The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-04-02
ARROWROCK DAM WILL
WILL BE- COMPLETED
BY JULY FIRST
Idaho ReNieW.O

NlddliO NCNlS".D
Arrowrock is the bulwark to one
of the greatest reserve banks III
America, a bank in which the deposits
are in liquid gold The key to the
vault IS in the hands of the Infinite.
1t is difficult for the human under
standing to grasp the significance of
this stupendous piece of work now
nearing completion Primarily it will
redeem 100000 acres of rich land; it
will transform it from absolute worth
lessness, a barren desert, into one Of
the garden spots of the great west.
If this 100000 acres were now in
wheat, and producing the modest crop
Of 80 bushels to the acre, it would
be adding approximately $lO,OO0,OOO
to the wealth of the nation each year
at present prices. Cut up into small
holdings and cultivated properly it
would bring affluence to a small en-
pire. 1t means happy homes for a
multitude.
This Boise propcct of which the
Arrowrock dam is the keystone, will
stand throughout all times as a mon
ument to the progressive spirit of the
west and to the foresight and gener-
osity of the government at Washing
ton. 1t will continue as blessing to
posterity, as a triumph of the arts OF
peace, long after battleships that cost
ten times as much have crumbled to
dust.
AS to the Arrowrock dam itself, it
has the unique distinction OF being
the highest in the world. From its
lowest point, 80 feet below the bed OF
the Boise river to its Cerst, it is ISL
feet 1t is 240 feet thick at the base
so that if it were to turn over it would
still be a respectable obstruction to
the flow of the river.
Up to January 81, 1915, when the
dam was reported SO per cent COM
plete, there has been 32l go cubic
yards of material removed to make
room for the dam, and 335,O3O cubic
yards more for the spillway. There
had been 537, 800 cubic yards of con-
crete put into the dam and to make
this concrete 53l, 900 barrels of sand
cement were used.
Back of this great dam there is
formed a reservoir Is miles in length
and~covering a great stretch OF coun-
try. The waters of the Boise river,
| pounded in this wav will be backed
for this distance of Is miles both in
the main channel and the South Fork
1t is the plan to capture the food
waters of these streams throughout
the winter and spring, when no water
is needed below for irrigation, and by
means of this dam hold them back
until the late summer when they are
to be liberated for irrigation purposes
on the 100000 acres under the system
Some idea of the magnitude of thi:
reservoir may be gained from tht
statement that the water would cover
an area OF 800 square miles to the
depth of one foot.
An essential part of this great sys
tenn is, of course, the Deer Flat res
ervoir, Lake Lowell, in the vicinity o.
Nampa and Caldwell This part of the
system has been utilized to splendic
advantage for some years past. Thi!
reservoir is now practically filled anC
when completely filled water will ther
be stored back of Arrowrock for ust
during the coming season.
Because of the extreme shortage o
snow in the mountains this year, it il
a matter for special congratnlatior
that the Arrowrock reservoir is read.
for service now, two years in advance
of the scheduled time.
When needed for irrigation thu
water from Arrowrock will be re
leased into the channel of the Bots
river; it will be conveyed down tn
river to the intake of the New Yorl
canal distance of IS miles and con
veyed 70 the land from this poin
through this canal.
Another great feature of the Arrow
rock dam is the giant spillway t.
, take care of the surplus Work o.
this is now going forward to the en-
tire satisfaction of those in charge
This spillway will be 400 feet lon
cut through the solid rock to whc
) the dam is anchored on either side G
the river. When discharged the waite
: will fall distance OF l35 feet and a
the width of the Spillway is Us fee
} it is predicted that the scenic etfeC
: will rival that of Niagara and She
: shone.
l 1t is roughly estimated that this Ell
r tcrpriSe will cost the federal govern
4 ment $l0000,000. In the original c:
1 innate 1917 was the time fixed for il
= completion. Now il is PRACTICAL
c certain that it will be completed b
July LIST OF the present year.
d 1t is impossible to estimate til
i amount of water that will be store
r this year, The supply of snow in IL
I hills from which the Boise river
i fed is estimated at 50 per cent of no
n NAL so that the shortage is seriou
II This shortage may be made up in pa
t by spring rains, and the amount
5 water to be stored at Arrowrock wi
? depend on these rains.