El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-23

A big concrete bridge is being erected
over the Salt river at Tempe, to af-
ford quicker communication with PhOe-
nix and the rest of the valley. Tempe
is in the heart of one of the finest or
chard districts in the west. Miles of
beautiful fruit trees may be seen in
almost any direction. Among the flow
ers, the Oleander, with it dainty white
or pink blossoms is largely cultivated
in some instances as hedge
Where Cotton Grows Tall.
What most interests the westerner
in the vicinity of Mesa, the home of
the Mormon aside from the progress
sive appearance CT the city itself, are
the large fields of cotton surrounding
the town Even Texans who are ac-
must stand in admiration before
field of Egyptian cotton at Mesa. Tall
as mans head and often taller. the
great white bOlls as big as a ball OF
popcorn, the cotton of Mesa is pro-
duct to excite admiration anywhere
The staple is far superior TO any of
the famous southern cotton, and the
deep rich green of the leaves and the
pink and white blossoms lend charm
to the cotton fields that is magnetic
One gin is in operation at Mesa and
preparations are being made to in
crease the accommodations for the
farmers Less than five years ago a
man would have been laughed at to
mention planting cotton in Arizona
Today the cotton fields of the Salt
river valley are netting their owners
bigger returns than any other annual
crop they can plant Some land owners
are even holding their land for cotton
planting in preference to putting them
into oranges and lemons. This should
offer sufficient proof of the paying
quality of a cotton crop in the Salt
river valley
The Roosevelt Dam.
FL PasOanS who make the trip from
Globe TO Phoenix hV automobile viii
have the satisfaction of viewing the
great irrigation project that furnishes
the water that makes the Salt river
valley bloom and prosper. The great
dam is situated back in the mountains
where the Salt river winds its way
through a deep canyon, 80 miles from
the valley itself. Even a magnificent
piece Of architecture, 1t IS worth see
ing, but the magnitude of the irriga-
ton project itself cannot be appreci-
ated until the dam is seen and in
spected. The great lake of pure, clear
water. backed up for miles above the
dam. the biggest artificial lake in the
United States at the present time, eX-
cites the admiration of travellers from
all sections of the country. The great
masonry dam itself, the gigantic pow
er plant that generates electric energy
sufficient-frOm the fall of the water
as it passes down the river to cover the
fields in the valley below-to hght
the cities of Phoenix. Mesa, Tempe and
Glendale and supply electric power
for all purposes throughout the val
lev, itself eXcites wonder
Several We CONS and teams can drive
abreast across the top of the big dam
and this causeway, guarded by solid
rock balustrade, lighted at night by
immense globes at frequent intervals,
is used as the regular highway to
connect the town of Roosevelt with
the state highway
beautiful Highway.
The highway itself is one of the
wonders of western road building Con-
Structed by the United States at a
cost of $50, 600 a mile to enable its
engineers to reach the dam with ma
terials, it is perfectly built and af-
fOrds a never ending series of de-
tier bits of scenery are found in all
America than are seen between the
dam and Phoenix, in Fish creek can
yOn. For miles the road winds along
the rocky sides of chasms that are
from 100 to a thousand feet deep, past
marvelously cOlOred rock formations
such as the west alone produces. yell
lowstOne park and the Grand canyon
of Arizona are the only points that
rival the beauties of the country in
the vicinity of the Roosevelt dam
Friday evening. the Ell Pasoans will
Salt river valley, and Friday night
will be spent in the Arizona metrOpO-
lis. Reaching Tucson at 4:30 in the
afternoon. the train viii be sidetracked
until 4-30 next morning, so that the
FL PasOans can have plenty of time
inspect the growth and progress of
the beautiful city of the plains
Tucson, the Ancient.
The oldest city in Arizona, Tucson
is picturesque as well as prosperous.
Modern Tucson compares favorably