers, each Of about 100 horse power ca
pacity, for driving two air compressors
which will supply power for running ca
bleways, stone crusher. drills and detached
machinery. The early delivery OF the
workable portion of this plant is expected.
At the present time 10 men and forty
horses are employed on construction.
On the Corbett tunnel during February
1877 linear feet of main tunnel ex-
cavated from two headings. During the
month of March it is expected that the
crib work for the temporary dam will be
completed and that the excavation for the
outlet tunnel will be finished. The Sho-
shone dam will be the highest structure
OF It's kind in the world, $40 feet from bed
rock to top.
Leasing Reserve Lands.
In initiating many of the large irrlga-
ton projects areas embracing thousands Of
acres have been withdrawn from entry OF
purchased for irrigation works under the
reclamation act. The lands which arc re-
CURED for reservoir purposes and rights Of
way when withdrawn arc not subject to
entry OF occupation by any one. II has
frequently been necessary TO acquire Guilt
waited estates which arc located in the
reservoir sites. The question arose as to
what could be done with regard to these
cultivated tracts during the three or four
years of construction, and of other lands
that could be leased for a longer or shorter
period without detriment 10 the project.
An opinion was asked Of the secretary as
to whether these lands could be leased
temporarily. The secretary has just de-
cided that leases can properly be made
provided they will not interfere with the
use and control. of the lands for the pur-
poses contemplated in their purchase and
reservation. The decision Is an important
one to the service and will greatly facili-
tate the progress OF the work in several
sections. For the most part the reservoirs
are located far from town and railroads
and the question of supplies for men and
H.. nj
tivated ranches near the works find ready
sale for all their products and their sban-
donment during construction would result
in very materially increasing the cost of
the project as well as the expense of sup
plies and deprive the workmen Of fresh
vegetables, meats ana fruits. by making a
lease of the cultivated areas within reser-
voir sites TO farmers, the government is
able to purchase at reasonable prices large
quantities of farm products and at the
same time derive revenue from such
lease. reducing the expense Of the water
rights to the settlers on irrigated lands.
Home for Gate Keeper.
The secretary of the interior has au-
thorized Nhe reclamation service to con-
struct residence for the gatekeeper at
the Pathfinder dam site, on the North
Platte project in Wyoming. This structure
Is TO be of stone quarried nearby II will
have five rooms and Is to cost not less
than 5000
The present inspector at the dam Is
stonemason and his services will be util-
lied In the construction of the house dur
ing such time he r. not occupied In the
work on the dam. The house will be oc-
cupied by the engineer In charge Of the
government work until the dam Is COM
pieted, after which IT will be used by the
gatekeeper.
Exports to Europe.
Europe takes two-thirds Of the exports
of the United States and supplies
practically one-half OF the imports.
says bulletin issued by the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor. or
the 81, 02i. $1,000 worth Of merchandise sent
TO Europe in 1876. s2ss,OO.OOO was manufsc-
lures. the other S7s2OOOOOO worth being
largely foodstuffs and manufacturers ma
terials.