Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-22

Should the Americans pass away in the ages to come, there is strong like lihood that their works will live after them to bear testimony to their skill and prowess in gigantic engineering feats. And not the least striking mon- ument to their genius would be the vast masonry work of the Roosevelt dam in Arizona which Is now nearing completion, and which is to create a great lake whose waters are to be used in transforming Arizona's deserts into fertile fields. This Colossus of dams will rise to height of 2S6 feet and will extend nearly mile in cover ing the gap between the two adjacent mountains. 1t is 60 miles from the dam site to the town of Phoenix, and a fine wagon road has been construct cd all the way, much of it being cut through the solid mountain. A view of section of the roaod which is just above the dam site is shown in our H. lustration.
 One can scarcely comprehend the vastness of the figures which tell the story of what is to be expected Of this great mountain of cement and masonry that has been constructed during the last five years. Against this dam will press 100000 acre feet of water. This artificial lake will be 25 miles long and 220 feet deep. nI hn civ Uot nf dam this vast supply of water will be fed out to 100000 acres and more in the vicinity. of Phoenix.
 An interesting feature of the build ing of the dam has been the creation of the town of Roosevelt in what is eventually to become the bed of the great lake. and where now there are schools and stores and factories and homes there will be in a few months only one vast deep of liquid blue. As soon as the dam is finished the resi- dents of the town will move their be- longings, even to the houses in which they live. to other parts and the pow erful gates of steel will let the waters in. Within few weeks there will be more than 200 feet depth of water above the dam and the newest form of blue upon the map of the United States. the latest lake. will stretch its length of 25 miles upstream and it's breadth of two miles between the giant notch that separates the hills.
 c. J. Blanchard. chief statistician of the United States reclamation service. who has worked like a Trojan early and late. in season and out, for the success of the projects for the last five years. has just returned from a visit to the Roosevelt dam. His graph ic description of the wonders being worked is well worth hearing.
 No national work" said Mir. Blanchard, has received more general interest and none has been more wide ly advertised by the press than the Salt river project. surrounding the city of Phoenix. Ariz. While the en- gineering features are stupendous and spectacular. the charm and mystery of the region in which the work is going on appeal even more strongly to the visitor.
 This is the land of uncorrupted dis. tances. of opal tinted landscapes and perpetual sunshine. Its atmosphere is one of enchantment, and its silence holds voice of the vanished past. In the midst of vast stretch of desert . wonderful oasis has arisen. its vivid green standing out in marked contrast with the dusty plain and the distant purple hills. Three fair cities lie in the heart of this emerald island Phoenix. Tempe and Mesa Their flu. ture growth and prosperity depend upon the success of the work now 20 ing on under the supervision of the reclamation service.
 Sixty miles away from Mesa c thousand men are toiling night and day to make that growth and pros perity enduring"
 And the ride in an automobile over the government road to the dam is one marvellous picture of scenic beauty After a long swing on the brink of a profound gorge one reaches the tor of the mountain through which the Salt river has cut It's way. Here fl another inspiring view. Below ua' says NIT. Blanchard. who never tires ol talking of the wonders of the place the river. like a silver thread. rushei through a deep and shadowy canyon Looking down through confusion o cables and wires ve see -an army o men at work far below the river be< laying massive rocks two and thre, t--- fr -os~As sr rzwo~~ <.F <~uoof