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<br />
<br />COLORADO MAGAZINE
<br />
<br />by a consulting board made up of Arthur P. David, George
<br />Y. Wisner, and W. H. Sanders, accompanied by Morris Bien,
<br />an engineer, Colorado's State Engineer, L. G. Carpenter, and
<br />the district and resident engineers of Montrose.'" The upper
<br />location was officially approved by this group for the follow-
<br />ing reasons: (1) less difficulty in access to the canyon portal;
<br />(2) simplicity of engineering problems; (3) shorter length;
<br />(4) increase in irrigable land; (5) relief from the necessity of
<br />building several miles of very costly cana!."" On June 7, 1904,
<br />as previously mentioned, the Secretary of the Interior set aside
<br />$2,500,000 from reclamation funds for construction of the Un-
<br />compahgre Valley Project, and authorized the taking of such
<br />action as might be necessary to carry out the project in all its
<br />details.
<br />
<br />After this decision, it was necessary to make more careful
<br />surveys of the new line, including accurate determinations of
<br />the elevation at the river portal and the west or Cedar Creek
<br />end of the tunnel!" According to specifications, the tunnel
<br />would be about 30,000 feet in length, 101/2 by 11% feet in cross
<br />section, with a fall of two feet in a thousand and a carrying
<br />capacity of 1,300 second-feet. The tunnel would have to be
<br />lined throughout, the type of lining depending upon the nature
<br />of the rock passed through."
<br />
<br />Bids for the construction of the tunnel were opened at
<br />Montrose on October 5, with ten bids being considered from
<br />companies as far away as California and Illinois. Low bidder
<br />proved to be the Taylor-Moore Construction Company of Hills-
<br />boro, Texas," and the Secretary of the Interior signed the con-
<br />tract early in January, 1905." The bids had been based upon
<br />linear cost of various units of the project. The contract called
<br />for excavation and lining of 30,582 feet of tunnel and of a cut
<br />at the west portal 1,950 feet long and a maximum of 49 feet
<br />in depth. It was estimated that the tunnel would cost $1,000,000
<br />and would be completed by April 15, 1908.H Bids were also let
<br />for construction of the north, east, and west canals which,
<br />associated with other open-air features, would cost about $1,-
<br />, 250,000."
<br />
<br />As soon as the new tunnel line had been decided upon,
<br />surveys were run for a wagon road to connect the Cedar Creek
<br />Portal with the River Porta!." Out of several possibilities a
<br />route was chosen, and to avoid further delay the government
<br />
<br />J~ U. S. Geological Survey, .'irrl .4nn-jwl Report.. 01). cU., 203: U. S. Geological
<br />Sur\'ey. 25th An.nual RqJ01"t of the U. S. GcolofJical Sllrvey (1904), 294.
<br />:I~ e. S. Geological Sun"ey. Srd Annual Report, op. cit.} 68.
<br />~o Ibid., 203.
<br />H Ibid.. 205.
<br />~: Ibid."
<br />I~ LT. S. Geological Survey., .',th .-l7f.1llwl Report of the Rcclamation Service,
<br />1!JO~-1905 (1906),119. .'
<br />H U. S. Geological Sun"e)', 31"(1 rlllmwl RCJ)OTt.. 0]). ('it., 205.
<br />"Ibid" 205-208.
<br />~r. I.but.. 208.
<br />~'i Ibid.. 209.
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