|
<br />, D, (1 n 2 30
<br />270
<br />
<br />COLORADO MAGAZINE
<br />
<br />completed on March 6~ 24 The next' day the Director' of the
<br />U. S. Geological Survey sent the Secretary of the Interior a
<br />letter outlining the general, plans for development of the
<br />Gunnison River Project.'5 It was recommended that the over-
<br />all project as outlined be approved, that the surveying of
<br />irrigable lands be continued, and that investigations be expe-
<br />dited leading to the preparation of specifications and letting
<br />of contracts.'6 On March 14, the Secretary of the Interior gave
<br />his approval to the project, later (June 7) setting aside $2,500,-
<br />000 from the reclamation fund for construction purposes."
<br />Meanwhile, on March 16, the Colorado legislature authorized
<br />the transfer to the United States of all property imd rights
<br />acquired for State Canal No.3. The actual conveyance, how-
<br />ever, was not to be made by the state board of control until
<br />August 14, 1906.28
<br />
<br />On June 17, 1903"Ira W. McConnell, an engineering grad-
<br />uate from Cornell University, was placed in charge of the
<br />topographic work as resident engineer. He was to remain in
<br />charge of the Uncompahgre diversion project throughout much
<br />of its prosecution, being made supervising engineer in Novem-
<br />ber of 1907.'"
<br />
<br />The summer of '1903 proved to be a busy one in the field,
<br />though no further construction on the tunnel was attempted.
<br />Most of the work involved mapping, with six surveying parties
<br />in the field, both in the Uncompahgre Valley and in the Black
<br />Canyon. The most daring piece of work was a survey within
<br />the cariyon at the point tentatively selected as head of the
<br />proposed tunnel, near the Narrows. The 1,500-foot length of
<br />canyon had to be surveyed from both rims, this difficult job
<br />finally being completed in August?O
<br />
<br />Because of the swift water, narrow gorges, and huge boul-
<br />ders in the canyon, the river could, not be used asa survey
<br />route. Instead, the men had to descend into the chasm over
<br />the sheer cliffs and down narrow fissures in four different
<br />places. First, a fissure and talus slope on the south side were
<br />mapped, as a possible route for a cableway into the canyon
<br />for carrying supplies. Then the survey party detoured 150
<br />miles around to the north rim, scrambled down a similar fis-
<br />sure, and surveyed a similar talus slope. From this point
<br />
<br />.. Ibid" 183,
<br />2.Il u. S. Reclamation Service, 9th Annual Report.. loco cit.
<br />.. ibid.
<br />" Ibid,
<br />"Ibid.
<br />lit Reclamation Record (October, 1909), 101. Working with McConnell in
<br />1907 were Edward E. Sands, acting project engineer; Andrew F. Ross and
<br />Herbert L. Daniels, engineer; Edward R. Furstenfeld. chief clerk; and Harry
<br />E. Essley, fiscal agent.-U. S. Reclamation Service, Monthly Bulletin, Vol. 1
<br />(January, 1908), 6, In the fall of 1909, McConnell resigned to go Into private
<br />engineering work. p
<br />so U. S. Geological Survey, 2nd Annual Report.. op. cit., lSa-184. The map
<br />. the men made 1s Plate 23 in the 2nd Annual Rkport. There is further descrIption
<br />or this daring survey in U. S. GeologIcal Survey, Water-Supply and Irrigation
<br />Paper No. 93 (1904),164-165.
<br />
<br />~ ~ '. "
<br />
<br />'~', ..::'.
<br />',",.':'"
<br />"'-',-.
<br />
<br />....;'.
<br />
<br />{":'
<br />~1l; -:
<br />
<br />~~~rl~t~
<br />,t:;"t{:;;i;.'~;~:
<br />~i~~j1~
<br />
<br />:":::~'~.:,':: ,~:. ?(~ ::.i;~:
<br />
<br />:f{~~!~j
<br />;;~~1::~~
<br />['~,l~;~l;i!
<br />
<br />"....
<br />.' ~'.' , ",
<br />
<br />
<br />~~~~;
<br />
<br />~:;:}(h',:<;":~:
<br />;.~::0::':: ;~;.; ',:;;.';:~~.~;,::
<br />~~~t,~i,,' :,'.~ ',:~,:::~~J:.';~,;~- /:"::
<br />.. ....,~.
<br />;>:{~'::.:.:-:'.;.~.~' ~..:'
<br />~~ ~:\).~::;..\~>':;;-'.:{
<br />':~..-..:( ':~.:' ~/,:'.::.
<br />
<br />
<br />~~~g(~
<br />
<br />.-.....
<br />
<br />-. -, '.
<br />. .,.,'-'.
<br />
<br />..; ,- ", ~':' " ',,' .
<br />p. ':\.-.
<br />
|