Arizona republican., 1905-09-08
VISIT OF JUDGE STEELE
Latest Report Of Conditions at Ariz.
Ona Head.

Judge Hiram d. Steele and his son
Porter Steele of New York City, arriv-
ed here yesterday afternoon on the
train from the north and are registered
at the Hotel Adams. Judge Steele is
vice president Of the Arizona Water
Co, and his son is u New York at
torney. They have never been here
before and being called to Colorado
Springs on other business Judge Steele
thought it desirable to visit this valley
where the water company mas so much
invested and famiIiarize himself with
local conditions. He said to a Repub
lIcan reporter last night that his visit
had no special significance other than
as explained above.
Like all the people of the valley.
Judge Steele was sorry to learn on his
arrival. that both the company and the
water users had met with further en-
balrassment in the injury to the dyke
above the dam. through which there is
likely to be a further shortage of water
for time and which was announced
in yesterdays issue Of The Republican.
He says however. that it is probably
fortunate that he happened here JUS
at this time. for he intends TO go to the
dam this morning in company with
Manager W 3. CleaEy, superintendent
McDermott and others, and note the
conditions himself. lie says the Incl
dent probably means digging down in
the pocket for more money and that
the company proposes to keep up the
work until the dam is thoroughly re-
paired. he thinks it likely the money
can be raised more quickly and tnc
work rushed the faster. for his having
seen the situation himself and inform
ed himself for personal report to his
associates at first hands. He will I'M
derstand il better and can better eX
plain the situation to them, together
with the necessity of prompt action.
Concerning the actual condition of
. Things AT the dam though, he did not
care to discuss them in great detail for
as he had never been on the ground
and but meager reports of the recent
damage are at hand, he could say but
little. except that all that could be done
to quickly relieve the situation would
be done.
Judge Steele is very enthusiastic also
over the construction of the Roosevelt
dam and expects to visit the site dur
ing his stay nere. He said he hoped
to get back from the Arizona dam
sometime tonight but probably could
not go to Roosevelt before Monday. He
spoke very highly of Contractor
O'Rourke. whom he knows as a man of
! great EtTlcilEe III Sl4tli COAiSLIuCliOl
and who can be depended upon to push
the building of the dam as fast as
possible.
Regarding the situation at the Ari-
IONA dam yesterday about the only in
formation that could be secured was
that in the neighborhood of 200 feet of
the gravel dyke has been carried away
The river remained high all day and
was unfordable at the Gray crossing
south of Phoenix. And when it is I'M
, fordable there, there is necessarily a
large flow over the Arizona dam.
To better explain the situation Su-
| p erintendent McDermott was inter-
viewed yesterday concerning conditions
at the dam site. previous to the present
flood. Mr.. McDermott did not care to
say very much about the damage done
until he had seen it himself and he said
/ that probably he could tell but little
about it then until the water subsidized
In the floods of last spring a large
section was taken out of the center of
the dam which as most people know is
hundreds OF feet long. The repairs were
carried on from this side of the river
Or the end of the break, nearest to the
headgate of the canal Probably a
third or more of the break was repair
ed with new work, cTibbing. etc, which
Mr. McDermott says he is confident
will not be affected by the present flood
But in order to divert tle river flow as
much as possible, to this side, where
it would enter the headgate, and also
TO keep the surplus water away from
the point where repairs were going on.
the building of a gravel dyke was be-
gun as soon as the water got low
enough to permit of it. This dyke was
begun at the other end of tne break in
above the dam to this end of it. It was
Of course only a temporary work but it
was hoped it would last until the dam