Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-04-11
NEW WATER SUPPLY
system READY
At LAS VEGAS
Aqua Pura Company Com
pletes Lane of Big Canals
and Fumes for Filling Big
Municipal Reservoir.

Las Vegas. n. NJ. April i0.-Thn
Aqua Pura company yesterday placed
Ia use for the first time It's new sys-
tenn Of canals and fumes for tho fssi-
ing OF the giant reservoir built in the
Peterson canyon near tho Hot Springs
two years ago. This Is an event Of
significance In the history Of Las We
gas as Il means, practically no matter
what may be condition OF the GALL
mas river watershed, that this COM
munlsy viii be assured always Of an
adequate water supply absolutely
free from dirt.
The canal was completed last fall
after many months OF arduoue and
dangerous toll, al cost OF $4,000
II extends from short distance be-.
low the company's ice dam at the
extremity OF the Hot Springs branch
Of tho santa Fe railway along the
south side Of the canyon TO the Pc
terson canyon. a distance OF over two
miles For several hundred feet the
canal Is carried In fumes. at some
places at a dizzy height above the
earth ana at others on tresties cross
ing deep ravines.
The canal ~ composed OF various
materials. For long stretches II Is
entirely Of wood. At other places Il
Is OF earth and in still other loca-
tons Il Is Of cement. In some spots
Il Is blasted out OF solid rock. II has
capacity Of 100000 gallons OF wa
Ter per day but Is not being operat-
ed at It's full capacity. superinten.
dent Powers estimates that Il Is turn
ing into the reservoir about 1000, 0ee
! feet per day nc present.
A short distance down the stream
from the furtherest ice house In tbs
| Gullinns canyon diversion dam II
: concrete. ten feet IN height. turns ths
water into the new canal. II Flows ra'
| pialy through the intake and hurrie,
down the canyon toward the big res
J cryoir 10 travellers on the scenis
highway the canal appears Ia ruF
uphill Some good engineers wh'
looked al the work last summer told
The water company officials that ,he,
would have difficulty IN making wat
! or run through the fume, as en'
force of gravity would have 20 be ov'
orcome. superintendent stephef
Powers Of the Aqua Pura company
who designed and constructed ms
cannl. only smiled. ne had taken th'
most careful OF measurements ant
was well aware that the downward
pitch was sufficient 10 carry the waite
rapidly 90 the big reservoir.
Mr.. Powers built the canal eutirri
| With local labor. When he strucl
some OF tho dizzy heights, especially
on tho big clin al a point about haii
way between tho upper and lower cx
tremities OF the waterway, Il wa
necessary 20 crawl along the face O
the rock upon ten.inch boards bal
anced upon steel spikes that we're In
serted into the solid granite By mean
of hand drills. II was a precarlou
footing, with a sheer drop OF over 10
feet
Many OF Mr.. Powers iaborers refus
ed 10 20 on with the work. solzin
drlll no climbed up upon tho scat
folding and began working. Tho les
tlmid laborers. seeing that Mr.. Pow
rrs did not fail. In spite 81 his risk
fO0thOld, consented "a return 10 wofl
they completed the canal without ih
loss Of single lie and with no seriou
injuries.
The reservoir which the canal wi
hll IL capable of containing 60.OO0.00
gallons, II WAS built during tho win
ter and spring OF i9iO-ii. n wa
formed by damming the Peterson ear
yam with huge wall OF concrete. IN
reservoir Il protected from siori
water by a big diversion ditch white
nearly surrounds a. The water rush
ing on the hills ~ caught in this dlic
and carried around tho dam, thus prs
venting the contamination OF the cor
tents Of tho reservoir BY mud.
Try q Herala WeMt AZ
lThev Bring ReeuIkn.