El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-28
ENSIGN IS COMING
To PLAN WORK
At THE DAM
New Secret Order at Ele-
plant Butte Initiates
a Tenderfot.

o. H Ensign, chief electrical engi-
neer Of the reclamation service and
one of the electrical power engineering
authorities of the country, is expected
here within the next month to make
plans for the construction Of the tenn
porary power plant at the Elephant
Butte dam and also to study the power
development project in connection
with the big irrigation dam. Engineer
Ensign has developed a number of
water power electrical projects and he
will be In consultation with the engi-
neers of the service regarding the full
development OF the power possibilities
of the big dam and it's laterals.
The temporary plant and all Of the
power machinery which will be oper-
ated from it for the construction OF
the dam will cost approximately $780,
600 and will include practically all OF
the construction machinery. Because
of the inability to get fuel for the
steam generation of power until the
dam is built it will not be possible to
construct permanent power plant
which may later be used as the first
unit Of the permanent power general
ing system. The plant for supplying
the dam will be but temporary one
and the power possibilities Of the pro-
1ect will be carefully worked out by
engineer Ensign and the other engi-
neers of the reclamation service.
The location Of the permanent power
plant will be decided upon and the
handling Of the created power will also
be estimated carefully by Mr.. Ensign
while he is here. There is a sum Of
money available for this purpose, the
engineers say, and it will be used in
developing the power project in con-
nection with the construction Of the
irrigation dam and system
TenderfOot Gets His.
Elephant Butte n. NJ, has its first
lodge. It is the Order of Royal EIe-
plants No. l and it is the only one
in existence in this or any other
known or unknown world or sphere
The o. of R. E. was organized for the
especial benefit of some Of the very
tender tender feet who knew more
about the ways of the westerner than
said westerner did about himself. A
particularly breezy individual from the
far east, Youngstown, o., to be exact.
was the direct cause of the lodges
organization. This same individual,
with the tender UNDERMINING, had aired
his knowledge OF things in general
and of the west. the wild and woody
west in particular, until the old heads
at the dam grew tired Of so much
breeze. The Order Of the Royal Ele-
plants was then and there organized
with Mutt as president. Slim as vice
president, and kop Ear, the mule
skinner, as secretary. Said tenderfoot
was the first candidate and he got his,
according to the tales that are being
brought back from the damsite. He
was taken to the top Of the stern and
rock bound butte and there hurled over
the sides with retaining ropes to break
his fall and his heart at the same
time. 1t really was only small cut
in the roadway, but the candidate,
who was blindfolded. knew no better
He wept, yes stree, wept big and briny
weeps from sheer fright Since then
he has had nary a word to say Of the
lore of the west OF which he boosted
so much before the initiation
Others Are Eligible.
The third degree racket was so sue
cessful that II has been made a per-
manent feature OF camp life at the
dam. Every newcomer who is in camp
longer than "a hours must join the Ele-
plants and do his stunt It is at
fording the boys at the big reclama-
ton project a barrel Of fun and IS
proving of practical benefit in the way
of subduing swollen chests and reduc-
ing enlarged crariums, the boys of the
U. s r. S. say.
VIII Have a Band.
A lodge is not the only claim TO fame
Elephant Butte has It is to have a
band shortly. 1t is to be a real lit
tie Red Rosebud" band with the alto
playing the usual afterbea6s and the
bass drum working overtime to fill up
the cracks in the harmony. There are
a number OF musicians employed at
the dam. There are also a number OF
|, native Mexicans who would be musi-
clans if they but had the wherewithal
to make music. The upper crust among
the clerical force has agreed to supply
this and a purse of $50 has already
been raised to buy instruments for the
brass band. The music makers will
begin practice as soon as their instru-
ments come and expect to be able to
play some OF mister Sousa's stirring
marches by the time the dam is COM