Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-28
ERECTED FOR AGES
Roosevelt Dam Will Be Profit
able Through All Time.
GREAT ENGINEERING WORK
It Cost About as Much as a First.
Glass Battleship.
a WONDERLAND OF FARMS
Fields of Alfalfa, Corn and Wheat
Are Fringed by Trees Laden
With Tropic Fruits.
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Chicago Record Herald.
PHOENIX, Ariz., April, 20, 1911.
The most widely advertised project of
| the reclamation service, known as the
| Roosevelt dam, is situated seventy-five
miles from Phoenix, at the north entrance
of long and deep canyon Of the Salt
| river. 1t is famous because of the man
1t is named for and the active interest
| he has taken in it: also because Of it's
dimensions and cost, and a spectacular
| feat of engineering. It is intended TO
store the waters Of the Salt river and
its tributaries for the purpose of irri-
eating about 100000 acres in a level and
| unbroken valley below, and at the same
time to furnish 5000 horsepower of
| electricity for lighting the surrounding
towns and for manufacturing industries
1t is claimed to be the largest irrigation
PROJECT ever attempted. 1t is said that
the reservoir is the largest ever con-
structed. either in ancient or modern
times, although it is a question whether
II surpaSses the ASSouan irrigation sys-
tenn in Egypt. 1t cost about as much as
battleship but battleships become OBJ
sotete IN twenty years or so of service
and this project will enable from 5000 to
10000 farmers to cultivate the soil and
produce grain. fruit and vegetables an
nuaily or greater value than the cost
VIC uoih 6cHeTdtlOn AFTER genera
tlon. as long as people need food There
IS no more notable monument of philan-
tnropy In existence; no government ever
did greater good for it's citizens by
single act and the benefits will he shared
by the population Of this valley as long
as time shall last.
Route to the Dam.
To reach the dam it is most convenient
to leave Phoenix by train for the little
Mormon town Of Mesa, which is the near
est settlement. The railway runs twelve
or fifteen miles through intensely cult
waited fields and this time Of year they are
HVld with vegetation. The alfalfa corn
wheat and other crops are growing IA
mously. The orchards are illuminated
with the blossoms Of the fruit trees: the
grape vines are shooting out long slender
tendrils with the curious curling leaves,
and the roadsides are covered with Cali
fornia poppies-a bright flower which
covers the hills like blankets Of yellow
velvet.
The valley is divided into small farms.
Forty acres Is considered enough for any,
BODY. Most people are satisfied with
twenty acres. because every inch Of that
area is capable Of cultivation. AS fast
as one crop is harvested they put in an
other, so that they raise three, and some
times four, crops during the year. That
is all any man ought to do. and, indeed.
IT ls all he is capable of doing, because
labor is very scarce. 1t is practically i'm
possible to get farm hands even at $50
and $50 a month, with board.
Few farmers live on their places. The
cultivated fields. like those OF Germany
and France, are without buildings. The
owners live in villages, as in Europe. and
go and come morning and evening, leav-
ing their tools in little sheds on the land
This system has several advantages, par
ticularly to the farmers wives and
daughters. who can talk over the fence
to their neighbors and gossip from the
front porch with passersby.
Tempe is one of, the most attractive
towns in the state. settled by well-to-do
farmers, nearly all of them from the
north. They are proud of their town and
their climate. The landlord Of the pr1n-
cipal hotel advertises that he never
charges for board except when the sun
shines. Tempe has literary pretensions.
1t is the seat of the normal school and
other state institutions and its educa-
tional advantages attract families of
leisure.