El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-18
IS
PRESENT At
EXERCISES
Biggest Completed Irriga-
ton Project in the World
to Water Arizona Land.
SUPPLIES VALLEY
OF SALT RIVER
Former President Spends
the Night at the Darsite
With His Family.

Roosevelt. Ariz March 1s-Amid the
cheers Of thousands assembled today TO
witness the formal opening of the
largest dam in the world. the Roosevelt
structure across the canyon os the Salt
river, Miss Ethel Roosevelt. under the
direction OF her father. touched the
button that sent the imprisoned waters
Of the Arizona river ripping through
the vast system of canals that viii
transfer this sun baked construction
town OF 200. 900 acres Of shifting desert
sand into a. veritable Garden Of Eden
The arrival Of the Roosevelt party.
who motOred Is miles to attend the
ceremonies, was a signal for wild hill
arity among those assembled to wit
ness the event The cheering crowds
pressed about the little group of
prominent territorial and government
Officials-inclUding Gov. Richard
Sloan-to offer thanks and congratula-
tons to the colonel TO whom in a
great measure they owed the success
ful completion Of the project. and he
acknowledgment Of their cordial well
come
The Ceremonies Begin.
After the first enthusiastic greeting
had died away, the party was escorted
70 a platform erected near the famous
dam Here every convenience that
could add 10 the comfort OF the hon.
ored guest had been installed and here.
surrounded by an eager throng OF sun
burnt plainsmen. farmers and artisans
employed upon the great work. the
three days ceremonies in honor OF the
formal dediea ton of the great work,
began
These ceremonies mark the success
ful termination Of one OF the greatest
reclamation projects the world has
ever seen They mean-t the reclamation
Of miles OF burning desert the termi-
nation Of years OF toll under the blaz-
ing Arizona sun. and the addition to
Arizona's farming lands OF a territory
whose productive wealth will equal
that Of the most favored farming dis
tricts of the world
Desert Into a Garden.
For countless ages the principal
stream Of Arizona, the Salt river, swoI-
rem to torrential proportions in the
spring by the melting SHOWS OF the
distant mountains. ard diminishing to
tiny creek under the blazing sun OF
summer. has wound its tortuous
course through hundreds OF miles of
sun scared desert land that needed but
the application Of water to blossom
waste Of this rich territory was called
to the attention of Col Roosevelt
when he occupied the presidential
chair, and he. in turn. ordered the gov
ernment's reclamation department. to
investigate
Engineers were sent to explore the
valley OF the Salt river Maps were
made OF its winding course and sam
pies of its soil We're forwarded to
Washington. with lengthy reports
Here the reports were passed upon BY
the reclamation service. the soil was
analysed ard the matter referred TO
the president whose warm interest had
given the scheme life.
This. however. was but the begin
ming; the physical construction vet re-
manned The town OF Phoenix Ariz
was chosen as a base of supplies and
from that place the heavy machinery,
tools. lumber and the Thousand and one
odds and ends that go TO make up a
construction camp We're hauled IS
miles through the burning desert to q
point where the canyon of the Salt riv-
er was but 100 feet across Here the
first rude huts of the now flourishing
town of Roosevelt sprang into being
and actual work upon what was deS-
tined TO be one CT the largest dams in
the world commenced. An automobile
road, that had to be hewn out OF solid
rock In places. was built to the dam
Task of Several Years.
All this was some six years ago and
since that time the work has been
steadily carried on till today the struc-
ture as it stands complete is a massive
wall OF stone whose feet rest on the
solid rock far below the shifting river
bed and rise a sheer ESQ feet to the
parapet that borders the broad road
way along its top, imprisoning a lake
20 miles in length, whose waters would
cover million and a quarter acres a
foot in depth.
The Reclamation System.
All OF this was done without direct
cost to the people OF the United States
The government builds the great dam
and canal system 1t does not call
upon the taxpayers. but utilizes for
this purpose a fund derived from the
disposal of public land. This fund is
not given away. II is invested in these
works and then the people who are
benefited must pay back the cost OF
the investment at so much per acre IN
10 annual instruments. The money
coming back is used over again. every
dollar being reinvested in additional
works as fast as payments are made
for those completed
This in brief. is the story Of the
great Arizona reclamation project as
outlined by the many speakers who
followed Col Roosevelt at the dedfca-
tiOn exercises. each of whom paid en-
thusiastic tribute 10 the prosecution OF
the project by the engineers IN charge
and the support and interest OF Col.
Roosevelt that made the scheme prac-
ticable.
At the close of the celebration today
Continued on next page.)