El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-26
nv Mrs. Herbert Yso.,


ciate the enormous undertaking
of building a dam the size of the
Elephant Butte dam it doubtless ap-
pears that the progress of this work as
told by means Of the pen has been very
slow But to those who have witnessed
the progress made during the past
three years, the amount Of work ac-
complished has been very great Few
realize that the typographical condi-
lions are such that they are unfavor-
able for townsites. building sites.
wagon roads and a railroad.
Beginning of the Work.
The initial work was begun here In
October, 1902. James A. French was
the engineer in charge of the topo-
graphical survey of the reservoir site
and W. E. Jones of the diamond drill
Investigations. which were made in the
river to ascertain the depth to bed
rock The reservoir survey having been
finished, surveys were made in 1903
of the irrigabie lands extending from
the Gam to Animas creek about 20
miles below. These were dropped here
and begun at Selden. at the head of the
MesilIa valley and were extended to
Fabens. Tex These surveys showed the
feasibility of the project, but the peo-
pie of the Rio Grande valley were not
then ready to enter into contract with
the reclamation service for the con-
struction of the project It was neces-
sary--for the services of B. NJ Hall
to later remove the difficulties between
the people and the reclamation service
and the project was approved
First Unit Completed.
In the spring of 1908 the first unit Of
construction was completed. This was
the Selden diversion dam at the head
of the Mesilla valley. Homer J. Gau1t
was the construction engineer for the
reclamation service upon this work.
In February 1908, preliminary in
vestigations were begun at Elephant
Butte to determine the location of the
dam. This work consisted Of trenching
the hiHsides TO ascertain the character
and condition of rock found therein.
This work was under the supervision
of James A. French In April of that
year Homer J. Gault was transferred
from the work at Selden and began
the surveys for the branch railroad
from the main line of the Santa Fe to
Elephant Butte. He also made the sur
veys for several wagon roads neces-
sary for the preliminary work and con-
struction was started upon. the latter.
Construction was continued upon the
wagon roads and some work was done
upon the railroad and upon other pieces
of work until the summer of 1903,
when al operations ceased and steps
were taken TO secure the right OF way
fer the camp, the damsite and the
reservoir.
Right of Way Secured.
In July, 1910. the major part of the
right of1vay was secured from the Vic
toria Land and Cattle company. This
was acquired by an award Of the court
for s1ee9e4
Immediately following the acquisi
ton of right of way, Homer J. Gault,
construction engineer, repaired to Ele-
plant Butte and began preparations for
active work on construction Steps were
Immediately taken to have the branch
railroad completed as soon as posi-
bic as this was of primary Importance
A contract for grading for the roadbed>
was let to contractor Brady, of FL
Paso, who finished his work in Janu-
ary,s 1911 The contractors for the Ash
canyon and Spring canyon bridges were
likewise finished in January.
Railroad Branch Finished.
Owing TO a number of circumstances
the road was not put into operation
until April At. the present time the
Santa Fe maintains a tri-weekly serv-
ice for freight and express. but as yet
TO passenger service is provided
Freight and express is only hauled
for the reclamation service and its
employees. The reclamation service has
a motor car which is used On the
branch railroad for the accommodation
of the officials In going to and from
Butte Junction on the main line This
car can accommodate eight persons and
is Of the gasoline type A trip to the
junction can be made in As minutes.
the distance being 10.6 miles.
New Town Built.
A small camp was established here
IN 1908. in Ash canyon, a short dis
lance from the damsite. and grew to
be a camp Of medium size in 1903. On
the resumption of construction in 1910
AM, continuing until two months ago
II has been very great undertaking
TO maintain camp suitable for the ac-
commodation OF the force employed
Additional engineers clerks, mechanics
and foremen were being employed all
the time and sleeping quarters and
mess accommodations had to be in
creased continually. Material for most
OF the tents and a great amount Of
lumber used about camp had TO be
hauled from Engle. distance of IL
miles. These conditions, however, have
been changed. Lumber is now arriving
IN carload lots and other things in pro-
portion.
Population 400.
There are probably 1000 people here
yet living in tents Besides these there /
are 13 cottages occupied by officials
and their families. IL by mechanics
and foremen and their families, and
there are SO rooms in the mechanics
quarters for about so men. At the pres
ent time there are three parts to camp, |
the oldest part is on the big plat In |
Ash canyon, another part is the official |
quarters on the hill and the third and |
destined TO be the largest is the new |
town located on the east side of the |
river about one-half mile below the |
damsite. This was surveyed IN May, |
1905 and was first occupied in De- |
cember, 1910. The town consists of enc |
street about 1000 feet in length with |
lots on either side, 80 feet in width /
and Of varying lengths. The part near |
est the dam is reserved for Americans |
and that lower down the river for the |
Nexicans. On the hill above the new |