The Coconino sun., 1917-02-23
WORK ON STUPENOU0US GRAND CANYON DAM POWER
 PLANT ID START SOON

At last the big power dam project in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, near the mouth of Diamond Canyon, is assuming shape. A number of en- gineers and workmen are now in the canyon and an engineer of the w. L. Clark Construction company of New York is also there looking into the matter of construction. Engineer J. R. Girard, who has been fathering the project, was at the canyon few days ago and expects to have the initial steps in construction under way with in the next month. The construction company is checking up the estimates of the engineers, so that when the work is commenced there will be no falling down on account of misconcep- ton of material needs.
 The Grand Canyon at the point where the initial dam is to be con structed, is very narrow and the in closing walls reach 1500 feet above the water level. It is reached by a wagon road from Peach Springs, 2l miles. The projectors will either build spur from the main line of the Santa Fe or further improve the road way to allow of the use of auto trucks in hauling in steel and cement. One hundred and fifty thousand sacks of cement will be used in the first dam, while greater amount will be used in the other two.
 The initial dam will create power for use in the building of the other, two, it being the intention of the com pany to build three of the proposed five dams, for which permits have been granted, at once. It is expected that it will take four years to com plete the three dams, but the first dam will be in commission fully two years before the others are completed and harnessed. At least 2000 men will be employed in the work.
 When the dams are completed, and possibly before that time, road will be carried into the pine forests of the great plateau on the north rim of the canyon, and mills will be operated and timbers brought across for market in this section of the country. The mines of that section will also be reached by short electric lines. The excess power will be also used in the recov- cry of nitrates from the air and for other uses.
 It is possible that the Santa Fe will be electrified over the mountains and through the desert, where now oil burning engines are operated at heavy cost. But one of the greatest of all possibilities is the reduction of the present heavy power costs of the mines and mills of the county with only one power company in the field. With hydro-power mines that are now operating with gas or oil engines can cheapen the costs of operation great ly. Hydro-power should be distibut- ed for less than $4.00 per horsepower month, while at the present time it is said to be costing from $500 to Sl5.00 with steam generated power. So gen eral would be the uses of this new power that few places in the northern part of Arizona could operate without it. With the three dams in commits sion a million horsepower could be generated, and southern Utah and Nevada might be brought under it's benefcient influence. Mohave county would surely be the one best bet in the whole state with such power in operation, as it would attract wide attention of manufacturers to the possibilities of its uses in lumber, leather, smelter products and many other important industries.
 A teaching plant was installed on conglomerate copper deposit near Mineral Park a month or so ago, which would have used the electrolyte had it been possible to get electricity at a reasonable price, but which has to use iron scraps. Other plants have had to use oil and gas power that will sooner or later be replaced by hydro electric power from the big river plant.-Kingman Miner.