Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-09-28
Leaders in Work Reclain1ing
Wide West Are Still Coming

act. Mr.. Fowler was n Of the first
men who recognized the feasibility OF
constructing the Roosevelt dam and
forcsaw the opportunities for reclaim
Ing the desert lands surrounding 1t.
He was one of the men who assisted
in convincing congressman that gov
eminent reclamation was an absolute
necessity to the development of the
west and southwest and worked I'M
ccasinsly for the passage OF the rec
lomation act. Mr.. Fowler made sew
eral trips to Washington in the inter
est Of the bin and wa ut last gratihed
TO witness the president afdX his Of
fetal signature thereto. The Roosc-
welt dam viii be the first project
completed after the passage of the
reclamation act and IS recognized as
the pet project of the service. The
dam IS a noteworthy modern engi-
nccring feat ana is considered by ex.
pert engineers to be ono of the finest
in the world. The dam, when finished,
VIII be two hundred and cishty-fout
feet in height, or siXty-three feet
higher than the Bunker Hnl monu-
mcnt. 1t impounds 1900, 600 acre
feet of water. ITO the average lay
mind the meaning OF that statement
is not obvious said Mr.. Fowler. In
order to better illustrate it have
figured it out that this amount Of
water would irrigate a strip of land
one mile wide from San Francisco to
Detroit, With one foot of water. a
power line is now under construction
at a cost Of $4,000 per mile, from the
dam to the city of Phoenix, eighty
miles distant. 1t is estimated that
twenty-five thousand horsepower can
be transmitted yer his line. one
mining company has offered to CON
tract for ten thousand horsepower. In
the event this great power is mater
ialized it win be but a question of
years when the dam will pay for it.
SELF
Mr.. Fowler said among other things
concerning the salt River valley that
the people almost without exception
are all boosters, all working toget ier
for the upbuilding Of the country and
the day is not distant when il viii
be Il of the greatest agricultural
districts in the world. Mr.. Fowler. in
his capacity as president Of the salt
River Valley Waters Users association
a position which he has held ever
since its organization, comes in con
tact with the people Of all classes,
who occupy lands in the valley and
says that they are all feeling happy
as a result of the good crops Of the
last few seasons. THE half of it is
not yet told,' said Mr.. Fowler in
conclusion. Just what the limit Of
development the valley will reach is
as yet unknown. Only this last sea-
son cotton, which, according to the
department OF agriculture, ranks as
equal if not superior to the Egyptian
cotton of Egypt, was grown Wit
great success. Dates, which have been
declared fully equal to the Northern.
African dates, We're also grown with
success and several growers OF trop.
zeal fruits have, signilcd their inten.
ton of growing dates on a large com
mercial scale. Oranges, which find n
quicker ana better market thar the
pick of the California fruit, are stilI
our stronghold and probably will be
for some time to come. Lemons, cit
rus fruits, apricots, peaches. pears and
apples-in fact, nearly ever thing
that will grow has been grown success
fully in the salt River valley. We do
not as yet know its possibilities and
limitations and intend to keep up ac-
tive experiments until we have made
a trial at growing everything, which
we think can possibly find a home in
the valley
Mr.. Fowler in addition to being
secretary Of the National Irrigation
congress, ana president Of the Salt
River Valley Water Users association
is also president Of the National Fed
Grafton of Water Users associations
which organization comprises twenty
associations ana is also president of
the Associated Charities Of Phoenix.
is known as the Father of the Car
ncgie Library" in that city. and is
one Of the most prominent lawyers in
the COuntrT.