Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08

Ell PASo. TEN. October 7.-Elephant
Butte Dam. the largest irrigation struc-
ture of the sort In the United States,
and the largest mass of masonry in the
world. VIII be formally dedicated here
on next Saturday. October II. Present
VIII be representatives of President
wilson and Secretary of the Interior
Franklin Is. Lane. several Senator'S
and delegates to the Irrigation Con-
gress to be held in this city.
The dam marks an epoch in the re-
claiming of the vast dry lands of the
southwest. 1t will water 155, 900 acres.
part In New Mexico and Texas and part
In Senior .Carranza's turbulent domain.
In u way, this great project, making, a
vast section blossom with roses, yege-
table gardens and orchards, is an in.
tcrnattonal enterprise. It's contempla-
ton should do much to teach tho
McNicans that their interests lie in a
cordial attitude toward Uncle Sam.
The statistics showing the work IN
be done by this dam are staggering
The dam is 1874 feet long, with a
maximum width of 215 feet at the base.
taperinE to width OF eighteen feet
at the crest, which is 3o45 feet above
bedrock. The crest is used as a road
way.
The structure contains $4,000 cubic
yards OF stone and rubble concrete. and
weighs 100000 tons. The Jake
formed by tho dam. which stores only
the flood waters OF the Rio Grande
Will be forty-tive miles long. with an
average width of six miles and an
average depth of sixty-six feet
SHORE LINE WILL
EXTEND 200 MILES
1t will have 200 miles Of shore line
and storage capacity OF SEE. zoo, 600 900
gallons. This is enough water to cover
2,6ie.292 acres of land to the depth of
one foot. Tho lake will have about
twice the capacity of the lake behind
the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, and four
times the capacity of tho storage reser-
voir behind the famous irrigation dam
at Assouan. in Egypt. which cost s17,-
100000. This would be enough water
to cover the State of Delaware to the
depth of two feet or the State OF Con-
necticut to the depth OF ten inches.
The dam cost s5,O0O,000 Construc-
ton was begun in 1910. and completed.
so far as the laying of stone is con-
cerned. on March OF this year. The
dressing of the structure and the clear
ing away of buildings and other i'm
pedimenta has just been finished
The great power of the water flow
ing through the penstocks of the dam
will be converted, it is expected. into
electricity. This will be carried over
transmission lines to Ell Paso and many
mining camps within radius of zoo
miles of the dam and be used to light
streets and operate manufacturing
plants. Seventy-fve thousand horse
power will be produced by the water,
which then will pass into the irriga-
ton bitches and do the work primarily
intended.
The irrigation farmer will not only
have his land watered from this dam,
but his house lighted. his corn shelled
aud his silo allied by electric power
coming from the same source.
y beautiful roadway crosses the dam,
which thus will be used as a bridge.
At present the traffic across Is slight.
but this region builds up rapidly
into Il teeming agricultural community
constant procession of autos and
wagons should be seen on 1t.
1t is expected also that the coming
OF irrigation will mean revolution i'll
farming methods to the backward Sec
ton OF Mexico it will serve. Here the
houses are built of sun ba ker bricks of
mud and straw, the cooking utensils
are OF the most primitive kind. the land
is plowed with crooked sticks drawn
by oxen. and bundles Of brush do duty
as harrows With the dam should come
the American gang plow driven by
gasoline and the float harrow.
CLOSELY GUARDED
by MILITIAMEN
The dam is closely guarded to-day
by Il detachment OF the New Mexican
National Guard through fear OF Next
can raiders. But it would take many
sticks of dynamite to make much i'm
preston on this vast structure.
Andrieus a. Jones, former Assistant
Secretary OF the Interior. will be Presi-
dent Wilson'S official representative at
the dedication ceremonies on Saturday.
Arthur +. Davis, chief engineer Of the
United States Reclamation Service: Sem
ators Fall and Catron, of New Mexico;
Senator's Newlands and Pittman, OF Me-
vada; Senator Phelan, OF California. and
senator Ashurst, OF Arizona, also will
be present.
The Elephant Butte Dam gets it's
name from an ancient landmark which.
stood on the loft bank OF the Rio,
| Grande. just above the canyon across
H. 80 >--------i