Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-01-14

considerable sum. another town sprang up for
the army of worknen. A railroad 15 miles long
was built TO haul material to the place where the
dam was erected In fact the preliminary work
was not small part Of the undertaking Plants
for the manufacture Of cement buildings for the
housing OF the workmen. a store power station,
transmission lines and great embankment at
gap IN the hills northwest OF the dam proper had
to be provided.
Construction of main fumes cofferdams. exca.
walton In the river bed and the building of roads
were among the preliminary tasks presented to
the engineers. The cost. with the exception of
s1.O000OO, win eventually be paid back into the
government reclamation fund by land owners who
will benefit by the dam, and will again be used
by the government for reclamation work in some
other section OF the country.
The 100000 was appropriated outright and is
being used for that portion OF the work which
will benefit farmers in old Mexico. The appro-
priation was made to furnish this water in set
Element OF several million dollars In claims which
the Mexican government had presented to the
United States for damages to land on the Mexican
side, as result of the water from the river be-
ing used in small irrigation projects on the
American side thus robbing Mexican farmers OF
water which naturally would have gone to them.
Something Of what is to be expected as re-
suit of the work is demonstrated by the small
tracts that have been irrigated by private irriga
tion systems. The great dam will connect two
division dams already completed. One of these.
as the rich Mesilla valley. It has been wonder
fully productive Farmers In this section have
received a profit of $500 an acre from truck in
single year. At other points along the Rio Grande
In both Texas and New Mexico small dams have
brought tracts OF land under irrigation and made
it possible to raise bounteous crops.
The same fertility win be found the $4,000
acres around the new dam IN New Mexico and
Texas. Great valleys which have hitherto pro-
duced only during the infrequent years that ma
| ture was kind enough 70 send more than the
average rainfall. will be reached by the water
from the irrigation canals and large yields will
be assured.
The statement that the reservoir VIII hold
three years flow of the Rio Grande river shows
the greatness Of the project. The Rio Grande IL
| one Of the longest rivers In the United States.
II forms far up In Colorado and Is fed by rivers
and streams extending much farther TO the north.
II flows through a portion OF Colorado. across
New Mexico and forms the border between Texas
and Mexico finally reaching the Gulf
Extensive irrigation from the river without the
aid OF ; great dam and reservoir II impossible
because Of the rapidity with which the stream
changes from a raging torrent 20 bed of dry
sand.
with the completion OF the dam and other irri
CATION projects which will follow great futurs
| for New Mexico is assured. New Mexico lies ia
the heart OF the arid section Of America Shs
has l2z460 square miles OF broad plains. rugged
mountains. sage brush de Ierts greater in extent
than ali New England. With New York and Mes