The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-04

Under the liberal terms of the Carey
act contract the land sells for so cents
an acre and the water for price to be
nxed by the state board of land COM
mlss1oners. In this instance the price
of water was fixed at $35, $40 and $45
per acre.
The water is conveyed to this large
empire by diverting dam at this place
where begins the main canal which,
With Its continuation extends to King
Hill. distance of 130 miles. At tho
beginning this canal is about the width
OF most of the streets of our cities
(barring Salt Lake) and it was built
through to a depth of thirty feet. From
this main canal and spreading out over
this vast area of splendid soil is net.
work of laterals and sub-laterals rang
ing in width from six to forty feet
on The bottom, covering total
distance of 1000 miles. Two reservoirs
arc now under course of construction
on this tract, one near here and the
other near Jerome, completion Of which
Will effectually solve all the water prob
lens of the north side tract forever.
The reservoir near here covers 1000
acres of land. and the one near Jerome
5000 acres. Each reservoir has a dam
of puddled earth sprinkled and rolled
with six ton rollers which packs the dirt
as firm as well beaten highway.
Il "uiheu ONSI IuG udH1 dD UUe lOWeT
end of the large reservoir. and saw the
thoroughness of its construction. This
was a remarkably interesting piece of
work III many of its appointments
There was a large tent town for the
housing of the men. the teams and the
provisions for man and beast Beyond
was the large area over which large
teams of horses and mules were moving
the dirt from surface and pit to the
1a frUn p,ilos ~,
feet in width at the bottom and 40
feet in width at the top. Nothing which
had ever seen so clearly represented
battle as this scene, with the 500 men,
hundreds Of teams, wagons rollers,
scrapers, and four or FIVE large steam
shovels and traction engines drawing
ploughs with elevator attachments for
carrying the dirt into the wagons men
facing the upper face Of the dam with
solid rubble, others digging bitches and
building solid cement core walls in them
as an additional precautionary measure
in resisting tho force of the large BODY
of water which this reservoir must hold.
1t was, in fact, battle royal with the
dirt, the prime object of which was the
coDquerIng of the crude clements of a
desert.
Mr.. Paul Bickle has corps of sixty
engineers aiding him in attention to the
north side project at this time.
In the meeting of the various condi
tlons incident to the perfect construc
tion of this vast irrigation system all
kinds of construction on canal work has
been done. from earth to rock, concrete
and steel structures.
On one stretch Of lava formation four
miles of rubble wall had to be built,
owing TO the absence of earth with
which TO build the banks. The first
two miles of the main canal is lined
with solid cement, rendering it proof
against the possibility of seepage All
structures and many Of the dams
and banks were made from original
designs, and every part of the struc
lures arc calculated for strength, even
to the strain on bars and rivets before
they are built. When, by experience,
any small defects were detected, they
were improved upon in the next struc
lures.
This engineering corps have taken all
charge of plans for railroad. hotel and
dam construction designed to fit local
conditions. Most of the work was done
with the end in view Of using, so far as
possible. the material at hand,
The photograph given herewith, show
ing a concrete section of the north side
main canal and the spill gates in the
Is the beginning of the conveyance of
water, 1850 second feet being its ca
pacity, to the beneficial use of the land
owners who have been attracted to this
north side tract from the various corners
of the world, here TO build up splen-
did, rich community, which is destined
10 be pleasing and a profitable adorn
ment 10 the great irrigated landed areas
of the great new west.
Whom stood tho pcfr
works of that large Jerome dam and
observed its permanency of construc
ton, and cast eyes out over the contour
line marking IT'S approximate boundary
line, forty miles in circumference, /
was convinced that the everlasting as
surance of water at all periods of the
year was to be the rich inheritance of
the land owners who are to ultimately
receive these works as their legacy
after Il few more years spent in the
of the works in substantial
form.
Jerome and Wendell are the two north
side tract cities, and they are bright, !
active. uptod date places, equipped with
all modern improvements. such as water
works, electric light, sidewalks, rail |
way and telephone service. Jerome has
one Of tho most beautifully appointed
hotels TO be seen anywhere in the coun- |
tTS, "ulIe AT w endeD n new modern up |
to.date hotel is building.
1t is pleasure to sec an irrigation
project presenting every evidence of
business, honesty and upright dealing
with the people, as appears here. The |
north side tract has its obstacles to
overcome, and it Is meeting them
with an apparent degree of diligence
and of superiority crcditable to the
projectors of the plan. Chief among
the troubles encountered was the entry
Of this land by men and women un-
familiar with the country. it's climate.
It's soil, with irrigation, which of itself
is study; in fact. many, indeed were
total strangers to the rural life. This
is rapidly adjusting itself. The
in the rural life is getting out
and the experienced farmer is getting
IN.
The north side project is surely des
tined TO fulfill the fopdest expectations
of the men from Pittsburg who financed
it.