474 NATIONAL RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. 



Gas, cave-ins, and subterranean springs have all interposed diffi- 

 culties requiring the utmost care in the prosecution of the work. At 

 frequent intervals heavy flows of water have been encountered. As 

 the tunnel is ^progressing in the downhill direction the water tends to 

 flow to the face, where it soon floods the working spaces. This has 

 required the installation of complete pumping facilities, consisting of 

 two centrifugal pumps, one triplex pump, two duplex pumps, and 

 about 1 mile of 8-inch water column. At the present time the pumps 

 are discharging about 250.000 gallons per 24-hour day. The maxi- 

 mum amount of water pumped at any time was at the rate of 750,000 

 gallons per 24 hours. 



The shale through which the tunnel has been driven is very rich in 

 fossils. At one point about 2 miles from the West Portal and some 

 800 feet under the earth's surface there w^as encountered a series of 

 shell beds. The shells are as white as seashore shell deposits, and 

 have been buried in successive layers of shale. The beds vary in 

 thickness from 1 to 18 inches, and extend horizontally for a distance 

 of 500 feet. 



Of the 17,000 feet of tunnel, more or less, driven under the direc- 

 tion of the Eeclamation Service, about 3,800 feet were in heavy 

 ground, consisting of adobe mud, gravel, and sand; 800 feet were 

 in shale overlaid with heavy material; 7,300 feet were in blue shale, 

 and 4,400 feet w^ere in some form of igneous rock or metamorphic 

 granite. 



AVhile the tunnel excavation w^as going on, many miles of canal 

 were dug, some of which are in exceedingly unfavorable country. 



The Uncompahgre Valley has a general elevation of 5,000 feet, 

 but owing to the lofty ranges of mountains which surround it, the 

 climate is mild and equable. The soil of the valley is of unusual fer- 

 tility, and this section is noted for its fine fruits. 



About 20 per cent of the irrigable land is subject to homestead 

 entry under the j^rovisions of the reclamation act. The farm unit on 

 public land for first-class fruit land will probably be 40 acres, while 

 on other public lands suitable for growing grains, sugar beets, and 

 alfalfa, 80-acre tracts will be filed upon. About G0,000 acres are 

 suitable for raising first-class apples and peaches. Some fruit 

 orchards 12 years old have produced from $400 to $500 per acre 

 net in this valley. The bottom lands, comprising from 80,000 to 

 90,000 acres, are adapted to the growing of alfalfa and sugar 

 beets. During the last season many farmers made from $50 to $80 

 per acre net from the latter crop. At the proper time filings 

 upon these lands should be made through the local land office at 

 Montrose, Colo. No water for irrigation can be delivered prior to 

 the crop season of 1909. 



