The Green Forest tribune., 1909-09-24
GUNN|SON TUNNEL
 OPENED BY. TAFT
Great Reclamation Project Now
 Is Completed.
BORE IS SIX MILES LONG
Wild Rejoicing at Montrose, Col, as Waters of Mountain River Flow Into the Uncompahgre
 Valley.

NdICy.
 Montrose, Cal, Sept. 23.-Booming of cannon, music of bands and the wild cheering of thousands of men and women to-day signalized the con- pletion of the Gunnison river tunnel project on which the government has been at work for four and a half years. President William H. Taft honored the occasion with his pres ence and it was his hand that opened the gates at the west portal and ad- mitted into the beautiful but semi arid Uncompahgre valley the waters of the Gunnison river brought six miles through the immense tunnel that has been driven through a granite mountain range.
 The day of the opening of the tun- nel was made the chief day of the Western Slope fair, now being held here. All the morning special trains kept coming in, from various parts of the state, and at 30 there was a parade of the visitors. Early in the afternoon the explosion of bomb told the people that the special train bearing President Taft and other gov ernment officials had entered the city limits. A second bomb announced his debarkation at the station, and a third was sent up as the distinguished guest, escorted by a great procession, started for Elks park
 President Taft Welcomed.
 ha marks by F. D. Catlin, chairman of the Gunnison tunnel opening commit tee, Mayor J. O. Allen turned the key of the city over to the guests. Then John c. Bell delivered the formal ad- dress of welcome, to which Presi- dent Taft responded briefly and hap pily. The exercises here concluded with remarks by Senator Charles J. Hughes and Gov. John Shafroth At four o'clock trains started for the west portal of the tunnel, where Presi- dent Taft opened the gates, and speeches were made by l. w. McCon- nell, consulting engineer of the recla- nation service, and Senator Horace T. DeLong of Grand Junction.
 Story of the Great Tunnel.
 First of the big government recla- nation projects to be undertaken, the Gunnison river tunnel has been one of the most difficult to carry through. The ample waters of the Gunnison flow through narrow valleys unsuited to agriculture or through deep, rocky canyons, while only few miles to the west the lovely Uncompahgre valley has been suffering for water. The Gunnison, descending in ever deepen ing gorges, finally plunges into the Black canyon, one of the most mag nificent mountain gorges in the world This unpromising spot was selected as the starting point of the tunnel Brave engineers lowered themselves into the Black canyon at points where the granite walls rise almost perpen- dicularly hundreds of feet and after their surveys were completed active work was started on the immense project.
 At great expense and under enor- nous difficulties, a wagon road was built to the east portal of the tun- nel. It is 15 miles long, and, climb ing the granite ridge between the canyon and the Uncompahgre valley, descends the rocky wall on shelf-work
 Bore Built for All Time.
 Simultaneously work was begun at each end of the tunnel and at a point several thousand feet from the west end, where a shaft was sunk. As fast as the tunnel was driven through the shale and solid rock, it was timbered, and then the heavy timbers were covered with impervious cement. This gives tunnel of solid concrete built to withstand the wear of ages. All the fumes, culverts, division gates, drops and other work along the lines of the main canals are built of steel and concrete.
 There is no dam across the Black canyon at the point where the river is turned into the tunnel. Instead of this, the tunnel itself taps the river from beneath it's granite bed By this plan neither floods nor slack wa ter can prevent the tunnel taking from the river all the water needed.
 
 Has Immense Capacity.
 A few statistics of this tremendous project are worth setting forth The tunnel is S0,600 feet long, and Il by 13 feet inside measurement. The main canal is 30 feet wide at the bottom and 82 feet wide at the top and the average depth of the river is ten feet The capacity is 1900. cubic feet Of water second. After the water leaves the west portal of the tunnel it is conducted through 12 miles of canal to the Uncompahgre. There s a drop of al feet in this distance, and this great fall will be utilized for ere ating power. A series of concrete drops has been constructed. and the immense body of water rushing over them is capable of generating at least 10000 horse power, which will be util- ized in lighting the entire Uncompah- gre valley by electricity.
 The cost of the tunnel and distrib- uting canals is over $5,000,000, and perpetual water rights will be sold to actual settlers at about $35 an acre.