The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-07-16
BURRINJUCK dam,
new SOUTH WALES
One Of the Irrigation MarveIs Of
the World.

way and reached by one of the most
miniature railways lin Australia, is
Burrinjuck Dam, the source OF the
water supply OF the lMufrumbIdgee IT.
rfgati0n Areas s6a
The surroundings vt Burrinjuck pre-
cent scene of wild and rugged
grandeur. and as the train approaches
the terminus. gliinpses are caught Of
the great inland sea. Indeed In 1t a
veritable sen, for all the navies Of the
world could lie on its bosom and then
there would room to spare for the
Mercantile Marine as well.
The biggest warship ever built could
ride Mt anchor Mt Burrinjuck and there
would still be 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
Ind fringed the course of the two riv-
ers. but they have long since gone un-
der, ald smart motor boats skim
the surface many feet above the sub
merged trunks. Also number Of
hOmesteads. which nestled in the lone
some valleys, are likewise buried faith
Oms deep. Their dispossessed owners
were well compensated by the State,
and the little homesteads had to 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 ut the site of
the dam Is fine-grained hard red
granite, and on either side of the dam
the hills. rise steeply to a height Of
1000 feet. At about u mile above the
dam the gorge opens out into large
basip, 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 a large portion Of from 100 to
100 feet. Above this basin the rivers
again enter the hills, opening out into
smaller areas Of submerged fats here
and there, which will still further in
crease the area Of the storage. Some
10 miles above the dam the Yass River
falls into the general storage. Water
will be eventually held up the Yass
River to % miles, up the GoOdradigbee
River to Is miles. and up the Murrum-
bidgee River to AZ miles above the
dam.
The Berembed division weir is sit
-'hnted 24O miles BY river below Bur-
ringjuck Dam. Here the water Is d.
yerted from the river into the main
canal. Eventually the main canal will
extend to about 40 miles from Berem-
bed. At present It terminates near
Grifith. about 90 miles from the
Berembed take-oR to Yanco. Where
the canal practically enters the area.
the distance from Berembed Weir II
% miles.
The estimated capacity Of the dam
ID 88,812.671 900 cubic feet, or 771.641
acre feet. The full supply level will
b at r. L. 1850 above water spring
tidcs, Sydney. or 200 feet above the in
vert Of the drain-off pipes.
In the course Of year or 80 Bur-
rlnjuck will come Into Its own as one
OF the most attractive resorts for
pleasure and recreation In the States,
for the vast utilitariAn undertaking
reposes amidst most picturesque sur
roundings. and fishing, boating, swim
ming. shooting will offer considerable
attraction to the tourist and holiday
maker, who wishes to make trip 200
miles inland from Sydney.
When the fall Is completed 1t will
hold more water than Sydney Harbor.
and it, bays and valleys will be just
a numerous. while the surrounding
country is more rugged and inspiring
than that which surrounds Port Jack
son. There among those steep and
formidable mountains to height Of
200 feet the dam backs the water ~
miles. The ruling grade II only 5 feet
Per mile. From the dam to Yanco.
the great irrigation model Of New
South Wales. via the water, route Is
$50 miles, and the fail Of the whole
Of that total distance is only about coo
feet, showing how the low grade en-
abies those areas % far distant from
the supply to be watered entirely By
gravitation.
The farms allotted and available for
disposal on the Aurrumbidgee Irri-
cation Areas are Of varying sizes and
Of varying quality, with the result that
the lines Of industry followed by the
settlers cover . vide range.
There are farms Of from 2 to 2t0
acres In extent, and the chief indus
tries carried ON are dairying. which In
many cases IL associated with pig
raising. fruit growing, viticulture and
vegetable growing. a
The usual variety Of fruits grown
under irrigation conditions In othel
parts Of the world are being produced
ON the Murrumbidgee Irrigation
Areas and the YancO Experiment
Farm IL useful object lesson avail
able for the instruction OF settlers IN
the growth Of these fruits, and al
though the settlement Is still young
phenomenal crops Of apricOts
peaches, citrus fruits and grapes hav,
q a. ~