El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-22
DAM IS READY
FOR NEW CANAL
Holes Provided in Building
Would Supply High Line,
Saws Louis Hill.


high line canal from Leasburg to
Montoya would prove feasible for
both power and water SUPPLY. was in
Dictated by engineer Louis c. Hill in
short talk Thursday night before a
small party of engineers at the Uni
versity club. headed by dean S. II.
Worrell, Of the School of Mines.
"A feature in favor Of the project
Of power generation" said Mr.. Hill,
is the fact that no supplementary
construction will be necessary at Ele-
plant Butte dam TO produce power.
Six holes were provided through the
dam at the time it was built in antici-
patton OF just such an emergency, and
all that viii be necessary besides the
building of the plant will be the
opening Of these six houes."
Mr.. Hill reviewed briefly previous
attempts TO take both power and
water for irrigation from the same
canal and stated that 1t appeared to
him that II would be inadvisable to
use power system that would with
draw too much water from the canal
Would Give Cheap Power.
The price Of coal at the present
time makes a power generating plant
proposition very attractive, and 1
nave no doubt that power could be
produced from the dam at a rate much
cheaper than that now paid. II the
proposed high line canal goes in, L
believe that the city could sell power
TO small manufacturers at much lower
rates than they will be able to get in
any other way. This, of course, is one
Of the ways in which the canal would
benefit the city.
City Needs More Water.
Another problem that must be
met is that OF water supply for the
city. As years pass every city in
creases in size to some extent. and
Deneve that in 1925 FL Paso viii have
q population Of 10000. This increase
IN population must be considered
when figuring on the city water sup
ply. For the necessary growth Of FL
Paso, the city will need at least twice
as much water per capita as it is now
getting IN order that il nav be
properly beautified."
Or. Nathan Boyd, one Of the origf-
majors Of the agitation for q high
line canal, spoke briefly. dwelling on
the Importance Of the canal from the
standpoint Of water supply.
Thinks Water Chief Necessity.
I believe that, important as power
IS, the chief value to Ell Paso to ac-
crue from the high line canal viii he
the solution Of the question Of water
supply, said DR.. Boyd. This city,
N order to progress and grow as II
snoulds and VIII, must be the city
beautiful An attendance of fresh.
pure water for the consumption OF
the population, for the watering OF
gardens, and creation OF tree en-
powered streets and boulevards is alb
soiutely necessary to the city's proper
growth.
other cities have realized this and
nave profited by the realization. Look
at Los Angeles. with her $4,000. 600
aqueduct It took lot Of nerve for
me people OF that city to face that
expenditure, but there is not a per-
son in Los Angeles who regrets it
now. It was one Of the things that
MADE Los Angeles a beautiful city.
ana made possible her tremendous
growth"
Reduce Drainage By Canal.
Another problem that I believe
would be greatly helped By the bies
line canal, is that Of drainage.
where the seerage from the numer-
Gus canals now traversing the Me-
silla and FL Paso volleys is augment
ing the difficulties Of drainage a ce-
ment lined high line canal would
greatly reduce this factor and rem
ger drainage a much simpler
Dean Worreli next introduced L. NJ
lawson, manager Of the Elephant
Butte project, who paid a high tribute
20 Mr.. HilFs ability and fitness for
the task he has undertaken in in
v,,estieating the possibilities Of a high
line canal
Greater Than a CantOnmeuf.
The high line canal, il feasible"
sad Mr. lawson, ''is one Of the great
est OF e Paso's resources" greater
even than that Of securing a can
Lawson Glad to Assist.
FROM the standpoint of the recla-
natlon service, may say that we are
SIao 10 see this investigation going
onward We are not ourselves IN a
position to do this part Of fbe vvorlt
out are willing to help in any way
tnat we can. and to cooperate with
ar; Hill as much as possible.
"A survey was made of the possfbfl-
ities OF high line canal in 1913, but
TINS survey did not take into account
power possibilities, but was made
wholly with view to irrigation. At
mat time II was not thought feasible
10 put the proposition through.
II the high line canal Is a feasible
thing, now Is the time to put II
through As a resident and property
owner IN FL Paso, I am much inter-
ested in its progress, and believe
that no stone should be left unturned
TO use the possibilities Of our re-
sources"
Says Government Ia Interested,
A general discussion was entered
upon, as TO how the high line canal
should be financed, If It proved feas-
lDle- Dr. Boyd stated that he thought
the government might be Induced to
\ "a