OKLAHOMA CITY DITCH AND WATER POWER COMPANY
The most gigantic undertaking in Oklahoma Territory or in the entire southwest was the Oklahoma City water power canal. No description can be given that would convey anything like a fair idea of the immensity of this canal or the enormous labor required in its construction. It has been of inestimable benefit to the Laboring classes of the city and surrounding country from the single simple fact that hundreds have been given employ-men all through the winter months. It was the only work in the country during the winter and scores of families owe their present prosperity to it. It has attracted the attention of capital to the city and numerous factories mills, and cotton gins are in course of building along its way. To this canal Oklahoma City is indebted for a great many things. It has made her the metropolis and commercial center of the Territory and in the future will be her beacon light.
C. P. WALKER
the secretary of the company, fought long and well in the establishment of this great enterprise. He surmounted obstacles and beat down difficulties that would have disheartened and discouraged ordinary men. He persistently labored with lot and claim owners for the right of way and at last succeeded in obtaining it to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. He gives his entire time and attention to the business of the company. The directors of the company are C.W. PRICE, JOHN W. WALLACE, ROBERT KINCAID, B. N. WOODSON, C. P. WALKER, JAMES B. WEAVER, FRANK A. WEIMAR and W. H. EBEY. The officers are C. W. Price, president; John W. Wallace, general manager, and C. P.The following furnished by the chief engineer, Mr. Burns, gives a very good idea of the big canal:
The canal begins (taking its east end as the starting point) at the west bank of the North Canadian river, 550 feet east of the quarter section corner between sections 3 and 4, twp 11, range 3 west. The tail race is 950 feet in length and constructed principally of oak, the precaution of fluming being necessary to prevent damage to the A. T. & S. F. track, as the water in the race passes under said track. At this point, station nine and fifty on the canal is located the end of power or the point where the water is used by the various mills and factories to produce the [page break] power necessary to do their work. This is accomplished by each mill using a turbine wheel. From this point to station forty-six the canal follows west on the quarter section line. In section four, at station forty-six the course is changed to a northwest one so that at station seventy-two the line crosses the township line 700 degrees east of section corner between four, five, thirty-two and thirty-three. The line there turns west crossing section thirty-two at an angle of about fifteen degrees. North of an east and west line at station one hundred is the heaviest work on the line. It is a through cut 800 feet in length and had an average cutting of ten feet. At station 138, one and three-quarter miles from Oklahoma City, we find the first crossing of the river. This consists of an open flume 110 feet in length resting on eight bents of piling, five piles to each bent and all thoroughly braced, bolted and spiked together.
This bridge flume is attached at the west side to the half flume 4200 feet in length which is constructed of posts and lumber and banked on the outside with dirt to the top. This was found necessary in order to procure right of way and at the same time save several thousand dollars in the construction. At station 180 the canal passes from township twelve to township eleven 1800 feet east of section corner thirty-six thirty-one, one and six. The course is then south of west thirty degrees to the second crossing of the river at station 227. The river at this point is spanned by two thirty foot spans and three of fifteen feet. This bridge flume is constructed in much the same way as the first with the exception of a waste weir, which is made by making the flume one-half foot higher at the ends than in the middle. This enables all surplus water from the dam to waste itself into the river without damage to the banks. The bridges have as protection shear piling from six to ten feet up stream to turn or hold all drift that might damage the bridge. In addition to the great strength of the bridges themselves there is a constant downward pressure of 300,000 pounds which of itself would withstand great shocks without trembling.
1st National & Bunky
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Originally Posted by Midtowner
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