HARNESSING THE MURRAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1937, Page 6

HARNESSING THE MURRAY.

Australia's greatest heritage anil longest river, the Murray, with it* length of 1120 miles and drainage of about 270.000 square miles, is slowly lint surely being harnessed in compkte subjugation to man. The day when the whole of it* valley will he t?eming with settlements is seen not far distant. Reservoirs and locks have been built to conserve its waters for the l>etter use of the settler in the big series of engineering feats. Millions of |K>unds have already been spent, and now the last of these great works is in progress at the Hurray Mouth. At a cost of £540,000, five great barrages are being built at the Murray Mouth to keep back thi> salt waters of the open *ea from encroaching up the lower reach-js of the river, and so that the waters of lakes Albert and Alexandriua shall remain fresh. This will save thousands of acres of fertile pasture land* adjoining them >rv.:n lhe effect* of salt water. Heoent Ivy •'."•.us l,y the River Murray Commission -h ..vd tliat the works were well advanced. Forty-four piers have been completed at the largest barrage at the actual mouth near (Joolwa. and work on the lock and navigable pass has commenced.