The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-05-22
Big BADGER I.
CANYON FLUME
20 Va 49, 's---S--- = 81
NOW IN USE
Another Link in the Rebuilt
Gravity Irrigation System
IL : Is Completed T.
PUT INTO OPERATION SUNDAY
Built by Warren Co. at Less than Es-
Observation-Disclosures of Water
for Next Year

When the water stopped flowing in
the main canal Sunday morning it
caused not little alarm among the
farmers of the Valley. They began
to see visions of another break just
at the time of year when lack of water
would do great injury to the strawber-
nv beds. The receding waters, how
every, were not caused by any break.
The shutdown was merely another
step in the program which is to put
the gravity system in such state of
repair as to reduce to minimum the
possibility of a serious break.
The water was turned off for the
purpose of putting into operation the
nav stave flume across Badger cam
yon and by Monday morning a full
head was on again and the big con-
duit, the largest on the system, was
in operation.
In answer to numerous requests for
: detailed information concerning the
flume, Manager Chester E. Edwards,
of the Columbia Irrigation district,
has given the Courier-Reporter the
following data:
Length of flume, GIG feet
Lumber in superstructure, 86,128
/.
feet, board measure
Lumber in staves, 25,900 feet, board
measure
Number of bands, 468
Total amount of steel in structure,
including bands, bolts, anchors, ETC.,
14,700 pounds
!, Concrete in transitions, 40 cubic
yards
Cubic yards of excavation 1910
Cubic yards of concrete in piers 172
The superstructure including the
piers and transitions was built by the
Warren Construction Co., on the cost
plus basis and this cost is somewhat
below the estimate. The contract for
the building of the flume body Itself,
including the slaves, bands and spread
ers, was let to the Continental Pipe
Mfg. Co., on lump sum bid, this bid
being 4 little larger than the esti-
mated cost. Total cost of the flume
in place for water, will be a small
amount below the estimated cost.
The operation of the canal system
so far this season has been continu-
our and with the exception of the
work which is not yet completed by
the Warren Construction Co., it has
.been possible to deliver practically
continuous flow to all of the system
since water was started on April 8,
said Mr.. Edwards. "There have been
three or four rather serious leaks
caused by gopher holes on the main
canal and lateral 2, but up to this
time nothing serious has resulted
from them as they were found in time
TO prevent the water from getting
away entirely and causing a serious
break. The canal system this year
VIII be in such shape that it will be
sosslble to deliver approximately 25
per cent over measurement to all
lands now under cultivation. This
amount should be sufficient to carry
all crops thru in good shape providing
1t is efficiently used. In going around
oVer the district I have noticed that
tnere is more than the usual amount
VI waste water on the roads and in
sne various natural drainage channels.
Inns condition will have to be cor
fected if everyone is to have all the
water that they should have during
eie hottest part of the irrigation sea-
sun. Most of the distributing fumes
nave been in for a good many years
''ia considerable number of them
ie IN very poor condition for dis
'fioutlng water. I have inspected
several which were leaking from twen-
S-nVe to fifty per cent of the amount
wafer turned into them before the
.a'er reached the point where the ir-
s.s. sa'or was then using it. This con-
Aon should also oe remedied as soon
= possible this year, and arrange
M ens made to put in new systems
fever necessary the next season in
- uer that the irrigator shall have all
4e water he needs for his crops and