Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

100 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. A PORTION OF THE CONCRETE-LINED CANAL NEAR ROOSEVELT DAM, SALT RIVER PROJECT. AN APACHE, “ FAT HEN,” ONE OF THE INDIANS WHO PROVED SUCH GOOD WORKMEN ON THE SALT RIVER IRRIGATION PROJECT. WAGON ROAD NEAR ROOSEVELT DAM, ARIZONA. River canyon, and the work of erecting the Roosevelt Dam began. The site of the dam is in a narrow gorge cut by the river through a lofty ridge of sand- stone, which supplies the material for this structure. The dimensions of the Roosevelt Dam are impressive. Its base covers about an acre of ground. From foundation to parapet it rises 286 feet. At the base it is 235 feet and on top 1,080 feet in length. It is constructed of rubble masonry, and is of the arch gravity type. It will consume 240,000 barrels of cement. On account of the isolated location, the cost of delivering cement was found to be prohibitive, so the Government erected its own plant just above the dam site, where there was an outcrop of limestone of first-class quality. For the past three years the mill has been in operation, furnishing an excellent cement to the contractor. There being no fuel within thirty miles of the camp, it was necessary to provide water power to operate the mill and the contractor’s plant. A concrete dam, built ,i . , , , A Power in the river about seventeen Station. miles above the camp, di- verted water into a cement-lined canal, at tho lower end of which the water falls through a tunnel to turbines 220 feet below, and gener- ates 400 horse-power for various purposes. The Roosevelt Dam is being constructed for a twofold purpose—storage and power develop- ment. When completed it will create the largest artificial body of water in the world. The superficial area of the reservoir will be 25’5 square miles, and its capacity approxi- mately 456,190,000,000 gallons. It is estimated that 20,000 horse-power will be developed by the dam. A large part of this is to be used to pump water from wells to lands above the gravity canals. A transmission line has been built through the mountains and across the desert, one branch extending to the Pima Indian Reservation. It is proposed to supply