Arizona republican., 1903-05-29
WHY WAIT :? Government Ready to Begin This Fall TONTO BASIN DAM Any Delay Is Dangerous to the Salt River Valley THE GIFT HORSES MOUTH Cannot Be Safely Looked Into at This Iuncture-If the People Want the Reservoir and Say so the De-
 partment Is More Than
 Willing to Begin Work
 in November.
THE GIFT HORSES MOUTH

Washington. May 2S.-(Special. )-The secretary of the interior would hke 10 have the construction of the Tonto baein reservoir begin not later than November 1st. The money for the great proiect available the plans are com Dleted and the awarding of the con tracts is the sole step remaining Tor him to take In view of the time re- ouired in advertising for and disposing of bids and for the contractors to pre- pare for their formidable task, it is es- santial if the work is to begin next fall that the secretary shall know of the de- cision of the land owners of Salt River valley at the earliest possible moment
 That there is grave danger to the val lev in delay it is the purpose of this dispatch to show. There are four other big irrigation enterprises under con- sideration by the secretary. and their friends are exceedingly active. He has favored the Tonto proposition because he has been assured that it presents ideal conditions. Naturally he desires that the first reservoir of the many proposed shall be a signal success. The director of the geological survey has taken a personal interest in the Tonto enterprise. in witness of which his re- cent journey to the site, his statements to the people of the valley and the in- defatigable efforts of many of his best subordinates.
 There is now on exhibition at the geo. logical survey the model of the Tonto basin dam. which attests to the desire of the interior department to build the dam. The model is attracting much at tention, as it is the first one produced since the passage of, the law empower ing the secretary of the interior to be- gin retaining the arid west by means of storage reservoirs. To one who view , that model and talks with the govern ment officials who stand ready to au- thorize the beginning of the work on the long hoped for reservoir, it appears incomprehensible that a community whose future prosperity hangs entirely on the question of water storage should possess enough objectors to endanger the carrying out of the governments wishes.
 It may be stated on the authority of the survey that the plans will not be changed if the reservoir is to be built. It will be in accordance with the ar engagement so clearly set forth by The Republican. The danger to the valley lies in delay of the work. If construc- ton is not under way by the close of the year there will be grave danger of an indefinite postponement. Some one of the other proposed enterprises will be undertaken, and the Salt River valley will be obliged to wait until conditions are more favorable.
 It was told at the geological survey today that there would not be com mencement of work on the TontO dam until the required amount of land has been subscribed and that delay in sup plying such guaranty if the commit mites wish to nave the government construct a reservoir might set the en- tire matter aside indefinitely.
 In the course of the conversation with the secretary of the interior this afternoon he spoke of the advantages of reservoir to the valley and declar- ed that under no circumstances would he authorize one to be built there unless the people agreed to the conditions as set forth. It is belived al the depart ment that the rights of the land own CTS are thoroughly safeguarded in the articles of the Water Users association and surprise is expressed that the gov