574 



THE IRBIGATION AGE. 



The 



Gunnison 



Tunnel. 



More than one-half of the great Gunni- 

 son tunnel in Colorado was completed by 

 the first of September, according to a re- 

 port from the engineer in charge of the 

 work. The total length from the east portal in Gun- 

 nison canyon to heading No. 1 on August 31 was 

 4,416 feet. The total length from the west portal, in 

 Uncompahgre Valley, was 10,896 feet, making a total 

 of 15,312 feet. 



The Eeclamation Service, which is prosecuting the 

 work by force account, has broken the world's record 

 in tunnel construction on this work. During July 

 and August, however, the rate of progress was reduced 

 on account of an extremely hard vein of rock in head- 

 ing No. 1 and the treacherous ground in heading No. 2, 

 which required handling with the utmost caution in 

 order to prevent loss of life and destruction of property. 

 The difficulties in connection with ventilation and 

 transportation also increase with the length of tunnel 

 from portals. Six hundred and ninety-eight feet 

 were excavated during August. Machinery is in place 

 and the work of placing K concrete masonry will com- 

 mence this month. Work on the south side canal is 

 progressing satisfactorily. 



Throughout the Western States the wave 

 The Wave of prosperity is rolling high. In Cali- 

 of Prosperity, fornia crops of all kinds are so immense, 



and trade so good, that the earthquake 

 of last spring is practically forgotten. The reports 

 which we have obtained from San Francisco, and which, 

 in view of the exceptional conditions prevailing in that 

 city, are not only wonderfully optimistic in tone, but 

 show an actual, present prosperity which is nothing 

 short of surprising. Wonderful progress is being made 

 in Washington and Oregon, in Wyoming, Colorado, 

 New Mexico and Arizona. In fact, the Far Western 

 and Pacific States are among the most prosperous in 

 the Union. In the great grain raising sections of the 

 Central West the conditions are most encouraging. 

 Despite reports of damage from various localities in 

 Missouri, for instance, there is evidence of the existence 

 of a drought belt this season the crops are evidently 

 above the average, and the statements of our subscrib- 

 ers fully bear out the glowing reports published re- 

 cently by the Department of Agriculture. Taking the 

 country as a whole, it is evident not only that the ma- 

 terial conditions are most favorable to a continuance of 

 prosperity, but that all branches of trade is chock full 

 of confidence and enthusiasm. 



In September, 1905, the Secretary of the 

 Development Interior approved the plans for the con- 

 of Pumping struction of a pumping plant in the Ar- 

 y ,/ a kansas Valley, near Garden City, Kansas, 



Kansas ^ su PPty 'water to the Farmers' Ditch. 



Contracts have been let and the work of 

 construction of this project is now under way under 

 the supervision of the United States Eeclamation 

 Service. 



Charles S. Slichter, of Madison, Wisconsin, who 

 made an extensive investigation of the movement of the 

 underground waters of the Arkansas Valley, was in 

 Washington recently, and is most enthusiastic over the 

 future of that portion of Kansas. He said: "The 

 stimulus given to this part of the Arkansas Valley by 

 the proposed pumping plant has greatly developed the 

 installation of pumping plants by private parties. The 

 census recently taken shows that 162 privately built 

 pumping plants have been put in service in the Ar- 

 kansas Valley within the last twelve months. 



"A large number of these pumping plants are 

 operated by gasoline engines. A few that have been 

 installed at Kocky Ford, Colorado, uae hard coal in 

 gas generators which supply gas engines. These gas 

 plants at Rocky Ford show very remarkable results in 

 the production of power at low cost. A test of a 

 thirty-five horse power pumping engine at Rocky Ford 

 for ten days during the month of May, 1906, showed 

 that the cost of coal per hour averaged but seven cents. 

 At this place the fuel used costs $6 per ton at the ranch. 



"It is believed that the development of the bottom 

 lands in Arkansas Valley by private pumping plants 

 has just begun, and a very large number of new ones 

 will be put in during the present year." 



Send $2.50 for The Irrigation Age 

 1 year, and the Primer of Irrigation 



"' Irrigation in Oklahoma under the terms 



of the Reclamation Act has been delayed 



1 m because all of the examinations and sur- 



ima " veys that have been made have failed so 



far to develop a practical project from an economic 



standpoint. The engineers in the field have been 



seriously hampered by the rainy weather and flooded 



streams. 



As a preliminary and essential element of the 

 investigation, it was decided to erect a pumping plant 

 to utilize the river water and determine by actual 

 experiment whether it was too saline for use on most 

 crops. The machinery was accordingly ordered and has 

 finally been installed after many vexatious delays due 

 to floods and boggy roads. The pump is now set, the 

 canals from it are constructed, and the plant is in good 

 working order. 



This has been an exceptionally wet year. If next 

 year is ordinarily dry it will be possible to show what 



