El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-12
Great Southwest Has Many Irrigation Works

completed system of irrigation,
except that old wooden gates will
be replaced by concrete structure as
fast as possible, and new canals and
lateras will be constructed. The gov
eminent took over this project after the
washing out Of the dam some years
ago, and has now invested $6S7600, and
at the close of the year 1910 will have
n total investment in the project of
little more than $7O5,0OO.
An appropriation OF $17,500 for the
coming year will admit Of progress in
the work of replacing the wooden
gates and the construction of needed
main canals and laterals The Black
river cutoff, a part of this enterprise,
was completed late in September.
Hondo Project.
This is the one completed irrigation
project in New Mexico which has not
been put into use. Since Its compile
ton the drainage territory above 1t has
been visited by a drouth. which is now
believed to be broken. The government
is keeping every gate and canal ready
to receive the expected floods.
This work has cost the government
$353,000 to the end of 1909, and an APP
preparation Of $4,000 has been made for
the present year. 1t will conserve the
flow of the Hondo and it's tributaries.
Lensburg Project.
Also completed project, and a part
OF the general system to be put in under
the Engle dam. 1t has cost $4,000,
and Is self sustaining, so needs no APP
preparation from the reclamation funds.
This is a dam thrown across the Rio
Grande at favorable point above Las
Cruces for the purpose OF backing up
and dlverting the river so as to make
it available for use in the various
canals using the water below that point.
1t has been of great value to the peo-
pie Of the valley and is a complete sue
cess from every point OF view. The
costs Of maintenance are paid from an
nual water rentals.
Salt River Project.
The Roosevelt dam, in Salt river can
yon, Arizona, Is one Of the marvels of
modern engineering. Located in an al
most inaccessible canyon, so miles from
a railroad, its rapid and successful con-
struction has been watched with inter-
est by engineers all over the world.
1t Is 235 feet long on the bottom and
it's base covers an acre of ground. When
completed it will be $50 feet high, or
about the height OF the Flatlron build
ing in New York. On top its length
will be that OF two city blocks and
Just below the point where Tonic
creek flows into it the Salt river enters
one of the most magnificent canyons in
the west. The blocks OF stone for the
massive masonry monolith are blasted
from the canyon walls.
Behind this imposing structure the
waters of the turbulent stream form a
reservoir 25 miles long and more than
220 feet deep against the dam. It's ca
pacity is approximately 56,e2s, 900, 600
the state OF Delaware a foot deep. Many
of the blocks used in the construction
OF the dam weigh several tons each
and every stone is washed clean Of sand
and silt before being put In place.
The cement used In Roosevelt dam
and in all the masonry work OF the Salt
river project is from the government
own cement plant. Up to Nov. / the
cement mill had turned out more thar
100000 barrels All the power used
in this work is generated at the dam
In the government power house. The
contractors are ORourke & Co. of Gal
weston, Texas.
The waters stored behind Roosevelt,
dam are to be used TO make fruitful
more than 100000 acres of land in thu
vicinity OF Phoenix.
COnchOs River Irrigation Project.
That Mexico Is not behind any coun
try in encouraging irrigation enter
prlseS Is well understood by the in
formed, but there are many not keep
ing up with the progress OF the siste
republic, and to them a few figure
showing the magnitude OF the Concho
river enterprise, close to lei Paso. which
is to cost anywhere up to 1900, 90
pesos, irrigate better than 900 acre
OF land, and furnish a minimum of "a,
900 horse power, will be OF interest
Some of It's dimensions are as follows
Height above river bed, 90 meters
height above bed rock, 66.6 meters
length on bottom 81 meters length Oh
top. $50 meters will require concret
and masonry, 100000 cubic meters
length of lake more than 80 kilome
ters will cover an area more than 13
square kilometers; average depth owe
1870 kllometers, Is meters; capacity
1910, 900, 900 cubic meters horse powe
to be developed, "a, 900 to 10000; area t
In irripaf tod m 00O bactar uafa