Arizona republican., 1910-01-26
The Gila Canyon.

retary of the interior relative to the
 conflicting applications for right of
 way through the Gila canyon. They
 expect. we understand, to formulate
 their recommendation today. The
 conclusions of the board may or may
 not have weight with the secretary;
 but since the question has been raised,
 it is important that the directors, as
 the representatives of Phoenix senti-
 ment. shall make it clear what the attitude of this community is. And
 this attitude is stated in a sentence:
 The Salt River valley wants rail-
 way through the Gila canyon, and
 under no circumstances will it be reconciled to the possibility of losing the road.
 The completion of the Arizona East ern through the Gila canyon means two transcontinental lines in one through Phoenix-a Southern Pacific line through the irrigated portion of Arizona, from Yuma to the eastern line of the territory; and a Southern Pacific line from San Carlos to Du- rango. where connection with the Rio Grande will be made for Denver. Thus not only a large part of the through traffic of the Southern Pacific proper will come through Poenix, including, of course, many of its passenger trains. but there will be through pas senger trains also from Denver to Los Angeles via Phoenix over the Durango line, because this line will give the shortest route between Los Angeles and Denver.
 But it is not necessary to dwell on the manifold advantages of securing transcontinental line for Phoenix everybody appreciates them. and mo- body more than the public spirited directors of the board of trade.
 Into the matter before the board has been injected the questions com prised in the hopes of the promoters of a reservoir project on the Gila. The feasibility of the project and the abil- ity of the promoters to find the great sum of money necessary to build their projected dam and to pay for the damages to- government and railway property in the neighborhood of San Carlos are live questions which have not been answered satisfactorily.
 As we have had occasion to say want to deprive the people of Pinal county of water for their lands.
 Happily. there is no occasion for | worry for the pioneers who own land | in the Florence Casa Grande district | There are some 43,0OO acres of pat ented land in Pinal county awaiting | gated at one time or another All of i it can be irrigated again. The pro- moters of the San Carlos scheme have been in control of the canal system in Pinal county for a year. and have | done nothing toward furnishing water. Tired of waiting for the promoters to repair the canal and put in a diver sion dam. the land owners are start ing a movement to provide water themselves.
 In order to furnish water to this 43.OOO acres. it will be necessary to construct diversion dam on the Gila river near the Ruttes, and divert the wa.er into an adequate canal. The earthen banks of the Casa Grande reservoir can be raised fifteen feet (possibly more), and the total cost of diversion dam. canal. and enlarged reservoir will not cost, it is estimated, to exceed half a million dollars. The enlarged reservoir would provide water the year round for at least 10000 acres; and this. with the normal flow of the river, would take care of the remainder of the 43,OOO acres-at least for the profitable winter crops, wheat |, and barley. The Hon. C. L. Shaw of { Casa Grande, an energetic and earnest ( gentleman, is acting for the land own CTS in the preliminary steps to form { water users association, which will {; pledge their lands for the improve ; ments we have outlined, and raise the { funds by selling the bonds of the as- ( sociation. { Mir. Shaw is. of course. anxious to I save the San Carlos reservoir site 2 also. as he feels certain that it is a : feasible proposition. But he is not in possession of any information on the ( controverted questions that will en- I able the Phoenix board of trade to I reach conclusions concerning them. f So far as the project of the Pinal I land owners is concerned. it t should have. and will have every sort O of support that Phoenix can give it. t