The daily sentinel., 1910-03-31
Power Plant.

and reinforced concrete structure
40x60 feet in size and forty feet in
height, resting upon massive con-
crete foundations, which in turn rest
upon solid rock which has been ex-
cayated eight feet deep.
The machinery consists of four
double discharge. horizontal twin
steel turbine wheels, direct connected
to four horizontal, single stage, volute
centrifical pumps. The turbines take
the water from reinforced concrete
forebay under head of so feet
through two 66 inch and two As inch
steep pipes, each 1870 feet long. These
pipes are securely anchored in the
face of the mountain by ponderous
steel rods. attached to concrete an
chorages, and are carried their full
length in reinforced concrete cradles.
All gates are of steel, all siphon lines
are of clear oregon fir.
The Irrigating Canals.
There are about thirty miles of
irrigating canals, and they are known
as bitches Nos. l and 2. No. l is
next to the river, No 2 is the higher
and follows pretty closely the foot
hills that border the southern portion
of the Mesa. The lift from the pumps
to No. is 4 o feet, and to No. 2, 122
feet, and both are designed to carry
about the same amount of water
the two having a sufficiency for A.
600 acres.
The water for ditch No. l is deliv-
cred into a continuous wood stave
pipe, which, buried, carries it over,
through and across the rugged shale
hills and gulches Just west of the
power plant, for some 700 or 500
feet, and delivers 1t to a concreted
tunnel 1900 feet long, through which
II RIMS and empties at last into an
open ditch upon the mesa, where 1t
begins its great mission of aiding the
red, rich sandy soil of the prettiest
mesa in Grand valley to produce
food, raiment, shelter and all other
| ingredients of genuine lasting happi-
ness for thousands of sons and daugh-
ters and adopted sons and daughters
of this great and good common
wealth.
The irrigating canals on the mesa
proper have a better surface drainage
system than any other canal in west
ern Colorado, all fumes are of gal
vanized steel. From the point where
the water goes, into the canals to
the western terminus there are twelve
reinforced concrete culverts. twenty
| four galvanized steel culverts, and
eight twenty-four inch vitrified sewer
culyerts: there are a number of gal
vanized steel fumes and at the end
of each one a spillway is provided.
The work done and being done
throughout the whole project seems
| to the writer to be substantial and
along lines and designs that will meet
the needs and purposes of developing
the wonderfully rich and beautiful
territory that has so long been both
| the despair and hope Of the people OF
| this valley. 1t was and is big prof.
ect and a brave undertaking, and
while it is not yet entirely accom-
plished, the end is so near and the
element of doubt so remote. that even
| the doubling Thomases can afford TO
Join the conscientious boosters and
| feel for the nonee that no other
I12.OOO acres win be brought under
| irrigation In any portion OF the west,
this year or next, that will exceed In
intrinsic value the 10000 acres com
ing under the Orchard Mesa project;
and. If there be a tract of equal di-
mensions that equals It in beauty and
utility, we will bet the Juice of a
| Granu valley NlHtodp hSaiiot -"
pith of Missouri Ben Davis that no
man in Grand valley knows where II
can be found.
The Importance to Grand Junction
and the valley of this big project, is
so great that when the water is ready
to go into the canal, we should cele-
brate the opening, We will prob
ably not be able to get President
Taft to press the button. but there
l are the mayors of Grand Junction,
Clifton and Palisade and other good
heavyweight officials who might help
out on an occasion like this. 1t is
not every year that million and a
/ half dollars is added to the real value
of big strip of real estate like this.
A short time ago when no water
was in sight, Orchard Mesa lands
were a drug at $40 per acre; today,
conservatively speaking, they are
worth $3.50 per acre. Now figure
the increase and the added value to
1900 acres, and let us rejoice.
The contractors Messrs. G. j. and
C. C. Magenheimer, together with
their chief engineer, are sure they
will be able to deliver the water for
land on the mesa by May Is. and
when men like these assure you Of
anything, its that way. or the un-
reckoned forces of nature stand In