El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-31

wasted. and tha- they could make a
better success II they nad more ir-
rigation water. decided TO purchase
the canal system and wa-er rights
and conserve the wasted water.
About three years agO the farmers
under the irrigation canal system, in
order to accomplish their aims, or
gained q district known as tse
Reeves County Irrigation district
No J." After the district vas rs--l-
larly organized they proceeded TO
make the necessary survey FOR re
storage Of the winter flow Of these
springs, and the diversion and stor-
age Of the flood waters Of the AIadero
canyon, and negotiations for the pur-
chase OF the canals and water rights.
Storage and improvements.
A storage site was found at one
side Of the valley about three miles
east Of BdlmOrhea. Texas. in the foot
hills. where the waters Of the springs
and tOrrentlal waters Of MaderO can
Won could be diverted and stored and
these stored waters could then he re-
leased as needed, back into the irri-
cation canal This required the con-
structiOn OF q large inlet canal from
Madero canyon to the reservoir. a dis
lance OF q little over four miles in
length. with concrete and steel head
gates and concrete and steel diversion
dam on MaderO canyon, and a con-
crete and steel intake from the
springs. the construction Of a large
earth storage dam with reinforced
concrete paving on the inner slope:
one low Ievee. and outlet works con-
sistinE Of a double wall with heavy
pressure water gates connected with
a reinforced concrete and steel con-
duit. one 975 foot 1ume across the
valley, and about two miles Of canal
Issuance Of Bonds.
The estimated cost including Incl
=. col + q a
construction Of the proposed storage
works and other improvements, was
$4,000 and the merged irri cation
systems and water rights could be
purchased for S125,0OO.
The real estate tax valuation for
1915 Of the district was over one
million dollars, which did not include
personal property, and which valua-
tiOn was more than sufficient, ac-
cOrdinE 10 the Texas statutes. to is
sue enough bonds for the purchase Of
the system and make the desired i'm
provements. Therefore Oh the 10th
day Of August, 1915, the district is
sued S266,00O worth Of s percent first
mortgage serial bonds. finally matur-
ing in 1919
Construction or Storage Works.
Purchase Of the irrigation systems
and water rights was made by de-
livering TO the owners S125. 900 worth
of district bonds. $4,000 Of bonds
were sold 10 provide money FOR the
purchase of materials necessary for
the construction Of the proposed
stora re works and Incidental eX-
penses connected Herewith and for
other improvements in the district
and a contract was let In July. 1916.
for the construction Of the storag e
works. TO be paid for in the remain
ing bonds and accrued interests
Under this contract. work has pro-
gressed satisfactorily. and all OF the
works are now practically completed
and the district viii have the system
available Tor use the latter part OF
the irrigation season Of 1917.
8 Mammoth Dam.
The earth storage dam is $500 feet
long and A. feet high above the
natural surface of the ground at the
lowest point A cutoff trench 80 feet
wide and % feet deep ~ the lowest
point was evcavated along tire center
line Of the axis Of the dam and re-
filled with puddle clay. so as 20 pro
vent any seenare under the dam. the
front inner slone is u0ved with reic-
forced concrete slabs running 70