Arizona republican., 1909-11-17

ne NlSlt or the members of the senate committee on irrigation in Phoenix yesterday was very brief one. but its importance cannot be overestimated As the result there can be no doubt of the friendliness of the gentlemen toward the reclamation project in this valley. or of the fact that they have a much better un- derstanding of conditions sthan before
 The answering of the questions pre- Viously propounded by the committee 10 the water users of the valley was well attended by perfect harmony and a remarkable good humor that was inspired very largely by Senator Carter. who it is quite apparent loves a good joke as we'll as anybody and landed several of them at the expense of number of Phoenix gentlemen who are themselves somewhat proud of their ready wit. Among those who unintentionally helped to furnish the amusement of the evening was Judge Kibbey. who was forced to admit he did not do a great deal of personal farming and couldn't tell to a nickel what it costs to raise bale of hay. Eugene Brady O'Neill furnished some fine testimony as to the productivity of the valley soil. but was forced to the frank confession that Mrs ONeill was the real genius of the farm who kept the books on the profits. and senator Carter commente6 that it was evidently a very well disciplined home. Mir Trotter confessed with some de- gree of pride that he had made $500 per acre on grape fruit, net. per annum. but when Senator Carter by his questions hinted that he might be in the market for some of that land at prices that had been quoted pre- viously as orange land. in the neigh borhood of s2o0 per acre. MT. TrOtter backed off and looked for a better place to head in
 But probably the most interesting and important feature of the entire evening was in the closing remarks of Senator Carter when he gave his reasons Tor favoring the issuance of what he terms warrants against the reclamation fund. as against the plan proposed by the president for the issuance of bonds by the govern ment. The essence of his theory was that the reclamation service is too magnificent a thing to be destroyed
 
 reclamation revenues must gu into the national treasury to pay them. by provision that must necessarily at tend such legislation. That would destroy the reclamation fund. and he feared the sentiment of the east would never permit its re-establish- ment.
 The train was about an hour later in its arrival from Mesa City than had been expected, as it had moved slowly in order to give the gentle men an opportunity to finish their luncheon. On arrival. automobiles for the short ride over the north side. provided by General Sampson of the entertainment committee of the board of trade. were in readi- ness The visitors were kept in the car a few moments until they could be assigned places in tine automobiles. and that was the suspicious moment for approaching the senators for word as to the measure of their satisfaction with what they had seen thus far.
 When asked for few words on his visit to Roosevelt and his impressions of the big project as compared with others he has seen. Senator Carter said:
 We had delightful trip to Roosevelt There were six autOmo- piles carrying thirty people and the trir was made on schedule time botr ways. without accident or any un- toward incident. It is the impression of all the visitors that the Salt river valley project comes up to govern ment proportions, IL Is probably the most extensive project in course of construction, considering the magni tude of th-, ksadworks ahd the pro- ductiveness of the area to he irri- gated
 ''The Pathfinder dam in Wyoming will impound a larger volume Of wa ter and the water will irrigate a larger area. but the lands in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska to be be irrigated by the, waters of the Platte do not produce the bewildering variety of crops produced here and in the nature of things the lands when irrigated with not be as valuable.
 This is the twenty-seventh project we have visited and we have been on the road forty-seven days. We will continue on the trip untfl next Satur- day.
 Aside from Senator Carter of Mon tana. Senator Jones. of Washington. and Senator Warren, of Wyoming. the party was composed of the fol- lowing gentlemen: Charles B. Eaton Of Seattle official reporter of the committee. F. H. Newell. director of the reclamation service. D. C. Hem ney. of Portland. oregon. consulting engineer of the T.. s. R. $. MT. Mur- phy Of the Washington office of the . [. s. R. &. Geo. J. Scharschug. cor respondent of the Chicago Record Herald, Charles s. Fee. general passen