The Irish standard., 1909-09-25
GUNNisON RIVER RECLAMATION
PROJECT IS NOW COM.
PLETED.
BORE is SIX MILES LONG
Wild Rejoicing at Montrose, COL, a.
Waters Of Mountain River Flow In.
to the Uncompahgre VaIIey-Great
Welcome for President

pletlOn OF the GunnlsOn river tunnel
project on which the government has
been at work for four and a half
years. President William II. Taft
honored the occasion with his pres
ence and 1t 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 gran
lite mountain range.
This day of the opening of the tun.
mel 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 1890 there was a
parade OF the visitors. Early In the
afternoon the explosion of a bomb
told the people that the special train
bearing President Taft and other gov.
eminent officials had entered the city
limits. A second bomb announced his
debarkation at the station, and third
was sent up as the distinguished
guest, escorted by great procession.
started for Elks' park
President Taft Welcomed.
At the park. after Introductory re-
marks by +. D. Catlin, chairman of
the Gunnison tunnel opening commit
tee. Mayor j. @. Allen turned the
key of the city over to the guests
Then John G. Bell delivered the formal
address Of welcome, to which Presi
dent Taft responded briefly and
happily. The exercises here con.
cluded with remarks by Senator
Charles ]. Hughes and Gov. John
Shafroth. AT four o'clock trains start.
ed for the west portal Of the tunnel,
where President Taft opened the
gates, and speeches were made by l.
w. Mcconnell. consulting engineer of
the reclamation service, and Senator
Horace T. belong of Grand Junction.
After the return to Montrose there
was a reception to President Taft and
others, and this evening speeches will
be delivered by number OF we'll
known Coloradoans, the celebration
winding up with an illuminated parade
and pyrotechnic display.
Story of tho 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 insult
ed to agriculture or through deep,
rocky canyons, while only few
miles to the west the lovely Uncom.
pnhgre valley has been suffering for
water. The Gunnison, descending In
ever deepening gorgcs, finally plunges
into the Black canyon, one Of the most
magnificent mountain gorges in the
world. This unpromising spot was Sc.
lected as the starting point of the
tunnel. Brave engineers lowered
themselves into the Black canyon at
points where the granite walls rise
feet and after their surveys were CON-
pleted active work was started on the
Immense project.
At great expense and under enor.
nous difficulties, Il wagon road was
built to the east portal of the tun.
mel. 1t Is Is miles long, and. climbing
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 point
several thousand feet from the west
end, where shaft was sunk. AS fast
as the tunnel was driven through the
shale and solid rock, 1t 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 food nor slack wa
| ter can prevent the tunnel taking
| from the river all the water needed.
A few statistics of this tremendous
project are worth setting forth. The
tunnel is 10000 feet long, and II by
10 feet inside measurement. The main
canal is 30 feet wide at the bottom
and SO feet wide at the top, and the
average depth of the river is ten
feet. The capacity is 1900 cubic feet
! Of water a second. After the water
, leaves the west portal of the tunnel
1t is conducted through IL miles Of
canal to the Uncompahgre. There is
q drop of 81 feet in this distance. and
this great fall will be utilized for Gre
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-
lied in lighting the entire Uncompah.
gre valley by electricity.
1 The cost of the tunnel and distrib-