Arizona silver belt., 1889-09-07

Valley and i6 miles up Salt River to. gethsr with number of miles on Pinto Greek, all being in Gila county, would be flooded by means ofthis dam, and he estimates that about GAO acres of arabic land, of which 9o2 are now cultivated, would be covered with wa ter. His statement of the acreage now under cultivation is erroneous as about 1900 would be more correct figure. That report also fails to state that the whole flooding, and entire damage would be in Gila county. that l the creation of such lake would vir- tually make ordinary communication between north and south Gila impos- slble; that the only feasible location of q north and south railroad to Globe the route having already been sur veyed and 40 miles of track built, would be obliterased. The .opograph- ical features are such, that not even a good wagon road, through the moun- tains to the east of this lake, except at an enormous expense, could be built, and even then the distance would be l doubled.
 The report further fails to mention the Verde River or any of it's numer- GUS tributaries as equally adyanta- geous streams for water storage reser- yoirs, which, if examined, will be found to contain several sites for dams which would answer exactly the same purpose as the proposed Salt Liver dam, and winch could be constructed at probably less cost, and canals from which would irrigate precisely the same section of country, and whose construction and maintenance would interfere with or damage no one. Another objection to this scheme of daming Salt River lies in the utter separation of the lands on the head of Cibicu Creek from the mining regions surrounding and lying south of Globe. These lands contain large coal depos- its winch, st some not distant future day, will be of great value and i'm .dense importance to the mining in- dustries especially of southern Ari2o. na. This great lake fl constructed will cut of all possible railway con. nectien between these lands and Globe and the country lying south of Globe, except by road via ph@nix and Tucson or to Deming. New Mexlco, via Hol- brook and Albuquerque, which are routes 50 circuitous that their con struction would never be justified
 We would also add that at the pres. l ent time both southern and northern Gila rely exclusively upon the agri- cultural resources of the Tonto and Upper Salt River Valleys for all sup 1 plies of hay, grain, etc. This lake, flooding as It will this farming region of the county, leaves the remainder of the county practically without farm, and from the mountainous character of the county and isolated as itis from adjoining farming sections, our peo- pie will be left without sufficient sup plies of home agricultural products, and outside markets. owing to the great distance and almost insurmonnt- able mountain roads, can offer nothing except at an enormous expense. Under these circumstances, the cit izens of tiila county to an unanimity, earnestly protest against such whole sale destruction of whole county, merely to benefit another adjoining county. Were it merely a matter Of compansation for damage done, such might be adjusted, but the plan pro- posed conditions material political l disintegration of Gila county, affect lng it's communications and thereby destroying all hopes of future pros perity.
 In presenting these facts as cancise- ly as practicable, we feel satisfied that your Honorable body will treat these 
 grave questions with the considera- tion they merit, and that future Con. gressional legislation will duly recog- nize such important factors in the problem ot an equitable limitation upon the schemes for the reclamation of large tracts of desert lands. We remain,
 Respectfully, your ob'dt servants,
 DR. TRPPEL, Chairman,
 F. T. POWERS,
 +. Il. Cook,
 | J. Fl. HAMIIr,
 Committee. | Globe, A. T., Aug. 90th, 1889. | Approved-PATRIcK STANLEY, 1 Chairman Board of Supervisors. | Atlest-CHAs. T. MARTIN, Clerk.
 
 Tue publication of the report of the irrigation committee of Gila county to the Senate committee occupies so much of our space that local news is