Arizona republican., 1910-06-10
FOR ARIZONA SETTLERS
Reservoir Will Be Near Alma, N. M., and Will Provide Water Supply For 10000 Acres in Upper Gila Valley

Though negotiations have not pro- gressed to the point of absolute cer- tainty there is every reason for an- ticipating the naturalization and suc- cess of an irrigation enterprise on the san Francisco river in New Mexico, un- dertaken by private capital. designed to furnish to 4O,OOO acres of upper Gila valley. Arizona, lands, stream flow and stored water in ample quantity and on a plan patterned very much aft CT that of the government project in the Salt river valley. This project will involve an expenditure of several million dollars, it's initiating genius be- ing w. II. Johnston of New York city, who has the backing of New York and Montreal capital The official name under which the project will be launched, though quite definitely de- cided upon, is not yet announced. Mir. Johnston and his associates have em- ployed for the engineering work the Westinghouse, Church, Kerr company of New York. one of the largest firms of engineer constructors in the United States
 MT. Johnston. accompanied by T. A. Wilkinson. representing the Nesting house, Church, Kerr company. has been in Phoenix for two or three days, both gentlemen leaving last night for east ern Arizona and New Mexico, the site of their prospective future operations. They had previously gone over the ground thoroughly and have been in conference with the Arizona ranchers who are to be the beneficiaries of their project, MT. Wilkinson having made a seventy-mile trip along the San Francisco river a few days ago, a jaunt he expects to make again shortly. The gentlemen came here primarily to look over the features of the local pro- ject, confer with Supervising Engineer L. C. Hill and also to look into the legal questions that will confront them in the exploitation of their undertak ing especially such things as pertain to the Arizona lands under their pro- ject Mir Johnston said last night before leaving that the law firm of Kibbey. Bennett and Bennett would be employ ed to look after the interests of the project.
 Speaking of the conferences with Engineer Hill, both gentlemen said he had greeted them very cordially, had given them valuable suggestions as to engineering and other matters and fur nished them with desirable information respecting the features of the local project They had previously con- ferred with Chief Engineer Arthur P. Davis of the reclamation service, who had also encouraged them greatly in their plans, had seemed very much in- terested and gave them reason to be- lieve that in his opinion they ought not to. encounter any insurmountable Ob- stacle. The purpose of the govern ment is to build up the great west, it has all the projects it can take care of for a time and seems glad to fur nish any information that will encour- age the investment of private capital in reclamation work.
 The site of the company's construct i've operations will be near Alma, N. NJ, about two miles from which 1t is pro- posed to build a storage dam that will impound from 125, 1000 to 15O,O0O acre feet of flood water The dam will be from 15O to 200 feet high, in a canyon of the San Francisco, and from 400 to 500 feet long, depending on how high it is decided to built it. Incidental to the irrigation enterprise all the power available will be generated at the dam site for distribution among the mines in that vicinity, the mine arrangements having already signified their desire to secure it. The water will then be run down the river bed much after the manner of water delivery under the Salt river project, a matter of fifty or sixty miles, to the rich agricultural settlement between San Jose and Ge- ronimO Arizona, on the upper Gila river, of which the San Francisco is tributary.
 Conferences with the representative settlers of that section have been held as well as one meeting which was largely attended, at which the plans of the projectors were placed before them as completely as they could be at this stage of development The settlers seem to be entirely in accord with the enterprise and have indicated their willingness to cooperate It is said they already have their priOrities we'll established and their Cnly need is more water. In time of water abundance they have no trouble, but in dry years their crops suffer and they have very good appreciation of the value of a permanent and ample water supply feeling that they can well afford from increased profits. to pay the expense of securing it, that expense being roughly estimated at about the same