The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-18
DAM A TRIUMPH
OF ENGINEERING
Roosevelt Central Figure at
Opening of Structure
Bearing His Name
ARIZONA CELEBRATES
RECLAMATION EVENT
Distinguished Party Attends
CeremonieS-MisS Roose-
welt to Turn on
Current

PHOENIX. ARIZ.. March 1s.--ro
open the Roosevelt dam. one of the
most wonderful reclamation projects
in the world. Colonel Roosevelt came
10 Phoeniz to-day for a three days
visit.
The colonel. accompanied by Mrs.
Roosevelt and daughter. Ethel, was
escorted from Grand Canon by Cover
nor Richard Sloan and Chief Justice
Kent. Of the Territorial Supreme
Court. John Orme. president OF the
Salt River Valley Water Users As
ISOLATION. the organisation responsible
for the Roosevelt dam. and a large
number of former Rough Riders. gave
the contrasting editor an enthusiast
tic reception. The party then motor
ed to the dam. a distance of eighty
miles, where the formal dedication
ceremonies were held this afternoon.
Governor Sloan read letter from
former Secretary OF the Interior Bal
hnger discussing the dam. He then
introduced Colonel Roosevelt who dis
cussed national conservation.
The colonel opened the gates which
turned the water by the dam into the
irrigating delivery canals.
Tonight the dam. powerhouses and
canal will be illuminated. the electri-
cal current being switched on by Miss
Ethel Roosevelt.
The party Will return to Phoenix
Monday, when Colonel Roosevelt Is
expected TO discuss the new oonsti-
tuition for Arizona and point out Sec
lions with which he Is said 10 be dis
satisfied.
The Roosevelt dam. one OF the won
derfaI engineering achievements with
which Uncle Sam is Transforming his
desert lands into fertile and produce
tive farm lands. was completed Feb
ruary 5. and formally dedicated by
ex- President Roosevelt to-day. So
marvellous has been the course of con-
struction OF this irrigation dam that
from the beginning II has attracted
the eyes OF ths prominent engineers
of the world.
Dimensions startling.
Its dimensions are startling. AT
the base Ii covers an acre OF ground.
It's height IL ESQ feet. on top Ii IL
1880 feet long. At the bottom II IN
ITO feet thick A twenty-six story
building covering a city block would
net all the space occupied by this
towering masonry structure.
Located in a canyon heretofore in
accessible sixty-two miles from the
nearest railroad. the construction ~
this dam involved many problems and
taxed the ingenuity of the builders to
the utmost. Their first problem was
the construction OF a broad highway
For twenty miles this travsrses
trackless desert. and for forty-two
miles more the road was literally carv-
ed from canyon wallis or blasted from
the steep-sided mountains-
II IL now considered one of the most
remarkable highways ia the world. II
opens UP to the travelling public
country unrivaled in grandeur and
beauty, and makes easy access To
some of the best preserved ciin dwell
ings In the Southwest.
In preparation for the construction
OF the dam the government engaged
In many activities. An immense pow
or plant was installed near the site
selected for the structure. cement
mill was built. with an output Of 500
barrels daily. II has turned out. in
all approximately $4,000 barrels. at
a saving to the government OF more
than 36l5,o0 Two farms were OPP
Grated to supply provisions for the
camp and forage for the live stock.
Domestic water supply was piped from
springs miles distant.
Nearly 600 Apache Indians were
employed for several years upon the
construction work telephone line
power transmission line rs miles long
we're both constructed and have been
IN operation since the commencement
OF the task.
While the Roosevelt dam has been
the principal single structure In con-
nection with the Salt River Valley
project. other important engineering
work has been going on at the same
time. A few miles below the big dam
another structure was built across the
river TO turn the stream fow into two
huge canals, which. with their iaterais.
have q total length OF more than $50
miles.
This latter dam is ~ feet In height
and 1000 feet long. The canals will
cover $50. 900 acres Of fertile land in
the valley and by the pumping stations
installed by the engineers an addi-
tionai $4,000 acres will be irrigated