Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-12-10
A RESERVOIR
ENTHUSIAST
StdtiStiCidn Blanchard of
Reclamation Service
His Return to Washington
From a Visit to Damsite
Operations.

Washington, d. c.. Dec. S.-"No nat
ional work under ;he reclamation act
has attracted more general interest.
and none has been more widely adver-
tised, than the Salt River project in
Arizona" said c. ]. Blanchard. statis-
tician Of the reclamation service. who
has just returned from an extended
trip through the west.
aside from it's engineering features
several Of which are stupendous and
spectacular. the charm and mystery Of
the region m which the work is going
on. appeals strongly to all who have
studied the history Of this country.
The Salt river valley has been inhab-
tied at different times by three differ
ent races. each making use of irriga-
ton in agricultural operations. or the
first, whose ruined canals and struc-
lures are found IN many places. but
little is known. The wind-swept drift
Of centuries has choked these channels
and their dwellings are crumbling into
dust with the weight OF ages. The
modern ditch making machinery in
many of these old bitches. some of
which were cut from the solid rock long
before the age of metals.
The drive from the town OF Mesa
a fertile oasis in the semi tropical des-
ert. to Roosevelt is one not To be for
gotten. From a region of almost tropi-
cal luxuriance. you have merely to
cross a canal to enter upon a wide
eXpanse of desolation where in the
giant cactus is prominent feature of
the landscape. For twenty miles the
government road stretches out across
this desert plain to the foot OF the
Superstition mountains. most pecu-
liar and freaky formation. regarded
with supcrstitious awe by the Marico-
pa Indians. Entering the mountain
area the road winds by easy grades up
the range. affOrding views nf wonder
ful beauty painted in marvellous colOrs
'-Transcontinental travellers cannot
afford 10 miss this trip. for the ROose-
veit road is now regarded as one of
the most striking scenic journeys in
this country. The night N Fish Creek
canyon where a hospitable hst and
hostess make the traveller Welcome. is a
ut-iEutlui memory ne rOaO has a.
forded opportunity to inspect a pro-
found canyon which here: ofore was
not accessible. 1t IS q miniature Grand
Canyon of the Colorado.
"The climb along the dizzy ridges
until the government camp above
Roosevelt is reached would be little
less than terrifying. but for the broad
and comfortable roadway which IN
Gle Sam has carved from the solid
rock The view from the mountains
above the dam site is wonderfully in
spring. Below you. the river like a
silver thread rushes through a dark
and narrow canyon. To the east lies
broad flat across which Tonic creek
and Salt river have cut their channels
On the other side of the canyon the
contractors camp covers a broad area
Looking far below in the canyon.
through a confusion Of cables and
wires. an army of men are at work
thirty feet below the river bed laying
great rocks two and three tons in
weight in LAYERS OF cement upon III
rock of the stream. These men look
but little larger than toys. but the
fruit of their toll is visible in the beau
tiful curve of stone now rising slowly