Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-07-04
BURRIAJUCK DAM,
NEW SOUTH WALES
One OF the irrigation Maryels of
the World.

sent a scene or Wiz ana fuggef
grandeur and as the train approache
the terminus, glimpscs are caught o.
the great inland sen. Indeed in Il Z
workable sea. for al the nayles Of The
world could lie on ifs bosom and then
there would room 10 spare for the
Mercantile Marine as well.
The biggest warsliip ever built could
ride M anchor at Burrinjuck and there
wOnld still be a hundred feet Of water
under her keel a couple OF years
ago here and there could be seen the
dying tops Of giant gum trees which
had frlnged the course Of the two rlv-
ers, but they have long since gone I'M
der, and smnrt motor boats skim
the surface many feet above the sub
merged trunks. Also a number Of
homesteads, which nestled In the lone
some valleys. are likewise buried faith
oms deep. Their dlspossessed owners
We're well compensated by the State,
and the little homesteads had 10 go in
order that score or two Of holdings
might emerge on the Riverina plains.
The dam ranks fourth among the
great irrigation achievements OF the
world The formation at the site of
the dam Is a fine grained hard red
granite, and on either side Of the dam
the hills rise steeply to IA height OF
1000 feet. At about mile above the
dam the gorge opens out into large
basin, which formerly included the
junction Of the GOOdradigbee and Muir
rumbidgee Rivers
When the dam Is full the area of
this portion Of the storage Will be
about $500 acres. with depth of wa
ter over large portion OF from 1870 20
$50 feet. Above this basin the rivers
again enter the hills, opening out into
smaller areas of submerged flats here
and there which VIII sim further in
crease the area of the storage. Some
13 miles above the dam the Yass River
falls into the general storage. Water
Will be eventually held up the Yass
River 20 % miles, up the Goodradigbee
River 10 10 miles, and up the Murrum.
bidgeo River 60 AZ miles above the
dam
The Berembed division weir Is sit
uated 30 miles by river below Bur
rlngiuck Dam. Here the water Is d.
verted from the river into the main |
canal. Eventually the main canal viii |
extend 20 about 100 miles from Berem-
bed AT present Il terminates near
Grlfith. about 90 miles from the
Berembed takeoff TO Yanco. Where
the canal practically enters the area.
the distance from Berembed Weir Is
s5 miles.
The estimated capacity of the dam
Is 33.6l2 gu 900 cubic feet. or f,6i1
acre feet. The fun supply level viii
be- at r. l.. i.ls0 above water spring
iidcs. sydney, or 200 feet above the In
vert Of the drain-off pipes.
In the course Of a year OF so Bur
-Injuck viii como into It's own as one
II the most attractive resorts for
pleasure and recreation In the States
'or the vast utilltarian undertaking
'eposes amidst most picturesque sur
'oundings. and fishing. boating, swim
ming. shooting will offer considerable
attraction TO the tourist and holiday
maker. who wishes 10 make a trip 200
niles inland from Sydney.
When the fan is completed it will
iold more water than Sydney Harbor.
nd It's bays and valleys will be Just
s numerous. while the surrounding
ountry Is more rugged and inspiring
han TINT which surrounds Port Jack
on. There among those steep and
ornidahle mountains 20 height of
OO feet the dam backs the water A.
lilies. The ruling grade Is only 3 feet
or mile. From the dam to ianco.
he great irrigation model of New }
Outh Wales. via the water route is !
50 miles. aud the fall OF the whole n
{ that total distance Is only about 600 a
,et showing how the low grade en- q
Dles those areas so far distant from ;
le supply to be watered entirely by q
'avitatlon. e
The farms allotted and xyailable for
spOsal on the Murrumbidgee irri- N
ltion Areas are OF varying sizes ant b
varying quality, with the result that 4
e lines OF industry followed by the NJ
ttlers cover wide range. NJ
There are farms of from TO 300
res In extent, and the chief indus
les carried on are dairying, which in
any cases Is associated with pig ~
Using. fruit growing. viticulture and u
getable growing. ~
The usual variety OF fruits grown ~
der irrigation conditions In other 81
rts OF the world are belng produced r
the Murrvmbidgee Irrigation &C
'eas and the Yanco Experiment III
lrm Is useful object lesson avail al
lie foT the Instruction OF settlers In
? growth OF these fruits. and al =
ough the settlement Is still young.
enomenal crops OF apricots.
aches. citrus fruits and grapes have IN