Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-07-23

AS one approaches the Magic dam
from the east side of Big Wood river
the valley is shut out from view by a
high divide forming the eastern rim of
the river valley.
On climbing the shoulder of the noun
tain forming the divide the whole valley
bursts into view presenting scene of
more than passing beauty.
Down hundreds of feet below can be
seen the water of the Big Wood river
with the tops of several trees visible
above the surface, showing that the
big dam has already raised the level
thirty feet above the usual bed of the
stream.
The bed of the river here occupies
the bottom of canyon 130 feet deep
and 800 feet across whose precipitous
sides are threaded by numerous railway
tracks on different levels, hugging the
banks like a lovers arm seeking the
proper indentations of waist line.
From the top of the canyon walls the
ground slopes away on either side,
forming plateau on which are located
the buildings and tents of the J. G.
White Construction company with the
great cash Of the canyon separating
them.
The river is here trying to break
through the foothills of the Sawtooth
range in order to emerge upon the plain
below. For several miles the course is
almost straight south but a flank of the
mountain on the east side of the valley
juts out directly across the rivers
course and turns it sharply to the west.
The Magic dam is thrown across the
canyon just above this westward turn
and connects the construction camps on
both sides of the river.
Remember that all of this is seen
from the shoulder of the mountain
forming the eastern boundary of the
valley and over which the road from
the east passes.
From this shoulder the road bears
south of west to where the construction
camps and buildings on the east side
are located. Most prominent of these
is the gate keepers house which is
cozily tucked under the brow of the
with the other buildings much
below
Still looking from this eastern vantage
ground, the magnitude of the magic
dam undertaking can be family realized
when the visitor is informed that the
water of the completed reservoir will
rise almost to the gatekeeper's house,
and will completely submerge all the
land comprising the plateaus on both
sides of the canyon OH which the build
ngs and camps of the White company
are located, and that the vast expanse
IF valley reaching from the gatekeper's
to the higher elevations to
he rorth and northwest will be lake
nesting in quiet beauty between the
foothills of the southern slope.
Just in front and straight west of the
house is where the river
.urns sharply to the west, forming a
high, rocky promontory and the top of
his is the western plateau on which |
he main buildings of the company are
ocated. Commencing over 800 feet
iorth of the angle of this promontory
s the head of the tunnel which is To-
.ated only little above the bed of the
.anyon and penetrates clear through
he promontory on straight line, the
intake being just above the upper wall
# the dam and the mouth below and
O the west of the lower wall. This
,romontory saves about half of the
ength of the tunnel, which is only 900
eet long, while the dam is 800 feet
hick up and down the river. Had there
een no promontory or bend in the
iver the tunnel would needs have been
INSTRUCTED in the form of half circle,
nth radius of over 800 feet, so as to
onvey the water of the river entirely
round the 800-foot dam.
This tunnel is 12x14 feet in the clear
nd is lined throughout with massive
oncrete, with immense concrete walls
,rming the intake, and with broad |
oncrete spilIway at the outlet. 1t is {