The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-03
TO RECLAIM A DESERT.
Waters of Salt River to Be Retained in
a Big Reservoir in the Mountains
and Used for Irrigating.

washington Nov. 3.-The greatest
storage reservoir in the word IS 70 De
constructed in Arizona. Fun inIor-
nation about the great work Is con-
tanned in a report made by L. v Ma
varro. consul of the Mexican govern
rnent at Phoenix, in which he says;
ct is estimated that enough water IS
wasted from the Salt river each winter
10 amply irrigate 100000 acres IN lhe
Salt river valley throughout the year,
were the water properly dlstrloutsu. II
is proposed to store these winter Hoods,
TO be drawn from as needed during the
summer months, by constructing
great reservoir in the mountains SoIns
so miles to the northeast OF EnOeIlA.
The project is very feasible from an
engine ring standpoint. AS It traVerSes
the mountains on its way to the VaIIey
the Salt river passes through d sredt
basin in the mountains, which has out
one outlet the canyon of the Salt river.
The United States government mas
granted the Hudson Reservoir and Ca
nal company this basin, known as the
Tonic BASIN to be used as a storage
reservoir. The company has completed
all its engineering work, and plans ana
specifications for the dam nave JUST
been completed. 1t proposes to build
a dam at the head of the canyon, where
the river energies from the basin, thus
creating lake which VIII cover elght-
cen square miles, to a depth of 100 to
POO feet 1t viii be necessary TO Dulld
a dam 200 feet high and some 800 feet in
length at the top, although the canyon
from the bottom. The territory OF Arl-
iona has granted the company the use
of the channel of the Salt river in which
to convey the waters thus stored to the
valley below, and the stored waters will
therefore be turned back into the chan
mel IS needed and conveyed through the
canyon for distance Of 80 miles to the
head of the valley, where the first di-
verting dam Is found.
ITO construct this great storage res
ervoir, which will be the largest in the
world, will cost, 1t is estimated, about
81, 500, 600, and the company is now ac-
lively at work obtaining the necessary
funds. It proposes to sell stored wa
ter to the irFigating canal companies
now doing business in the valley, and
It is said these companies will be very
willing thus to augment the limited
supply which they now have ready for
sale to the farmers.
Some OF the canal companies have
already entered into such contracts
with the reservoir company. Farmers
now pay for water at the rate of 81. 25
to S2.25 an acre per annum, and the ca
nal companies, when they begin to fur
nish water from the reservoir, will
charge the farmers an additional 81 per
acre in order to reimburse themselves
for their outlay to the reservoir COM
pany. It is said, however, that the
farmers Will be willing to pay this addi-
t1onal price, as the increased water
supply will enable them to harvest dOu-
Bile the amount Of their present crops.
It can be seen. therefore. that when
this inmense undertaking has been &C
complished Arizona will have the great
est irrigation system in the world. and
the harvest of farm products and fruits
already abundant in the valley will go
far toward making this one of the most
prosperous regions on the globe"