OCR Text |
Show LINE TO VERNAL FROM SALT LAKE (Continued from last week) Those at the head of the venture are not. in a position, it is understood, to make known details of the railroad j route and plans concerning it to the extent ex-tent in which they have revealed specification spe-cification for the power plant and irrigation irri-gation system, There is considerable still to be done in connection with the transportation phaseof the undertaking It is asserted, however, that, the railroad rail-road will be entirely independent of other hues. The power company will at once proceed pro-ceed witli construction of the hydroelectric hydro-electric plant at Split Mountain, on the Green River, about eighteen miles from the Colorado line. The site is said to be one of the few easily developed water powers on a large stream in the United States. On one side the canyon is from 700 to 800 feet high and is so perpendicular perpen-dicular that a person on the heights can lrop a stone into the river far below. Here a 300-foot dam 800 feet long is Manned. It will, it is asserted, back up he water for twenty-five miles into a lake varying in breadth from one-half I to five miles. This immense water storage will in sure sufficient moisture for the farms with which the valley is expected to blossom at every s.ason of the vear. This plant will water a virgin field. There are no c vnpetitive power plants within HO miles in any direction. It is sai 1 that suffiietit p )Ater-oatpat and water rights have already been asked for in this still arid region to warrant the installation of the plant. The irrigation company, separate frem the power concern, although pro mulgated by the same interests, will furnish water for -liKJ.ooO acres on the gravity system. Some idea of the size of the project will bo conveyed when it. i-i considered that, in the er tire state of Utah, there were only 800,000 acres irrigated ir-rigated at the time this basin was open- j ed for settlement. |