Arizona republican., 1905-08-06
(Signed)
STORAGE STORIES
Hr. Fowler InterView-d RespeCtiD &
Recent RumOvs.

President b. A. Fowler of the Wat
er Users association returned home
last evening from a trip to the Roose-
Welt reservoir site and vicinity, that
was begun on July 25. The purpose Of
the trip was a general inspection of
all that has been done to date on the
storage project, and 1t was most sue
cessfully achieved for Mr. Fowler saw
all there was to see, not cursOrily but
in detail, and was surprised to note
the wonderful progress that has been
made since his last former visit.
He was asked last night what he
knew about two different rumors that
had been placed in circulation during
his absence, one being that the heavy
freight was hereafter to be routed via
Globe instead Of over the Roosevelt
road. and the other being a story con-
cerning the building of q larger dam
than heretofore proposed. He replied
that so far as the first rumor was
concerned he did not believe there was
any such intention on the part of either
the contractors or the government,
though of course he did not know.
But if there are any such plans he
has never heard of them and knows of
no reason why there should be
change.
There was some foundation, he said,
for the reported change in the size of
the dam. though the stories he had
heard repeated were somewhat mixed
and did not convey the right idea.
When the dam was first seriously
projected or decided upon, four sets
of plans were drawn. known as num-
Der one. number two, number three
and number four. Number four was
the largest of all the plans and had
been the favorite of both the govern
ment engineers and himself and Vari-
Gus of the members of the board of
governors. But as the time drew near
for the advertising for bids. for con-
struction, and the calculations of the
river flow in late years were studied it
was decided by the government that
the number four plans called for =
dam rather higher than would be
needed and consequently more expen-
sive. So when the contract for con-
structiOn was let the number four
plans were reduced in height twenty
feet and the lower part of the dam
made two feet thicker. and on this re-
vised plan the contract was let. Since
that time occurred the wonderful river
flow of the present spring and sum-
mer and it appeared to many interested
persons that It would be unfortunate
President Fowler, Vice President VIII
bur, DR.. Chandler and other members
of the board began agitating the ad-
visibility of a higher dam as called for
by the original plans Mr.. Hill was
consulted and admitted it's PRACTICABLE
ity and probable wisdom and the mat
ter was laid before the government
where it has been carefully considered
for some time. What action will be
finally taken Mr.. Fowler says he has
not been informed but if the higher
dam should be built it will please him
greatly, for the extra cost, roughly es-
timated, cannot be over 100000 and
possibly much less, while the capacity
will be increased nearly a third, if no
account is taken of the silt. 1t will
require but little changing of the
plans except the building of the foun-
dation that much higher. In the mat
ter of silt it has been proposed to take
care of it in some manner known by
the engineers, but IF there is never
another rainy season like the last one
the basin might fill with silt for TWEEN
ty feet and the dam still be high
enough to hold as much water as was
originally intended.
In any event this matter is to be
brought before the board of governors
at Mondays meeting for general dis
cussion and such recommendations as
the board may choose to make.