Arizona republican., 1910-01-28
Report of Special Committee
 Phoenix Board of Trade f, FAVORABLE TO RAILROAD
Report Stands By Conten- ton Though Still Views Optimistically Possibili- ties of Water Storage On the Gila River

The special committee appointed by the board of trade some weeks ago to investigate and recommend the atti- tude the board should assume in the controversy between the projectors of the San Carlos reservoir and the Southern Pacific raihoad. involving the low line right of way for the lat ter through the Gila Canyon. filed its report with the board of trade at a directors meeting held yesterday morning. The committee has given considerable time to the matter and has endeavored to use due deliberation in arriving at its conclusions. The re- port was read and unanimously adopt ed by the directors.
 The report is printed in full below and as it fully sets forth the facts in controversy as well as its findings, no further explanation is necessary:
 Phoenix. Ariz.. Jan. 27. 1910. To the Directors of the Phoenix Board of Trade. Phoenix. Arizona:
 Gentlemen
 Your committed. appointed to inves-. tigate and report on the diverse claims of the Southern Pacific railway and the promoters of the San Carlos res- trvoir project to the use of the Gila
 liver canyon, beg to report as fol- sows:
 We have listened to the conflicting claims of the representatives of both parties in interest. examined the con tour maps presented and read the en- gineers' resport submitted. From government officials and other disin- terested sources, we have obtained data relative to the existing condi- tions, that we might be in a position to report on this important question justly and intelligently
 The promoters of the San Carlos reservoir project. Mir. Chas H. Sleigh and his associates, have conducted some investigations with a view of constructing a storage dam 165 feet high in the canyon of the Gila river a short distance below its junction with the San Carlos. They claim that this project will cost about four mil lion dollars, including payment for the destruction of property belonging to the Gila Valley and Northern railway and the U. s. Indian service, which will be submerged; and that from this project 100000 acres of land in the vicinity of Florence can be irrigated.
 The application of the Southern Pa cific- railway for right of way on the low level through the Gila canyon. If granted, would prevent the above dam from being built and the promoters of the dam claim that a railway could be built on high level above the crest of the proposed dam at an ex- penditure of but s200.000 in excess of the low line with maximum grade of not more than one-half of one per cent; therefore they urge that the ap- plication of the railway for this right of way on the low level be denied by the secretary of the interior.
 The Southern Pacific railway. through it's representatives, claims their surveys show the cost of line at an elevation that would clear the crest of the proposed dam would be prohibitive, and Col Epes Randolph, | in charge of the Southern Pacific com | pany in Arizona, states positively that | the road will not be built by them on l any such high level line Moreover. 1 they point out that this identical San | Carlos dam site has been abandoned | by the Y. s. reclamation service after a careful investigation. on account e various physical defects showing it to | be impracticable.
 After a careful review of the data at l hand and of the various statements made by both parties, your committee | is of thes opinion that the low grade | line through the Gila~ canyon is very | desirable for the best development of this community and the territory at | large This line when built through | the canyon will form the last link in | the lowest grade transcontinental rail- way.
 We have not been convinced by any | statements yet made or proofs sub i mitted that the San Carlos storage | project is a thoroughly practical one, | and we are of the opinioA that from fifty to sixty thousand acres would | be the maximum amount of land, in | view of the available figures on water supply, that could be irrigated from | this project This makes cost of | nearly $S0 san acre, which we fear would be prohibitive. and in view of the previous abandonment of this pro- ject by the U. s. reclamation service. we feel that it would be very difficult to place the bonds. from the sale of which the promoters state they expect . derive the money for the construc- |, hn of this rroiects
 Were the project a thoroughly prac- tical ore and were it possible to irri- gate 100000 acres in the vicinity of