The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-03-23
open LARGEST DAM
oRsATEeT RECLAMATION PRO.
JEcr Nv WORLD SUCCESSFUL
~ COMPLETED.
COLONEL IS HoNoReD GUEST
Cheering Crowds Congratulate Former
President to Whom 10 Due Honor
OF Starting Project - Roosevelt
Makes Principal Speech.

Roosevelt, Aril, March 1s.--Anid
the cheers OF thousands assembled to
day To witness the formal opening OF
the largest dam IN the world. the
Roosevelt structure across the canyon
Of the Salt river, Miss Ethel Roose-
welt, under the direction OF her father.
touched the button that sent the I'm
prisoned waters OF the Arizona river
ripping through the vast system Of
canals that win transform this sun.
baked construction town and 100000
acres OF shifting desert sand into a
veritable Garden OF Eden.
The arrival OF the Roosevelt party.
who motored seventy five miles across
the desert 10 attend the ceremonies.
was a signal for wild hilarity among
those assembled 10 witness the event
The cheering crowds pressed about
the little group Of prominent state
and government officials to offer
thanks and congratulations TO the col.
onel. 20 whom in n great measure they
owed the successful completion Of the
project. and he repeatedly removed his
hat in acknowledgment OF their cor.
dial welcome.
These ceremonies mark the success
full termination of one Of the greatest
reclamation projects the world has
ever seen. They mean the reclama
ton Of miles of burning desert. the
termination Of years OF toll under the
blazing Arizona sun, and the addition
to Arizona's farming lands OF a terri
tory whose productive wealth will
equal that Of the most favored farm.
Ing districts Of the world
For countless ages the principal
stream OF Arizona, the salt river. swol
len 10 torrential proportions in the
spring by the melting SHOWS OF the
distant mountains and diminishing q
a tiny creek under the blazing sun OF
summer. has wound It's tortuous
course through hundreds Of miles Of
sun-seared desert land that needed but
the application OF water 20 blossom
into luxnriant vegetable life The
waste Of this rich territory was called
20 the attention Of Colonel Roosevelt
when he occupied the presidential
ernment's reclamation department 20
investigate.
Engineers were sent to explore IN.
valley OF the Salt river. Maps were
made OF it's winding course and sam
pies OF its soil were forwarded &C
Washington. with lengthy reports
Here the reports were passed upon by
the reclamation department. the soil
was analysed and the matter referred
to the president. whose warm interest
had given the scheme life.
All OF this Is produced without di
rect cost 10 the people OF the United
States. The government builds the
great dam and canal system. II does
not call upon the taxpayers. but nth
Tres for this purpose a fund derived
from the disposal Of public land. This
fund Ia not given away. II IL invested
IN these works. and then the people
who arc benefited must pay back the
cost OF the investment at so much per
acre in ten annual installments. The
money coming back is used over again
every dollar being reiuvcsted In add
tional works as fast as payments are
made for those completed
This In brief. Is the story OF tho
great Arizona, reclamation project. AZ
outlined by the many speakers who
followed Colonel Roosevelt at the dedi
cation exercises. each OF whom paid
enthusiastic tribute TO the prosecu
ton Of the project by the engineers
In charge and the support and interest
OF Colonel Roosevelt that made the
scheme practicable.