The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1922-08-10
DAM TO COST S16O,OOO
MORE
Fault in Bed of River Causes
Change in Type of Dam
and Higher Expenditure

"The estimate of the cost of the
Black Canyon dam, made by Engineer
Wylie, and which the reclamation SER
vice adopted, will have to be increased
Is to 20 per cent" A. P. Davis,
director of the United States reclama-
ton service, informed an audience of
business men and farmers at meet
ing held Wednesday afternoon in
Commercial club rooms.
The increased cost is due to sew
eral causes, Mr. Davis said One is
that the bed of the river at the dam
site is not solid rock formation as
expected, and it will be necessary to
excavate for the foundation of the
dam at least so feet in some places.
This necessitates change in the type
of dam, substituting what is known
as gravity" dam for the "arch"
type. Another reason is that the gra-
vel bed below the damsite, from which
it was expected to secure an abund-
ant supply of gravel, does not meas
ure up to the government specifica-
tions, being of a disintegrated char
acter and containing too much dirt
A new source of supply must be found
ard the added expense depends upon
whether or not it can be found near
the railroad. If fairly accessible
bed cannot be found, it will be neces-
sary to use crushed rock These and
ether unforeseen disclosures made by
government officials have added a |
large additional expense to the origi-
nal estimate of 100000 made by En-
gineer Wylie.
The gravity type of dam, as now
planned at Black Canyon, is so called |
because it depends upon weight suf-
ficient to resist the pressure of water,
and is similar to the Arrow Rock
dam. The Emmett dam will differ
from the Arrow Rock dam in that in
stead of being of continuous circular
form, the arch will be made up of
q series of flat sided sections. This
construction is deemed necessary in
order to permit of disappearing gates
being used on the upper side.
Complete in 1924
being used on the upper side. There
will be passageway thru the wall
of the dam from one side to the
other where the machinery for open
ing and closing the water gates will
be located.
Mr.. Davis stated that it is fully ex-
pected and planned to have the dam
completed by the opening of the irri-
cation season of 1924. Owing to the
lateness of the season, no attempt will
be made to build the dam proper this !,
year. Instead, the abutments on eacn
bank of the river will be constructed,
and also the spillway. Next summer,
when the water is at low stage, the c
dam itself will be built by closing the !
gap. {
Appreciate Cooperation. d
Accompanying Mr.. Davis on this t
trip of inspection is F. E. Weymouth, i
chief engineer of the U. S. r. S., r
whose headquarters are in Denver. a
They were Joined in Boise by Project il
Manager Bond, and at Emmett by O
Walter Ward, engineer in charge of e
the work here and Mr.. Savage, de- Il
signing engineer. All of them made f
short talks. Mr.. Ward spoke appre- O
of the cooperation shown
oy Emmett business men, especially
n the securing of right of ways for
-oads and transmission lines. Super el
ntendent MacLean of the Emmett Ir- cl
'igation District expressed the ap- a.
,reciation of the district in the gov W
favorable action on the dam RI
project and the energetic action now pl
,eing manifested in the undertaking. 81
Things Shaping Up. "
Good progress is being made in y
Dad building and so head of stock st
re on the job. Holes for the poles ie
f the transmission line are being dug a.
nd the work of setting the poles will ,e
e in progress within few days. The y
ffice building will be completed by :"
aturday night. The mess hall, bunk -
ouse and other buildings are well y
nder way and within the next five p'
r six days quite an additional force
f men will be employed. Until
ousing quarters are completed, few tn
lborers outside of local residents who ed
an live at home are being hired. tn.
Diamond Drill Coming. sp
A complete diamond drilling out fro
t has been ordered from Island Park, we
ear Yellowstone Park, and is expect ha