The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-28

when, two and one-half years
water behind Boulder Dam WI
The $49,OOO,0O0 structure
stands go per cent complete
today, with all records for this
type of construction shat
tered.
More than three million
cubic yards of concrete have
been poured, and but 100000
yards remain to be placed.
This January the waters will be-
gin to back up against the igantic
wall across Black Canyon. ~ next
autumn sufficient water wi l have
been impounded to start the gene
ration of electric power.
Vast Lake Created
AS the winter rains and snow
from the western TANKS of the
Rockies and the domain from Colo
RADIO to the coastal area are cap
tured in the accretion of the next
few years, a vast lake will be Gre
ated.
When full, 100000 acre feet of
water-sufficient to cover the entire
state of Connecticut to depth of
10 feet-will lie back of the dam.
The lower canyon of the Colorado
and some las, 900 acres, or 227 square
miles, will be submerged. The lake
will be lis miles long, will range in
width from a few hundred feet to
eight miles, and will be 584 feet deep
at the dam.
The vast pressure Of this artificial
sea will be held safely behind the
dam, rearing 727 feet above bed
rock. 118O feet wide, As feet thick at
the top and $50 feet thick at the
bottom.
Power for the industries of south
ern California and Arizona, and
water for a potential population of
10000, 900 in the Los Angeles metro
pOlitan area, will be provided.
Flood Danger Removed
Nine hundred thousand acres of
land in Arizona will be reclaimed.
No longer will the fertile Imperial
Valley lie under the danger of such
flood as 20 years ago created the
Salton Sea, when the Colorado burst
its banks and muddy torrent
sought an ancient channel through
the valley.
Levees heretofore had been in
creased in height yearly, as the river
raised it's bed on deposits of yellow
silt Each June in wet years, agri-
culturists waged an epic battle
against inundation.
For the three purposes of water
supply, flood control and power de-
velopment, the Federal Government
co-operated in making the Boulder
Dam possible
A model city costing 100000 was
constructed near the site. Here, at
the peak, 5218 men we're cared for.
An average Of 4648 we're employed
in the construction work, receiving
a monthly pay roll of more than
100000 through the Six Companies,
Inc, contractors.
Poured Million Yards
After preliminary work, first con-
crete was placed in the dam June 6,
1888. Seven months later million
yards had been poured.
Today the project stands virtually
complete, and construction has
started on facilities to make use of
the water to be impounded.
Contracts have been let for the
S6,000,000 All-American Canal which
will bring water to the Imperial ard
Coacheila Valleys of California,
Preliminary work has been done
on the Parker diversion dam fur
Their down the Colorado, from which
the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California will take a sup
ply to feed its aqueduct at cost
of 1920, 100000
The aqueduct, $50 miles long, will
bring the Colorado River water to
the cities of southern California for
irrigation and domestic purposes,
augmenting the Owens Valley and
other supplies which will prove in
adequate for the large potential
population. Crews are at work Dor
ing tunnels and laying the great
pipes of the aqueduct.
Construction of the worlds largest
transmission line, to carry power
from the dam to Los Angeles, has
begun. The power line will be 270
miles long, carried on steel towers
as high as IA feet. and will use
1926 miles of copper tubing.
The Colorad has been tanned, and
shortly will be harnessed and put
to work.