Arizona republican., 1903-06-29
AN UP-TO-DATE EDITORIAL
Los Angeles Times on Irrigation In
Arizona.

The Los Angeles Times, which has
been q faithful advocate of the San
Carlos reservoir enterprise, for a time
had cobwebs in it's eyes, in that it was
led to believe that in some manner the
Tonic enterprise was arrayed against
1t, and its attitude toward the latter
was to say the least lukewarm. 1t has
recently made a careful canvass of the
situation, and sets forth its findings in
an editorial in its issue of the 26tlf
which is a plain, fair and fearless
statement Of the situation and which
is herewith reproduced:
A special dispatch from Washing
ton. published in The Times of We'd
nesday, announced that the objections
raised by certain large property own
ers in the Salt River valley to the
Tonic Basin reservoir scheme had been
overcome Some of these large land
owners desired to put in their prop
erty as security to the government for
the cost of the Improvement in tracts
larger than 100 acres. They were
shown, however. that this would be inn
possible. under the law, and have log
ically given in, so that the necessary
amount OF land has now been secured,
upon preliminary work for the con-
struction of this great reservoir, which
it is said will be the biggest thing Of
the kind in the world, with the single
exception of the great dam on the
Nile, in Egypt, recently completed.
In connection with this important
improvement there has been during
the past few months much unfounded
and ill tempered criticism on part of
a few citizens of the Gila valley, in
Arizona. who wish to see the govern
ment begin work on the San Carlos
reservoir site, instead of that at Tonic
Basin. These people claim that the
Tonic Basin improvement would be ex-
clusively for the benefit of land now
held in private ownership, and they
have gone so far as to cast reflections
upon the integrity of high government
officials, of representatives of the Ma
tional Irrigation association, and others
who have favored this enterprise No
attempt will be made here to come to
the defense of the gentlemen who have
thus been unjustly attacked, for it is
unnecessary, but a few words may be
said in regard to the facts of the case.
The reason why a beginning cannot
be made on the ella river. under the
terms of the irrigation act. have al
ready been set forth in The Times. In
the first place, the act may not be util-
lied for the benefit of any save far
mers who have the ability TO bind
themselves for the return of the
moneys by the government expended.
This bars out the Indians Of the ella
valley, or any other section. Secondly,
the land on which it is proposed that a
dam shall be built is upon the Apache
Indian reservation, upon which entry
for dam building could be made only
by virtue of express act of congress.
Thirdly. and perhaps most important, a
feasible dam site has not been found
on the ella. The first site was at The
Buttes. only twelve miles above Flor
ence Borings disclosed the fact that
the depth to bedrock was anywhere
up to leo feet, making dam construc-
ton practically impossible. Then the
engineers honestly seeking site,
moved up stream. One or more dam
sites below San Carlos were tested,
and found available. Behring'S are now
in progress upon another. The best
depth to bedrock. according to re-
ports given Director Walcott on his
visit was fifty eight feet, which Mr..
Walcott states is a depth that pre-
sents serious and costly engineering
difficulties" The ella engineering party
is still laboring faithfully, however, and
there is little doubt that there will be
yet found a feasible site.
1t is true that major portion OF
the land that will be benefited by the
Tonic Basin reservoir is now held in
private ownership, but it is also true
that this immense reservoir will fur
nish water for a large area of addi-
tional land that now belongs to the
government, and will be open to pub
lie entry under proper conditions.
Moreover, it is a fact that after the
drafts on the ella rivers small flow
shall have been made by the farmers
of the upper river, and of the main