154 GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, 
The great High Line canal is crossed by the railroad a short dis- 
tance below the dam and may be followed by the eye on the right 
until it is hidden in a tunnel that carries it through a projecting 
rocky point. It is carried as high as possible, and though it has 
descent enough to enable the water to flow readily, it is soon above 
the level of the railroad and can be identified only by the regularity 
of its banks and the new rock dumps that mark the portals of its 
tunnels. 
Half a mile below the High Line dam Plateau Creek enters the 
river from the side opposite the railroad. This creek heads on the 
mesa far to the east and flows in a narrow valley between Battlement 
Mesa on the north and Grand Mesa on the south. The main auto- 
mobile highway down the river is carried over the low plateau 
east of the river, but at Plateau Creek it descends to the river and 
for the remainder of the distance to the lower end of the canyon it 
crests will rest on the weir and force 
the water into the canal headgates, 
but at times of flood they will be rolled 
n 
io Grande Western 
ad. 
The first 6 miles of main canal el 
allels the railroad track, and i 
row parts of the one ts in this sf ia 
three tunnels have been built to avoid 
hese 
section, and the third is 11 feet by 11 
eet 6 inches. 
The main canal has a capacity of 
be used for developing power and will 
r 
lands that lie above the main canal. 
The last 60 miles of the main canal 
consists of open ditch, involving about 
2,600,000 cubic yards of —— 
and numerous flumes, siphons, eul- 
verts, made to cross natural por ov 
urses. 
Laterals will be constructed to de 
as needed to remove 
prevent the rise of the ground-water 
level, 
Water for seasoning the works was 
turned into the main canal in June, 
mie 
soils under the project are of 
ypes e 
adapted to fruit culture, apes eur 
tically all crops do well in it; 
sandy loam is an alluvial soil ‘ee i 
adapted to growing certain varieties of 
fruit as well as alfalfa, agen re a- 
vegeta 
falfa, cereals, sugar beets, and ves 
tables. 
The cost of the works is advanced by 
the Government under the terms of the 
Reclamation Act, which provides 
the actual cost shall be repaid by the 
landowners in 20 years without im 
terest, and that they shall pay the 
of operation and maintenance. 
