The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-07-03
CEMENT TUNNEL ON LOST RIVER
Mark Twain's Joke Realized-BuiId-
ing Tunnel Out Of Doors-A
$4,000 Joke Made to Hold
Water-Paid $1,000 for

information.
A. P. Adair and T. w. Thomas. oc.
cupying the positions of engineer and
general manager for the Bis Lost
River Colonization company, passed
through Blaekfoot Wednesday morn
ing on their way to Mackay, and
while they changed cars we learned
something OF the difficulties confront
ing them in the construction of the
reservoir above Mackay.
In our issue of week ago we gave
considerable information as to how
large dams are constructed, and SIM
liar conditions have to be met at the
Mackay dam site. A tunnel has to
De made to allow the water to pass
by the site of the dam while it is be-
ing built, and Mr.. Thomas saws that
they began driving tunnel twelve
feet wide through the point of the
mountain last year, but learned that
on account of the slaty character of
the rock, 1t would not stand. so they
had to timber it or brace and tighten
1t with cement. AS they proceeded
with the blasting, the Jar would
crack the cement work behind them
and after expanding $1,000 on the
work they gave it up and decided to
pulld the tunnel out of doors. People
VINO have read Mark Twain's
"Roughing It," will recall the tunnel
That some of the miners built on ton
of mountain, and that was good
only for payroll, but lost even that
value when the paymaster came out
west and saw how he had been work.
ed. In this case at Mackay, they will
build their tunnel along the side of
the mountain, on a level with the
stream, and when completed they
Will turn the water through it while
they build the dam. The tunnel will
consist OF two halls side by side, each
six feet deep and nine feet wide. with
a very broad foundation of cement.
and all enclosed except at the ends.
1t is to be built of steel bands or
rods and cement, and is what engi-
neers speak of reinforced cement
work" It will require forty or fifty
carloads Of cement to build the tun-
mel, and then the main job of build
Ing the dam will begin The esti-
mated cost of the open air tunnel is
$4,000 and the cost of the dam is
5000, 900.
Ihls Will impound water making a
AXE six miles long, covering part of
he ranchs of G. c. Davidson. Geo.
and others, and is intended
o. conserve the run-off of the drain
age basin during the eight or nine
months of the year when the water
s not used for irrigation, and when
ne greatest volume is passing. The {
lam Is to be hundred feet high, and {
he water is to be conducted down 6
lost river valley part of the way in 6
ne natural channel and through ca E
ais at places where there is a heayyI s
oss from seepage in the river bed /
he water will be used on Powell r
lat and Era Flat. forty to eighty e
lilies from the reservoir. y
The land on both of these tracts is r
unsurpassed by any semi |,
rid land in the state, there being v
like 100000 acres. and I,
9th tracts lying on the supposed line
the Chicago & Northwestern rail-
ay soon to be built through Idaho .,
Snake river just above Ida :,
Falls, and crossing the Mackay -
ranch at or near the station called =,
DWELL !"
About $4,000 acres of the Powell -
act have already been sold and una !,
II the favorable conditions of the :,
esent year, little fear is entertain :,
of settlers losing any crops, al -
ough farming on the tract will be =,
companied with much risk until ~,
e reservoir is brought into COM 80
lssion. The season of 1907 wit ~
ssed the beginning of operations co
the Powell tract and there was ~
enty of water for irrigation. Ca ~,
Is were built and made ready, and a.
w the condition of last year is re- =,
ated, there being abundance of -,
ter. Some of the settlers who
re there in April, preparing to +,
Ike homes, got discouraged with ou
outlook and prospect of dry sea- ~
is before the reservoir could be ~
lit, and left. The rains began to ~,
| on May 3rd, and for several t.,
eks the ground was so wet that =, :
IVY teaming could not be carried ho
without difficulty. The CROPS are
king fine, and the only settlers on KA
tract now, G. e. Holland and w.
fletcher, have right to feel proud
n ytrNfr hNIIl n