Arizona republican., 1921-07-03
In Construction Of Diver
 sion Dam the Race With
 The Summer Floods of The Gila Has Been Won
BY JUDGE O. J. BAUGHN fSpecial to The Republican) n

l lo G1ld Has Boon won
 BY JUDGE O. J. BAUGHN
 Especial to The Republican,
 FLORENCE, Ariz. July 2.-Within 15 miles miles of Phoenix and almost unknown to the outside-world. one of the greatest races ever staged be- tween man and the forces of nature, has been on during the past four months And man has once again won the victory. Seven hundred men working day and night have been able to accomplish what seemed impossi- ble four months ago.
 The main slab of the great Florence diversion dam is practically finished as far as the foundation goes. and the structure Is now safe against the summer floods of the oftimes mighty and turbulent Gila river. And the victory Is not to go uncelebrated.
 To Celebrate on the Fourth
 On next Monday, July 4. the good people of Florence and Casa Grande and the valley in between, and all of their friends who care to come from distance will hold a big celebration at the dam, not only to commemorate our natal day but the completion of the foundation slab of the great dam as we'll
 It will be in the nature of a basket picnic celebration, every fellow bring ing his own eats A patriotic pro- gram will be arranged and sports for the young folks in the afternoon. In the evening a number of charges of INT will be set off by the diversion dam blasting crew on a distant hill- top by way of fireworks, and a big dance will be held right on the main slab of the dam, in the bed of the river and between the everlasting hills-that is. the dance will be held unless Jupiter Pluvius interferes with downpour of rain, in which event everybody will be happy anyway and the big dance transferred to the camp dining room.
 Big Dance in River Bed Dancing, in the moonlight and un- der the glare of the electric lights from the government plant. and in the very bed of the river itself-that will be some occasion. But the occa- sion calls for strenuous rejoicing. Back of the completion of the foun- dation slab of the great structure runs thrilling story of strenuous effort.
 When Major c. R. olberg, under the direction of the Indian service officials, began operations last Feb ruary. there was no thought that the dam could be finished this year. The government officials made their cal culations to have all in readiness to begin the pouring of concrete in the river bed as early in the spring of 1922 as the condition of the river would permit.
 The work was started. But as the month of March came on and the sea- son gave promise of being a dry one with no likelihood of floods to bother until the summer water came on usu- . ally in July, then it was that the plans were changed and the grea, race against time and the elements began.
 An electric light plant was secured and installed. and the shearing off of l the bedrock on each end of the dam 1 began, while at the same time many men and teams started the work oi | taking from the river bed the large | quantity of sand necessary to mia | with the tons of cement to make the | concrete needed. The work was rushed. Night and day the men | toiled.
 Fords Transformed Ford engines and running gears were installed upon dinky engine | wheels to haul the concrete cars over a small narrow gauge railroad track where 1t was dumped into hoppers which, swinging round. delivered the | mixture wherever needed. A huge pile driver wormed its way across the | river driving the double row of pilins upon which the foundation structure of the main dam rests. Triple shift: | carried the work on right through the entire 24 hours of each day.
 Then came a day when it seemed | that the race was to be lost to the | forces of Nature after all. Every in- dication pointed the weather gettins | the best of the wager. Threatenins | clouds during early June lowered al | around. and some rain fell on the watershed. but only enough to sent | down the river a small flow of water | all of which was handled withou difficulty for the short time it lasted
 This scare only caused the crew t, redouble their effort. A hurry ul call was sent to Florence. Casa Gran de. Phoenix and other localities fo men with the result that the wori J was greatly speeded up. Huge tres stles crept out across the river wherl the little "Henrys" chugged thei loads of concrete mixture and willin: hands directed the flow to the prope
 place. Result-within a few hour after this is written and before 1t i
 printed the main foundation slab o
 the great structure will be finished
 The race has been won. The flood
 of the Gila cannot and will not pre-
 vail against 1t now. The work O