The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-11-13

would solve the drainage problem for
the district.
Construction work.-In the spring
of 1918 the Reclamation Service en-
tered into a contract, under the pro-
visions of the Warren Act, with the
Pioneer irrigation district by which
the constructionmh NH NH NH mhm
the district purchased approximately
10000 acre-feet of stored water from
the Arrowrock Reservoir Of the Boise
project and secured a loan of $780,
600 for drainage. 1t was understood
! that the Reclamation Service was to
engineer and construct as much of the
proposed drainage system as possible
without exceeding the allotted $780,
600 and that the district was to pay
back the above amount in 10 annual
installments without interest.
In November, 1918, the Reclamation
Service organized an engineering and
construction force and placed two
electrically driven dray-line excava-
tors with IA cubic-yard buckets on
the drainage system and active con-
struction work was started, the AK
cavators working three shifts a day.
Excellent reults are bling secured
both as to draining out o fthe water
logged lands and the costs of speed
with which the work is going ahead.
On July | approximately one-third of
the work was completed and indica-
tons show that the system as out
lined will completely drain the dis
trict with very few private drains, eX-
cept the usual farm surface waite water
drains A conservative estimate of the
cost based on the work already done
indicates that the system will be COM
pleted for approximately $350,0OO.
On July |, $4,000 cubic yards of
earth had been eXcavated, at an aver
age cost of 9 cents per cubic yard
This figure includes labor, supplies,
power, engineering, general and ad-
ministrative expense, and the COM
plete depreciation of the excavators
upon this work.
Drcdge operationS.-Ihe crew nee
essary for the econ omical operation of
the electric dragline excavator on
drainage in swamp land consists OF
one operator at SIS per day, one oiler
at $325, and one laborer at $3.50. The
| operator is in responsible charge of
| the machine and crew during his shift
and reports directly to the construc-
ton engineer.
Active competition is maintained
| between the individual operators on
each machine and between the combin
ed operators on each machinmh hhtt
| ed operators on the different ma
chimes. At the end of each shift. the
| operator stakes the ditch completed
| by him during the shit, each operator
| having different collred stakes. BY
! this method the const 'uction eDgin-
eer on his dali inspection can cheek
up the quantity ant qaulity of the
work accomplished by each operator
during the day. and each operator Can
size up the am cunts and class of work
accomplish | by his fe low opera RS.
At the end Of each mon h an op .rat-
Cr'S effiCIeh report is compiled. IT,, ,
is studied carefully by each operator
and tends to put life and interest into
the work, as each operators ambi-
ton is to have the best record.
Effect of drains upon ground wa
ters.-In order that a study can be
made of the effectivness of the drain
age system accurate data are kept on
the elevation of water in farm wells
throughout the district and we'll drive
points with pipe connections are
driven we'll down into the water strata
occasionally on lines at right angles
to the drains Elevations are taker
of the water levels in the pipes once
a month and results plotted on a eros.
section sheet.
Report to the district.-At the enc
of each month a report is sent to thu
directors of the Pioneer Irrigation
District which shows in detail the ex
peditures to date. The object of thi
of work accomplished, and a genera
summary of unit costs and total ex
. penditures to date hTe object of thi
report is to keep the settlers WEI
: posted on the progress and costs G
) the work and in case any questions o
MISUNDERSTANDING regarding expend
lures should arise they may be take
up and explained while the matter
! fresh in the minds of all concerned.
: Development of seepage water i
drains.-A few preliminary measur,
, ments have been made of the waite
: developed in the drains already con
S pleted or where construction work
e well advanced
1 On Mason Creek, where the drai
e cuts stratum of compact sand 81
:. gravel, measurements show, a develor
: ment of approximately 3 stcond-fe,
S of water per mile of drain, while G
d the upper 2 miles of Mason Cree
t where the drain cuts deep into coar.
S sand, 7 second-feet per mile of dra
: are developed.
f On Elijah drain the complete dra
e of 9 miles in length averages "a Sc
e ond-feet per mile, with a maximum {
S the upper end of S second feet n
it mile and a minimum on the lower er
e OF "a second-feet per mile. This dra
t, cuts into coarse sand for practical