Arizona republican., 1904-12-25
TEMPE

TEMPE
 The Tempe district considered as the land irrigated by the Tempe canal and it's subdivisions, consists in all Of 25,- 900 acres on the south side Of the Salt River and extending west from slight but distinct elevation or mesa from which the town of Mesa takes its name. This amount of land is what at the present time is under cultivation un- der the various branches of this canal. The total acreage of land available Tor irrigation under the different branches is almost incalculable, extending many miles both south and west of the pres ent line of cultivation.
 The Tempe canal system as 1t is gen. orally considered, is composed of the Tempe canal proper, the Kirkland-Mc- Kinney ditch, the Western and South ern branches. It is conceded to be the best controlled, the most economical and withall, the most satisfactory sys- tenn of it's kind in the territory If not in the United States. Under no other canal in the valley do the shareholders receive an equal amount of water Tor an equal expenditure of money per share. It is a simple, cooperative sys- ten and though unincorporated, Its stock is valued at a million dollars The value per share of the stock is constantly increasing and during the past five years has more than doubled. The present valuation being SS,000 per share and were a party desirous of purchasing any considerable number of shares at this rate it would be impos- sible; they are not for sale. The com pany maintains 30 miles of canal with a capacity of 16,000 inches, serving 1000 water users Figures prove that the cost per acre of securing water un- der this canal as compared with that of other systems is small. It is es- timated that the cost of water from Sept. 1903 to Sept 1904 delivered at the head of the Tempe canal was 2112 cents per acre. The cost from there down the canal increase slightly as the dis tance increases, but the average yearly cost of water delivered to the laterals of the ranchers for the past ten years has been less than 50 cents an acre. The above is not theoretical, but ac- tual facts and figures.
 The Tempe canal has a priority of right over all canals in the valley with the exception of two on the north side, thus insuring a liberal apportionment of water even at the lowest stages of the river.
 Realizing the great advantages re- sultant from an abundance of water and the many acres of the finest land in the valley that could be utilized for agricultural purposes that are other wise only desert, it is only natural that the share holders of this canal, like all others in the valley should make every effort to secure an increased amount of water for irrigation and one that, can be depended upon at all times. For various reasons the share holders of the Tempe canal did not see fit to take stock in the Water Users association project, preferring rather to take other measures for increasing their present supply. A pumping plant was proposed and the proposition met with the favor of almost every stock holder in the en- tire system. This matter was first ad- vocated a little over a year ago. With a few of the largest stock holder in the canal company at it's head the movement rapidly assumed form and work on the plant was commenced all most immediately. A company was formed and incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, the requirements for a stock holder in the pumping plant being that he own stock in the canal company. The plant was constructed at cost of S55,00O, the additional $5,- 900 being raised by assessments on the subscribed stock. At the time of wri- ting the plant has been completed and in operation for nearly 30 days. It is the largest of it's kind in existance. There are instances where a larger amount of water is pumped from nat urai bodies of water but nowhere is as large an amount of water developed from wells on so small an area of ground. The plant was constructed with a producing capacity of 1000 inches of water from ten wells con- nected and attached to a single cen trifugaI pump. There was some ques- tion at the start as to whether or not the wells would continue to supply so great an amount of water without fall ing more or less. This has now been decided beyond a doubt and instead of decreasing, the quantity of water has increased since the pump has been in operation day and night.
 So successful has this project proven that there is little question but that with an additional capacity of 2,000 inches, making altogether a system of plants that will develop 5000 inches of water For this purpose it is proposed to bond the present plant for SS0,000, raising whatever else is required by as sessment. and constructing two or three smaller plants at different points along the canal The power for the new plants to be generated at the pres ent plant and transferred to the new ones in the form of electrical energy.
 The plant operated by this company
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