Arizona republican., 1908-08-18
THE WATER TABLE.

Even the most discerning ODSerNer is unable at this time to conceive the full measure of benefit that will ac- crue to the Salt river valley as the direct result of the governments re- clamation project. The fulfillment of the main purpose is rapidly develop ing as planned and occasions no sur prise to the thoughtful men both within and without the reclamation service, whose efforts have made this great work possible, though its ac- complished success is somewhat em- barrassing to the prophets of ill omen, whose voices were loud in the land only a few years ago. But there are frequent evidences of certain results more gratifying than the most san guine dared to hope for a few years ago. It is proposed at this time to refer to but one, the raising of the water level under the valley acreage
 To freshen the memory of older residents and for the information of new corners a few quite well known facts will be recalled. Years ago when there was no thought of utiliz
 ing the under ground flow of water for any purpose other than house hold uses or stock water, it was com
 monly known that on all the lower lands of the valley water could be secured in abundance at the depth of from fifteen to twenty feet. Then came the idea of irrigation by pump ing and a number of plants were in ground reservior by such expanding institutions as the city waterworks, the ice and electric plants and other large wells, began to be noted. This was followed by a cycle of unusually dry years, with limited rainfall both in the valley and on the watershed. About that time the utilizing of the underground flow for irrigation by means of electric power generated at TAOOSGNtlls Ndo lOhoAS NOAAoiNNAN Nt by the reclamation service. The shrinking water table seemingly be- came a matter of concern to the gov ernment engineers as well as to the doubters among the laity. quick to seize upon every unfavorable indica- tion.
 Prof. Willis T. Lee, a geologist of the reclamation service, spent an en- tire summer in the study of under ley and meanwhile those depending upon wells for a large water supply were forced to deepen them. The city water works management dug more and deeper wells as did the ice companies, all being forced to go down many feet to secure an ample supply. Professor Lees report was favorable to the possibilities of irri gation from the underground supply but he gave the warning that it is not inexhaustible, should not be vast ed and in the event the shrinkage be- came great the return to former nor maj conditions would be very slow. He pointed out that the percolation through the strata from the upper end of the valley to the irrigable lands, assuming that the water shed became thoroughly soaked for months and the supply must come from that source, would require years for the raising of the water table materially, | except in certain underground chan nels where the formation was that of coarse rocks and boulders.
 Since that time the valley and the i watershed have been favored with i two or three years of what is con- sidered by comparison as a wet cycle, | though the precipitation has been small as compared with that of a | wet country. Happy to relate the water table has raised beyond all ex- pectations though the annual drain | upon it has been constantly increas- | ing. Manager Ensign of the electric | light plant is authority for the state- ment that in the last year or so the | water level in the company's well has raised seven and one-half feet and | is now but sixteen and one-half feet below the surface. It has been nee essary to raise the condensing appa-