Arizona republican., 1899-10-23
TONIC RESERVOIR
Secretary Ely Reads an Interesting
Paper on The Subject.

II.
Arizona Agricultural association:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: Presumably, the subject of
water storage was assigned to me by
the association because of the fact that
! during the greater portion of the past
four years l have been closely engaeci,
with others. in the work Of solving the
problem of storage for the Salt River
valley.
The general subject of storage is
such large one and there are so many
problems involved, that its exhaustive
discussion would preclude the -reat-
ment of any other topic by the associ'l-
ton. But. fortunately, so far as the
question affects this valley, we have
reached a point where we can say that
the most vexatious problems have been
eliminated, and 1 may, therefore, with
justice treat the subject very briefly.
| The practical bearing of the ques-
ton of the interests of the Salt River
valley is the most interesting, because
here there is neither room for specula-
ton as to the benefits to be derived
from storage, nor occasion for theoret
zeal discussion as to the relative merits
of storage by the national government
or storage by the territory following
the cession of the arid lands. Here We
already partly irrigated, and in urgent
need of more water. Here We have a
reservoir site at hand, fashioned to
perfection by nature, in the great
Tonic Basin, the right to the use of
which has been granted by the govern !
ment to Il company to whose efforts the |
government is according the most cor /
dial assistance toward early success. /
Here we have the water supply, in the
Salt river, and here we are soon to see. |
for the first time in the United states, /
a great reservoir project carried for |
ward to completion on wholly practi- !
cable lines-a reservoir which will not /
only be the largest in the world out
side of Egypt. but the first in the world |
constructed for a pOulatiOn already
awaiting it.
The supreme and universally friend
ly interest which the people of this val
ley have in the project with which [
am associated, warrants me in avail
ing of this occasion to explain some of
the reasons which have operated to de-
lay the commencement of construction
on that work with which the future of
this community is SO intimately con-
nected.
In the beginning. the Tonic Basin
reservoir was projected on unbusiness-
like and impracticabIe lines. Its pro-
motors fell into u number of errors.
The first was to assume the accuracy
OF foolish statements, yet widely dis
seninated, and which have found ut
terance even on this floor, as to the
available supply of water. Because of
the occasionally phenomenal floods in
the Salt River, it was assumed that
these foods could be depended upon
each year. and that they would, if i'm
pounded, be sufficient for the irrigation
of many millions of acres. Another
error was the proposition to raise cap
itaI by the sale of wind" in the shape
Of ''water-rights'' on land to be settled
in the future. Another mistake was to
leave out of consideration the needs
Of the valley proper-the quarter of
million acres already settled and for
which the normal flow of the river is
A failure to make provis- :
ion for an ample supply of water to
the lands already under ditch meant
aot only an inexcusable neglect of the
rights and interests of the pioneer set
tiers of the valley, but invited endless
contention and expensive litigation
over the rights to water under the ca {
nails heretofore constructed. Those of
is who are now carrying the enterprise
saw that while it was a stor-
lge project of the greatest possible in
rinsic merit, the whole policy required
radical modification. A re-organiza-
ion of the company was effected and a
new programme adopted, to the lines
IF which there has been a consistent
md radical adherence, although at the I
of delay in beginning con- I
structiOn. First of all, the money f
heretofore subscribed for water +
lights was returned to the investors, 6
md the programme of the company f
has had for its keynote, an equitable i
of all the conflicting irriga- +
ion interests in the valIey-the inter 7
.sts and rights of the canals as we'll as
hose of the consumers-and the con-
;truction of a reservoir primarily for
he purpose of supplying the wants of
he water consumers under the exist
ng canals. To practically and salts
actorily solve this problem has re-
Iuired much time and patience, an in
efatigable perseverance, and al
most infinite study and negotiation.
me bar to early solution was the finan- {
ial condition of the system of canals
N the north side of the river Over
capitalization and mistakes in man I
cement had brought about such
ondition as required a change of own
rship and a reorganization of that
ystem, which was slow of accom-
lishment. And, while it is manifestly
impossible that I should give you the
etails of the present situation, 1 may
ay TO vet that all of the hard work is
ehind US. The Tonic Reservoir will
e constructed, by private capital, and II
t will have fulfilled its mission long &
efore you will have heard the last of
he academic discussion of the relative =
lerits of a national system of irriga-
ion or construction by territorial aid. Y,
Neither of these questions interests
ur company in the remotest degree.
We are, however, interested somewhat
I the mis-statements which grow out 9