Upper Embankment

Work on the upper embankment began in September of 1906. It is about five miles southwest of Nampa, eight miles from Caldwell, on the northern side of the reservoir. 

This dam was constructed by the Reclamation Service because all the bids were too high including Hubbard and Carlson's bid for $232,725 (two hundred thirty-two thousand, sevne hundred and twenty-five). D.W. Ross--engineer in charge of the reclamation work in Idaho--was the supervisor of construction.

This dam, 5,000 feet long and 70 feet high, had two outlets. The second was later abonded. [The Caldwell Public Library apologies for the bad image quality] 

When the two 70-ton steam shovels arrived to start work on the dam, a camp of 16 buildings has already been erected.

The buildings were hip-roofed and covered with rubberroid roofing. They included a mess house for 120 workers, bunkhouse, engineers' quaters, reading room, two stables, storehouse, pump house, blacksmith shop, machine shop, and an office. This this group shot taken at the end of a long work day, Mr. Ross stands at the far right. 

Horses for this work were contracted by W.H. Williamson, who received twenty dollars a month for each horse. He also supplied wagons, harness, slips, fresnos, and plows.