Bisbee daily review., 1909-04-25
ROOSEVELT DAM
 |. IS NOW MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
Director Newell, of the RecIa-
 nation Service Visits Huge Irrigation Work, is Pleased With Progress Being Made.

F. H. Newell. directors of the re- clamation service. returned to Phoe- nix from Roosevelt Wednesday to- gether with Engineer l.. c. Hill and
 President B. A. Fowler. of the Water Users association. of the Salt River
 Valley. who had accompanied him on the inspection trip both there and
 to Cacaton.
 Speaking of the progress of the Salt river project, and of the impressions received during his inspection trip 1 to the Republican Mir Newell said he was much gratified with what he had seen The work Is now moving ran idly and well, and the finish may be- gin to be counted upon. Contractor
 O O'Rourke is beginning to consider
 plans for moving out year later The
 construction work is climbing up at the rate of approximately fifteen feet
 per month. the transmjssioh line to Phoenix is practically completed and
 the line to Sacaton will be in a few weeks. The problems of construction
 will soon be entirely overcome. and the less imposing. but equally as im- itA N&Ahk tytOBlGAlo OL ildtEltudlllE ana operation now confront the service It has been the history of every big project of a similar nature, says | Mir. Newell, that when it is finally | completed the people are not quite ready for 1t: have not complied fully with conditions. and there is conss quent delay. The long period of con | struction work that moves slowly at l first hn E.fs and when at the last and things begin | to hum, it is finished before the com
 munity is hardly aware of it. The | building of this great reservoir and | irrigation system is designated to be | practical thing. a money making ! investment eventually. During the ] construction period when the govern ment is spending money right and left. 1 everything moves nicely and all are | contented, but he would have the | people reminded that there must come | a day of reckoning. This money has | all got to come back again, and he | hopes the people will be ready to do
 their part in beginning promptly the
 return of 4he money as soon as the
 government finishes it's work.
 To that end the people of the val ley should encourage immigration,
 bring in as many small farmers and ! land owners as possible. not mere 1 sreculators, but people who are to ! live upon and till the land. Mir. New [ ell intimated in the course of his re- marks. that to do this successfully, the large land owners should not seek l to elevate the price of lands too rap ' idly. The small farmer can only be
 induced to come by having it shown l 70 him that the move will be to his financial interest He is entitled to
 a part of the unearned increment in value as well as are the older land owners who have already been greatly benefited. It is true that the lands | are so fertile under thorough irriga- tion that they will return good interest on high valuation, but mere inter
 est can be made in many good invest
 ments, and if the valley is to be set tied up quickly a little of the specula- | tive profit should be left for those who are to buy last and pay the larger | price. Mir. Newell said that nothing on his trip had pleased him more than the improved appearance of the mountain ranges since a trip he made
 over the watershed some years ago. At that time it had been closely pas trred, and there had been number of dry years. Now the pasturage had been restricted by wise forest reserva- ton laws. the hills are covered with much more vegetation than formerly. the flood wash has been materially Iessened and altogether the watershed not only looks better itself, but is more dependable source of supply
 than formerly.
 | Speaking of Sacaton he said the 1 wells there seem to be all that was I expected, and he has no doubt con siderable area can be irrigated very successfully The Indians themselves
 contrary to the predictions of many ' are enthused over the prospect of
 water They are natural irrigators,
 having raised crops that way since further back than memory runs, and
 they are anxious to have their irri-
 gatiou system improved, nOtwithstand-
 ing the alleged pToverbial laziness of
 the native tribes. Even now, before the power has been supplied, the In- dians stand around every well when I tests are made, and want to start right off to making garden without waiting
 for an assurance of permnency.