The copper era., 1910-08-05
A STORAGE SYsTEM
Proposed at Siouih of the Frisco River
to ImpOuHd Waters.
(saforl Guarlian.)


The proposition of Dell NJ. Potter,
OF Clifton, to build a dam at the
mouth of the Frisco river and store
up the flood waters of the Gila river
for the purpose of increasing the
water supply of the Gila valley for
irrigation purposes, as well as giving
power for electric lighting, milling
and other manufacturing purposes,
is meeting with favor and attention
by the farmers of the valley.
Mr.. Potter has been holding .
series of meetings throughout the
valley, starting in with Solomonyille
and taking in every town.
The meeting held in Stafford Tues
day night was largely attended, and
Mr.. Potter explained the project of
building a dam at the mouth of the
Frisco river, where it flows into the
the Gila river. The dam will take 10
the width of the canyon. 1t will be
125 feet high. The base will be lis
feet in width, while the top will be
25O feet in width.
This dam will store and back up
waters ia the ella river to Guthrie
and in the Frisco river to within two
miles of Clifton.
A cement canal twenty-five miles
long, will be built from the dam to
within six miles of Solomonville,
which will give the surplus water sup
ply and power.
Mr.. Potter further stated that if
the people want more water in the
valley for irrigation of lands and
power foi electric lighting and other
purposes, it will be furnished from
this project. If not, there is suf-
icient vacant land that can be taken
up and irrigated by this surplus sup
ply of water. Ic will not interfere
with the project if the people of the
valley do not take the water. it will
be carried out in any event, aud the
vacant lands supplied, and all the
power can be sold to other parts of
the county.
The proposition on the whole is
similar to the one in the Salt river
valley, where the waters have been
stored up by the Roosevelt dam.
Those who went in for more water
are receiving it and those who did
not are securing the same amount of
water they had before the Roosevelt
dam was completed, and they are now
irving to get more water.
A large audience greeted Mr.. Pot
ter in Thatcher Wednesday evening,
and there is every reason TO believe
that the land owners of the valley
are interested in the project.
There is no scheme that could
possibly meet with more attention by
the valley people than one which
would give plentiful water supply
tor irrigation purposes, and Mr.. Pot
ter's plan will undoubtedly be taken
up enthusiastically.
Mr.. Potter, in carrying out his pro-
ject, has prepared petition to the
Secretary of the Interior, to be sign
ed by the people of the valley. This
petition is read at all meetings and is
as follows;
First-That there is at the present
time pproximately $4,000 acres of
land in cultivation in the said Gila
valley, irrigated by the waters in the
Gila river, and there is large area
of land in said valley capable of ir-
rigation by said waters if the same
are properly conserved.
Second-That the annual flow of
water in the Gila river is sufficient to
properly irriyate and water not only
all the lands now in cultivation, but
also large areas now uncultivated; A;
that during certain dry seasons of
every year the supply of water in
the said CHA river is reduced to
minimum, causing great loss to our
petitioners, and great injury to the
said lands now in cultivation.
Third-That. in the opinion 'of your
petitioners, by proper systems of
dams aud storage reservoirs, the
flood waters of the said Gila river
now going to waste, can be conserved
and a uniform and adequate supply
of water be obtained, for the proper
and successful cultivation of all the
said lands above named.