702 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



During the present year the Reclamation Service began the construction 

 of two large engineering works, each of which is comparable with the work 

 now completed in the Salt River Valley. One of these, the Engle Dam on 

 the Rio Grande about 100 miles north of El Paso, will exceed the Roosevelt 

 dam in cubical contents and in the capacity of its reservoir. The other, the 

 Arrowrock dam in Idaho near Boise, will be the highest in the world. A 

 very large amount of preliminary work was required for both structures. On 

 the Engle dam, which is 13 miles from a railroad, it was necessary to have 

 constructed a broad gage railway to bring in the machinery supplies and 

 cement. The Government co-operated with the Santa Fe in building the 

 branch line and regular daily trains are now running over it. In the various 

 camps about the damsite there are residing approximately 1,500 people. The 

 post oflSce recently established at Elephant Butte, is now the most important 

 in the county. At the Arrowrock damsite in Idaho the Service has nearly 

 completed 22 miles of standard gage railroad and is already operating its 

 owTi trains over the finished portion. About 800 men are now engaged in 

 excavating for the foundations of this most remarkable dam in the world which 

 is to be erected in the narrow and precipitous canyon of the Boise River. The 

 camps at both damsites are interesting. In each the Government has provided 

 a large reading room for the men which is equipped with books and periodicals. 

 Entertainments in the way of illustrated lectures and church services and also 

 dances are arranged and have become popular. At Elephant Butte a social 

 organization known as the Order of the Royal Elephant has been formed and 

 has a large membership. In both camps a volunteer fire department has been 

 organized and is drilled nearly every evening. A test was given during the 

 visit of Secretary Fisher at Arro^TOck in September and in less than a minute 

 the department was playing the hose on a building. The commissary for 

 camps of this size, remote from large supply centers, is a most important 

 adjunct. The Government runs its own mess, and operates in each camp a 

 big department store, carrying all the lines which are needed to supply the 

 wants of the men and their families. All goods are sold at cost plus a small 

 percentage to cover expense of handling. Its ice plant, water works, electric 

 light and other utilities are all available for its workmen. Numerous cottages 

 have been built for the comfort of the engineers and their assistants for which 

 the Government collects its monthly tribute. 



THE ARROWROCK DAM. 



The site selected for the Arrowrock dam is at a point known as Arrowrock 

 in the Boise River Canyon, about 20 miles above the city of Boise, and four 

 miles below the mouth of South Fork. This site was selected only after a 

 long period of general investigation and months of digging and drilling to 

 determine the exact point where the great structure should rest. 



It will be the highest dam in the world, rising 351 feet from foundation 

 to the road along its top, and the roadway will be guarded on either side by 

 a parapet wall three and a half feet high. The dam will be about 25 feet 



