Arizona republican., 1908-06-03
PLANS FOX PICNIC
 Al GRANITE REEF
Some of the Things the People May Depend On and Some That They Cannot.

A few more facts are now available | concerning the proposed celebration at l Granite Reef. to be held sometime be- | tween the 10th and 18th, at a date | yet to be decided upon. Engineer Hill | realizing that 1t will be a longer trip
 than most people care to make in one
 day. to drive to Granite Reef and back | and time themselves to be on hand
 at the celebration. suggests>sthat those who care to may drive up the day be- fore ands make the exeusion a camping
 out trip A fine camping ground can
 be had about a mile below the Granite
 Reef dam. Another plan that some
 may prefer will be to drive to Mesa City and stay all night driving to Granite Reef in the early morning, and
 home direct, after the celebration. Those who have automobiles of course
 can make the round trip very easily in one day.
 One thing the prospective picnic CTS should keep in mind is the matter
 of lunches. The government camp at
 Granite Reef is now being dismantled.
 The force employed has been reduced
 and there is consequent curtailing of the boarding house supplies and a
 reduced kitchen force. The engineer in charge cannot of course undertake
 to open his doors and feed all corners. There might be a dozen and there might be a thousand and the only safe
 way therefore is to guarantee nothing and let the excursionists come proyid- ed with their own provender
 The camp force however will make everybody welcome and do the best it can to be hospitable There is lots of water and firewood and it is likely the
 camp cook in an emergency could
 furnish coffee and possibly something
 in the way of a hand out for those
 who might have entirely forgotten the
 food question In other words there Is little ranger of anybody starving to
 death whatever may happen. but the
 picnicers who really want to be as-
 sured of a good time should take
 along their own eatables so they will
 be independent, and will not have to
 depend on the camp cook If he hap
 pens to have sandwich or a cup of coffee handy for them it will be that
 much on the side, but he cannot un- dertake to provide anything for
 hungry crowd under the circumstan-
 ees.
 MT. Hill says, however, that every
 thing will be done that can be done under the circumstances, on the part of the government force to show their hospitality. The big wooden structure with cement floor. that was erected as a soft drink emporium and ice cream dispensary, will be thrown open and placed at the disposal of the vis- itors, as well as any other buildings
 that may not be occupied, and they may be transformed into temporary dining or lunch rooms, rest rooms, etc It is expected that by that time the water will be flowing over the top of
 the Granite Reef dam and it is de- | sired to have a good head at hand when the canal is opened. The Arizona ca
 nal being cut off the water is now ac- eumulating rapidly The plan is to open the sluice gates as soon as the crowd begins to arrive, so that the water will run down to a little below
 the crest of the dam and the people
 can cross dry shod along it's crest from
 one side to the other. Then when the suspicious hour arrives and the crowd is assembled, the sluice gates will be
 closed and the biggest possible head turned into the Arizona That will be the signal for cheers. If necessary the isluice gates will be opened again and let the water lower enough so the vis- itors who return by Mesa can get
 back to the south side of the river. The ceremonial program has not yet been announced but it is expected that it will include short speeches by Gov
 ernor Kibbey, Judge Kent and Engi- neer Hill.