El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-26
GREAT DAM COMPLETED. STORING
WATER FOR IRRIGiTINC VALLEY
Elephant Butte Irrigation Undertaking Largest in United
States Will Irrigate $4,000 Acres of Land Above
and Below Ell Paso- History of the Work on This
Mammoth Concrete River Obstruction
Continued from page l. this section.

flue was a job unto itself With the
river flow ing undisturbed in its regular
channel AT the east side of the canyon.
excavation was made TO bed rock on the
opposite side, the full thickness of tho
dam and of sufficient length 10 con-
struct a flume TO carry the Rio Graude
when at its highest The excavation
completed masonry that forms q part
of the dam WAS started. and carried
up 10 the proper height. and on II was
constructed the concrete flume that
carried the total flow Of the river for
more than two years
FIume Completed In 1872.
on NoVembe-. 1e12. the flumee was
e. mpleted. When this was accom-
piished the river was quickly diverted
through it by closing the old channel
with an earth and rock I'LL Then was
commenced the most difficult and most
important feature OF the wOrk-eXca-
waiting for foundation. All material
suitable for use III concrete was de-
posted in spoil bank and later used
for that purpose. Material not suited
for concrete was used 10 raise and
strengthen the cofferdams, or wasted
This work was carried on continuously,
three shifts being employed and all
suitable machinery used. The total eX-
cavation for this purpose was in eX-
cess of 100000 cubic yards or two
thirds of the total yardage in the COM
pleted dam
BY June of the following year a SUI
ficient area OF foundation had been IN
covered to permit of placing masonry
This also was vigorously pushed. three
shifts being employed. two placing and
one cleaning up and getting down sup
plies. until April, 1915. when limited
working space made il necessary to re-
duce TO one shift
During this period the plant, the
equipment and the men themselves
We're taxed to the utmost and excel
lent records were obtained The best
days run was POSI- cubic yards OF ma
was January. 1915, when $500 cubic
yards OF masonry was laid. and for
the - months from March 1, 1914 10
March I, 1913. $4,000 cubic yards were
placed, which is about 10000 cubic
yards in excess Of the total volume in
the Roosevelt dam
Working Area Reduced
As stated above the working area
became SO much reduced in the spring
OF 1915 that il was necessary to greatly
reduce forces but at that time the low
est point in the dam was at a safe
height above the old river bed. and
as the flume was closed January 6th.
Hood waters were being stored for use
during the 1915 irrisating season con-
sequently there was no object in crowd
ing the work al the expense of both
cost and quality Masonry progress
during the past year has necessarily
and the method Of construction. with
expansion Joints % feet apart. and the
necessity for keeping adjacent blocks !
at different heights During this period !
the spillway al the west end was con- I
srructed- This IS about 300 feet long. :
Spanned by concrete fIve-arch bridge. .
~ each of the piers OF which is q ten 4
foot cylindrical gate which viii con-
troll the upper ten feet Of the reservoir.
Completed in May 1916.
me dam was completed in May Of !
this year, and while not the largest
in the world. is the largest for irriga-
IN regard to its size may not convey
an idea Of its magnitude. in fact the /
isitor who has not seen this structure
turing its construction cannot realize
lis immensely as the lower 100 feet
VIII al all times be submerged II is
300 feet high, about 1900 feet long. and
contains 605.00O cubic yards Of masonry.
IL this was laid on the ground one
foot thick il would completely cover I
545 acres. If used as concrete pave
nent on the public highway il would
pave a section similar To that being
AID north OF FL PaSO, for continuous
length Of 345 miles. OF from e Paso {
10 Albuquerque and 100 miles beyond !
1r within Is miles Of Las Vegas
Never Again Water Famine.
The lake formed by this dam will
rave a surface area when filled -
ip1llway level. Of ~. 600 acres. a length
4 40 miles. average depth of Sc feet.
iNerage width OF one and three-fOUrthS
niles. shore length ( zoo miles and
viii contain $4,000 acre feet OF wa
er. or sufficient to cover 4130 square
niles one foot deep The flood waters |
VIII be stored and dDled out as needed /
or irrigation purposes. Never again
viii there be scarcity of water and
he farmers on the project will have
10 further worry in regard to the flow
turing July and August. during which
leriod in times past the river fire. !
.uently went dry
Franklin Canal Enlarged.
While the construction Of the Ele- !
'hant Butte dam was in progress the
work in the valleys below was not
0rgotten. The Franklin canal. head
ne at the International dam and ex-
ending some 30 miles below Fl Paso. !
vas purchased by the government in !
Sc, and the first 20 miles enlarged
nd improved It's carrying capacity
vas increased to supply the larger acre
ge contemplated. the portion through ] /
he city being lined with concrete. This ,
,ork was done during the seasons of
9If and 1915.
In the MesIlla valley "A diversion dam
vas built and about - miles Of main
annals constructed. The I.easbur- ?
anal was also extended some five miles
o give better service in this vicinity. ,
Percha Diversion Dam.
me work now in progress and con-
emplated this season includes the con-
tructlon OF the Percha diversion dam Z
n the RlncOn valley and some six
niles OF canal heading from It I
lume across the river above Garfield ]
D carry water into the Garfield dis
riot and another below Dona Ana TO !