The Delta independent., 1907-05-24
DESCRIPTION OF
SOUTH CANAL


INDEPENDENT saw portion Of the big
South Canal which will carry water
from the Gunnison tunnel to the west
side of the Uncompahgre valley. We
never saw such ditch before. 1t
looked almost large enough to accom-
modate the whole of the Gunnison riv-
er; and it was such splendidly finished
piece of work. The Montrose Western
Empire last week published a descrip-
ton of this South Canal from which we
take the following:
1.-THE canal proper starts in about
1900 feet from the west portal of the
tunnel, and the tunnel people will COM
plete this unfinished section up to
where the canal engineers begin their
work. The first lateral, which is the
largest, is taken out not far from this
point, and So second feet of water is its
capacity. There are two big pipes 36
inches in diameter, and fitted with
heavy bronze gates, insuring freedom
from rust. There are series Of big
drops" following each other at inter-
walls until just beyond the lake. Each
drop is about ten feet, with the excep-
tion of one which is forty feet. There
are fourteen altogether and their use is
made necessary by the great fall Of
the water in this twelve odd miles, as,
if it was free to run it reaches such a
velocity that even cement could not
withstand its terrific cutting powers
The first drop which is at this time done
stands $500 ft. from the west portal.
There are to be two more between this
and the portal but there is government
material in the way for the present.
Probably one of the most interesting
features about the canal are four big
tunnels. No. l is 500 it. long. No. 2,
400 it., No. 3. l,00l it., and No. 4, 400
feet. All are about 1Ox 10 in diameter
and are handsomely finished in the in.
terror, and have keystone arches at the
entrance.
The canal on leaving Lujane cuts
around the foothills in a slnuous fashion,
cutting through hillsides here, tunnels
there, and in other places there are
large fills. The old surveys for the cana
ran farther down in the valley. 1t wa.
difficult country through which t.
build a canal in either place, but from
what we learn from men who ar,
posted the government was saved abou
$50, 200 in choice of the present route
The canal is approximately twelv'
miles in length, and there are 5000,
yards of concrete, 28,O00 yards O
crushed rock, 1000 yards of sand ant
10000 barrels of lola cement necessar,
to use in the construction There hav'
been nearly 75O,O yards of earth ant
rock excavated on the whole canal.
Concrete work is put in for two rea
sons: to. strengthen the walls and pre-
vent leaks, and also to make water rul
faster so narrow exits can be used il
earth-work sections, where the velocit,
is slower, making the canal wider, o
necessity.
The top of the canal backs in som,
parts reaches about ITO feet. This il
said to be almost twice as large as tn
Erie Canal, 80 the magnitude of thi
big stream will be realized.
At the upper approach to tunnel No.
is a large lake, which is without exag
geration four times as large as the Pei
ton lake. 1t is formed by running
huge dam across the end of little val
ley, and then letting the water in t.
form lake instead of putting in man,
yards of additional curvature circlint
around the hill with the canal. Tn,
water runs into the lake and extend
back up into number of little draws
for pretty near half mile; then it wa.
removed at the south end by tunne
through mountain. South Canal il
constructed at cost of about $3.50, 900