The daily tribune., 1909-02-22

is the Schaeffer dam and reservoir
being constructed on Beaver creek
in the eastern part Of Fremont coun-
ty by the Beaver Land and lrriga-
tion company. By means Of this dam
the flood waters are being impounded
and reservoir formed extending a
mile and half back Of the dam and
containing no less than 5000 aore
feet Of water, an amount sufficient to
irrigate $500 additional acres Of land
in Beaver park where already nearly
Z, 900 acres Of fine land have recently
been brought under cultivation by the
great irrigation system Of which this
work is part.
When completed this dam will be
90 feet thick at the base, 90 feet thick
at the top and will contain 357 900
cubic yards Of material.
Every means known to modern con-
struction of this work to make it as
nearly perfect as possible. thousands
of dollars being expended on what
seems to be unnecessary devices
which however, will guard effeotual-
ly against any possible contingency
that may arise.
The main features OF the dam are
a concrete core resting on bed rock ex-
tending the full length of the work
a wooden diaphragm projection above
1t. three puddle core trenches being
al ed with clay and running longi-
tudinal with the dam. The central
section of the dam is being built up
with q practically impervious clay.
while the external two-thirds Is being
constructed of rocks and boulders
bonded with clay and riprapped with
large stones.
The whole dam Ia being built by
hydraulic force, two hydraulic monit-
oneering has been applied to the con-
ors being employed in this work. one
Of them playing on the clay beds
1000 feet above the dam and the other
on the great detritus beds of rocks ;,
sand and boalders a few hundred feet
nearer. The materials washed out
of the mountain sides by these pow
in specially constructed wooden fumes
lined with four inch blocks of Oregon
| FIR.
Although work las prog gressed rap
idly for several months. 1t will be
nearly = year before the dsm is COM
pleted. However, such Is the char
acter of the work that the storage Of
water behind the dam will begin
about March 8, and thus will be able
to test the work Is 1t progresses and
at the same time conserve the supply
SO that water can be had for use
while the dam is building.
While the primary purpose of the
reservoir Is for irrigation yet perhaps
Its most interesting feature to the
public 10 Its possibilities As . pleasure
resort. Situated at q central point
convenient to Colorado Springs, Pu-
eblo. Canon City, Cripple Greek and
Florence and on the line of the pro-
posed state boulevard from Colorado
Springs to the Royal Gorge and up
the Arkansas valley. 1t can not but
help but become popular summer
resort.
| The natural scenery Ia most roman.
tio. Here the castellAted walls Of the
Beaver canon rise perpendiculArly
800 feet. but gradually widen and
descend into = beautiful wooded
slopes, ideal spots for camps, cottages
and picnIcs. The Beaver creek itself
Is one of the most beautiful and un.
failing streams In the mountain dis.
tricts Of Colorado and Ia already
famed for Its trout fishing.
Arrangements have been made with
tho state hsh commissioner for the
further stocking Of tho Reservoir In the
spring with 400 900 fry Of the rain.
bow variety. Wild ducks are plenti.
fol here IN season and quail and
mountain sheep nbound in the neigh.
boring hills to interest the visitor.