PULSE OF THE IRRIGATION INDUSTRY. 



UNDERFLOW WORK 



AN interesting experiment along the line of under- 

 flow development will take place in Arizona. 

 For several weeks past Gen. J. B. Weaver, represent- 

 ing Pennsylvania capitalists, and W. A. Hartt, of 

 Tucson, have been pros- 

 pecting at a place about 

 15 miles northwest of 

 Tucson, near Rillito sta- 

 tion on the line of the 

 Southern Pacific railroad. 

 Here the Santa Cruz val- 

 ley narrows to about two 

 miles in width, from what 

 is called " Point of the 

 mountains" at the north 

 end of the Tucson moun- 

 tains to the high mesa 

 lands. The Santa Cruz 

 river flows through here, 

 being an underground 

 stream. After passing 

 the "Point" the valley 

 suddenly widens, making 

 a body of land that will 

 average ten miles in 

 width and 30 to 40 miles 

 in length that can be ir- 

 rigated. Preliminary 

 work is going on in the 

 shape of wells sunk at different points across the bed 

 of the dry stream, to ascertain the depth of the water 

 level, which has thus far proved to be twenty-seven 

 feet from the surface. 



The next step will be to ascertain the quantity of 

 water that can be developed. This will be done by 

 sinking a machinery pit or well twenty-five feet in 

 diameter as deep as seems necessary to get a full 

 water supply. This pit will be walled up with stone. 

 Two mammoth pumps will be placed in the pit at a 

 depth of twenty-five feet from the surface. The 

 pumps are now being constructed by the Smith-Vaile 

 Co., of Dayton, Ohio, and will be ready for operation 

 about June 1st. Their capacity is 5,000 gallons per 

 minute each, and it is expected that enough water 

 will flow into the pit to supply these pumps for con- 

 tinuous pumping. This being demonstrated, all will 

 160 



FOUNDATION PLAN. 



be in readiness for the construction of the dam across 

 the river. 



!>ANT (buz RIVER. 

 t MILES FROM Poif 



The method of construction to be followed, as will 

 be seen by accompanying diagram, is, first, an open 

 cut will be made about two miles long, the entire 

 width of the river bed, and twenty-seven feet deep. 

 From this depth sheet piling forty feet long will be 

 driven as close together as possible. On top of the 

 piling a stone capping will be laid and on this a 24- 

 inch stone wall laid in cement. Near the center of 

 the wall an opening, or spill way, will be left to carry 

 off the accumulated water, its width depending on 

 the water developed. On the upper side of the wall 

 loose rock will be thrown to a width of six feet to pro- 

 vide for the easy flow of water to the surface. The 

 experimental plant now being put in will cost about 

 $20,000, and the whole plant about $250,000, exclusive 

 of ditches. 



CESSION TO THE STATES. 



Senator Carey of Wyoming has introduced a bill 

 granting to each of the arid land States and Territo- 

 ries a million acres each of the public lands to be 

 sold to settlers in lots of 160 acres each. The com- 

 missioner of the general land office endorses the bill 

 in the interest of settlers. He says: "Local and 

 community interest, under State control, will stimu- 

 late results with far greater zeal and success. The 

 principal proposition involved reclamation and set- 

 tlement by individuals in small holdings meets my 

 strong approval, and this bill seems to me to present 

 full opportunity for the practical experiment and 

 under proper safeguards. The United States retains 

 title until reclamation is accomplished and the land 

 occupied by actual settlers. This, if successful, is 

 the great object to be obtained." 



Indian creek reservoir dam, in Idaho, went out on 

 the 13th of last month. Considerable damage was 

 done between Bysuka and Caldwell and the railroad 

 bridges in the neighborhood of Nampa were swept 

 away. The dam cost $50,000. It is stated that the 

 work of reconstruction will be started as soon as prac- 

 ticable. 



