Arizona silver belt., 1889-06-29
TIE SAFETY or RESERVOIRS AND THE
 IRRIGATION PROJECT.

IRRIGATION PROJECT.
 The recent disaster at Johnstown, Pa, furnishes a prstext to Eastern newspapers to sound an alarm against She proposed system of irrigation works for the reclamation of the arid lands of the West, they averring that the immense storage reservoirs winch would be required for that purpose, would be continual menace to the lives and property of the thousands of settlers who would be attracted to the region Tn question by the marvellous fertility of the soil. Those who thus yolubly prate on the peri!s which the multiplication of water storage reser. yoirs would occasion, overlook the causes which led to the Conemaugh disaster--that the dam was in every respect of very inferior construction, wholly unwarranted by good engi- nsaring practices. The dam was built almost entirely of earth, there was no central wall of masonry or puddle and the riprapplng was only skin on aach face. What is still moro aston ishing is the report that the vents for the escape of surplus water had bsen permanently closed, which, if true, should be condemned as criminal on the part of these responsible for the safe maintenance of the dam. Even with these defects, had the dam been protected on tep with substantial face of rock and cement, the structure, in all probability, would have with etssd the force of the flood.
 The St. Louis Globe Democrat gravely expresses doubt whether prae- ucally safe reservoirs for the i'm pounding of such large accumulations of water as would be required for the success of the irrigation project can be constructed, and calls upon the Sen ate irrigation committee to give thls question close attention. It strikes us that that is peint not relevant for the committee to consider, even were they competent, but must be left to Major Powell and the engineers of the Geological Survey.
 Reservoirs of greater capacity than that in the Conemaugh valley have been employed for the storage of wa tar in the old world from time imme- morisl, and have withstood the corro- ding effects of the elements for ages without appreclable impairment. The construction of safe dam is com paratively easy problem, m the light of modern engineering achievements, enly requiring intelligence in divis. ing the plans, and cars in the selec- ton of material and quality of the work.
 The point which the Globe-Demo- crat attempts to make against the ir- rigation project, is in reahty one of the strongest arguments in favor of Government ownership and supsrvi- sien, for the reason that the construc- ton of storage reservoirs would be much safer in the hands of the federal Government than if left to private en- terprise, because the Government with experienced engineers and unlimited means at command, would be much mere likely to build works of superior merit, and use greater preeaution in their construction.
 No project of public utility has taken such strong hold on the public mind as the proposition to transform the arid region into an agricultural Utopia. It IS not viewed as a problem doubtful of olution; the feasibility of water storage and the subjugation Of the dssert is admitted, and it's ultimate achievement is practically assured. The only question to be decided now IS whether the Government will un- dertake the work or leave its accom- plishment to private enterprise. Af. ter a thorough examination of the re- zion involved, and with clearer un- derstanding of the question in Con gress, there is little doubt but that the decision will be in favor of govern rnent supervision.