Bisbee daily review., 1912-02-20
Cspecial to Review)

1 WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 19--| | The transformation of a sage brush desert Into a compactly settled, in. 1 tensively cultivated agricultural com munity IS one of the modern miracles. | One of the most Inspiring examples | Of the benehcent results of national | irrigation can be found today in the | Salt River Valley in Arizona. Here IS probably the eldest Irrigated region | in the United States Parts of it's l canals were constructed centuries be- ! fore the first word of our nations ] history was inscribed
 From 1867. the beginning of irriga ! ton by the white settler. up to 1904 all irrigation here vas by private en. | terprise. The cratic and insufficient ! flow oi Salt River and the occurrence | of severe annual floods put a limit ! upon development and rendered farm ! ing so hazardous that the growth of | the valley was practically at a stand. | still if it was not actually going back. ! Large areas planted in orchards and vineyards perished through drOutn and the desert began 10 encroach ] upon the fertile farm lands. Recog- nizing fully the importance of obtain ! ing a permanent and assured water supply. the settlers in the valley raised the funds required to make preliminary investigation Of the stor- age possibilities on >the headwaters on Salt River Before the work was ] completed the Reclamation act was
 passed and upon request of the peo- pie Of the Salt River irrigation pro i feet was initiated. Active work began 1 in 1908 Since that time the grea. ! Roosevelt dam with it's enormous stor. age of flood water has been com pleted. hundreds of miles of canals have been excayated and enlarged most Of the systems have been cOnsol- | dated and unified and last year 115,- coo acres were actually irrigated. ] The crops of 1911 had an estimated value of more than S5,000.000 or sn average Of $40 per acre. The increase in land values during the past sir years has been amazing. In 1905 the assessed valuation of the taxable pTopert yin MaricopA county which is practically the Salt River valley, ! was slO,S66.435 and in 1910 It rose 10 S21,47S.734 or nearly double. The Salt River Valley Water Users As- sociation composed of the landown- CTS on the project now has mem | bership of 2657, an increase of S29 members in two years. Since 1905 there have been 3343 transfers of the landowners on the project now has 8 membership Of 2657 an increase of BPS members in two years Since 1908 there have been 334S transfers
 of farm property OF the books of the ! association which illustrates the ra- uidity with which the large holdings are being subdiyided as well as the increased demand for homes since ap abundance Of water has been as- sured. This association in few years ! will assume full charge and manage ment of the project. will operate and maintain the elaborate canal and humping system and a large power ! plant, costing mere than million | dollars, which is now delivering pow. CT to all the municipalities of the val | ley. These great public utilities, the 1 irrigation system and the power plant, 1 are 10 become the property of the | farmers, to De managed by them for ! their benefit and profit. Tine large sur i plus Of power which is being deyel- ! tinualIy studying them and comparing ! each part again and again that there may be no mistake.
 l How much more do we who are i building character need to return to l our mirror, the law of liberty, the Bible, the New Testament. to verify, | 70 correct. to perfect the structure ac- cording to the magnificent design. 1 James in his first chapter in calling ! the workmen back to the original de- sign. back 10 the moral blue print, | the improved, the corrected and ac- ! cepted design which it pleased him to call. the perfect law, the law of lib- erty.
 Workmen cannot you work true 10 | the design? Or is the rock too hard for you? In this age when men are
 ruling the word failure from the die
 tionary and the language. is there something that masters you and han
 ders you from making your life true
 to Gods design? Perhaps it is only
 because you have been Q nearer Of
 the word Looking into the mirror you
 have discovered the defect but have tnot set the forces of your better na-
 ture to work according to Gods de sign to clear out the ugly defect and
 build new and clear and true upon the 1, Eternal Rock. Christ Jesus.
 ITO him that knoweth to do good
 and doeth it not to him il is sin !. Bishop Butler said Religion does
 not consist in the knowledge and be-
 lief even of fundamental truth. but rather our being brought to certain
 temper and behavior" St. John said: !, He that doeth righteousness is right J eous. 4 close interpretation of our text is this Become doers of the word ac-
 cording to design. Become nabitual doers of the word. Attentive hearers , determined to be active doers. ! Show me your faith without your
 works and I will show you my faith ] by works.
 , A prayer:-Lord help us to be both [ hearers and doers of the word.
 Bible Study.
 l. -r..lc b 1 IliIlA afIH [