The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-18
Roosevelt Dam Near Phoenix, Ari-
zona, Formally Opened by Ex-
President. Great Engin-
eering Feat
BUILT AT COST OF SS,OOO,OOO
Capacity of Reservoir is Estimated at
56,62s,ooo 900 Cubic Feet of Wat
er-Dedioation Is Great Ger
emony.

Phoenix, Ariz., March 1S-The
work in connection with the Salt River
irrigation project, just completed by the
United States government at an ex-
pense of more than $4,000, 600, was for
mally dedicated today by ex-President
Theodore Roosevelt. after whom 1t was
named. Mr.. Roosevelt accompanied
by Mrs. Roosevelt, Archie and Ethel
came here expressly for the purpose of
the formal opening and to attend the
three-day celebration arranged in hon
or of the completion of the gigantic
undertaking. BY pressing a button
Mr.. Roosevelt set in motion the ma
chinery opening the sluce gates and
permitting the precious water to run,
for the first time, into the irrigation
bitches which conduct it down through
the arid expanse of the Salt River val
ley. Public officials, representing the
United States government and the
governments of Arizona and several
adjoining states were in attendance
and thousands of people from all parts
of Arizona and other parts OF the
Southwest visited the site of the great
dam.
Capacity 56,62s,o0o,ooo Cubic Feet.
The Roosevelt dam pens up the wat
ers of the Salt River and its tributar-
les at a point about seventy miles from
Phoenix. There the river runs through
narrow gorge, across which the huge
barrier of stone and cement was con
structed. The point selected by the
engineers is Just below the point where
the Tonto Creek, flowing through the
famous Tonic basin, empties it's wat
ers into Salt river. The dam. which
stretches across the canyon, rises in its
highest part to a height of 2S4 feet.
Its length on top is about 1,0S0 feet,
narrowing down toward the base. The
thickness of the structure, which Is 16S
feet. at the base, tapers to twenty feet
at the top. Behind the structure the
waters of Salt river and it's tributaries
will form a reservoir twenty five miles
lang and more than 200 feet deep at its
lowest level. The capacity of the res
ervoir thus formed, is estimated at ap-
proximately 56.62S,O0OOOO cubic feet,
enough water to cover the whole state
of Delaware to a depth of one foot.
100000 Fertile Acres.
The waters held back by the dam
will be used for the irrigation of more
than 100000 acres of land in the Salt
River valley, and the power created at
the dam will be transmitted electrical
ly for more than hundred miles down
the valley to operate pumps. These
pumps will raise underground water to
supplement the surface supply and will
thus increase the irrigable acreage. 1t
is estimated by the Recan ion Serv-
ice that about $4,000 acres VII be irri-
gated by subterranean waters availa-
BILE for irrigating purposes only through
the operation of such pumps. The big
power house erected by the Govern
ment at the base of the dam Is COM
pleted and ready to supply electric
power at any time. 1t is expected that
the power generated at the works Will
be sufficient, not only to supply all the
power required for the working Of
pumps in the valley within a distance
of one hundred miles. but also TO furn-
ish light and power to the settlers in
that territory and to supply Phoenix
with light and power for running
street cars, mills and factories.
Officials Are Elated.
The officials of the Reclamation Ser
vice are' elated over the completion of
this stupendous engineering work and
expect great results from IL. The area
benefited by this irrigation plant Is
considered eminently capable for culti-
walton. All that was needed was wat
er to transform these arid and sterile
expanses into valuable farmlands, and
the much needed water will now be
supplied in abundance. 1t is believed
that this desert district will soon be
transformed into a prosperous farming
country and the officials of the Recla-
nation Service are confident that the
crops OF single season In the terri
tory opened to cultivation by this
great irrigation plant, will more than
repay the entire investment of the gov
ernment.
Great Engineering Problem.
When the work was to be undertake
en- more than five years ago, II was
found. that IL would be necessary to
construct wagon road about 100
miles in length, TO make the site OF
thN dam. which is about sixty miles
rom the railroad, accessible. II was
also found that the government. owing
to the difficulty of transportation.
could not obtain the required cement
at any reasonable price. Both prob
lens were solved, however. The wag-
on road was blasted out of the rock
of the canyon and a cement mill was