Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-03-23
THE ROOSEVELT
DAM IS OPENED
Successful Completion Of Greatest
Reclamation Project.
WILL CELEBRATE THREE DAYS
---------------
Col. Roosevelt Was There to Witness
Opening Of Gates That viii
Make Desert
Bloom. a
WILL CELEBRATE THREE DAYS

I $3.50 !
the largest dam In the world, thu
Roosevelt structure across the canyoi
| Of the Salt river. Miss Ethel Roose
welt, under the direction Of her father
| touched the button that sent the i'm
prlsoned waters of the Arizona rive
ripping through the vast system o.
canals that will transform this sun
baked construction town and 100000
acres, Of shifting desert sand into {
veritahle Garden Of Eden.
The arrival Of the Roosevelt party
who motored Is miles across the
desert to attend the ceremonies, wal
q signal for wild hilarity among those
assembled to witness the event. The
cheering crowds pressed about the
little group Of prominent state and
government officials to offer thanks
and congratulations to the colonel. to
whom in a great measure they owed
| the successful completion Of the pro
ject and he repeatedly removed his
hat in acknowledgment Of their cor
dial welcome.
After the first enthusiastic greeting
had died away the party was escorted
to platform erected near the famous
dam. Here every convenience that
could add to the comfort Of the hon
ored guest had been installed and
here, surrounded by an eager throng
Of sunburnt plainsmen, farmers, and
artisans employed upon the great
work, the three days ceremonies In
honor of the formal dedication of the
great work, began.
These ceremonies mark the sue
cessful termination Of one Of the
greatest reclamation projects the
world has ever seen. They mean the
reclamation Of miles Of burning de-
sert, the termination Of years Of toll
under the blazing Arizona sun, and
the addition to Arizona's farming
lands Of territory whose productive
wealth will equal that Of the most
favored farming districts of the
world.
For countless ages the principal
stream OF Arizona, the Salt river,
swollen to torrential proportions In
the spring by, the melting SHOWS Of
the distant mountains and diminish
ing to tiny creek under the blazing
sun of summer, has wound its tor
tuous course through hundreds of
miles Of sunScared desert land that
needed but the application Of water
to blossom into luxuriant vegetable
life. The waste OF this rich territory
was called to the attention Of Colonel
Roosevelt when he occupied the presi-
Dental chair, and he, in turn, ordered
the governments reclamation depart
ment to investigate.
Engineers were sent to explore the
valley Of the Saltlriver. Maps were
made Of its winding course and sam
pies Of its soil were forwarded to
Washington, with lengthy reports.
Here the reports were passed upon
BY the reclamation department, the
soil was analysed and the matter re-
ferred to the president, whose warm
interest had given the scheme life.
But aside from the mere physical
construction Of the dam ore other in
teresting features. Inc ingenious
method the government employed to
finance the scheme, so that every cent
Of the sum expended could be used
again to promote still more reclama-
ton projects; and the soil condition
that makes the arid desert land 50 fer
tile when water is applied. In this
warm climate and with the brilliant
sunshine almost every day in the
year. the growth Of plants is phe-
nomenal.
Crops follow crops In constant sue
cession and when the soil is well sub
dued, high,grade frIat trees are set
out, SO that with proper handling the
land which without water cannot
grow anything 81 value, is able to re-
turn an enormous revenue amounting
to hundreds Of dollars per acre, or
even. when set in fruit. several thou
sand.
All OF this IL produced without d.
rect cost to the people Of the United
states. The government builds the
great dam and canal system. Il does
not cail upon the taxpayers, but utll-
Ises, for this purpose . fund derived
non the disposal Of public land. This
fund Il not given away. It ie invest
a in these works. and then the PEG
PIE who are benefited must pay back
the cost Of the Investment at 90 much
per acre N ten annual lnstallmenta.
| The money coming back Il used over
aRnln,, every dollar being reinvested
IN additional works e fast as par
nenss are made for those completed
Al he close Of The celebration. %
dhy. he colonel win Be shown about
ne works By the reclamation ezpertai
altend q banquet m bic honor, and
spond ne night ct Roosevelt motor
ina hack 10 Phoenix N The morning
10 continue his journey to California
where ~ b scheduled 70 address TIE
| ~l.,f.rf. ~ ~ rlnIrnrrifr AZ cal.