Arizona republican., 1917-05-31
EXACT STATUS
 COLORADO LAND
 SCHEME STATED

The exact status of the project to open for cultivation surplus lands at the Colorado river is set forth in let ter from E. c. Bradley, assistant to the secretary of the interior. This letter, to United States Senator Henry F. Ash urst, was transmitted by the senator to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and is as follows:
 My dear Senator:
 This is with further reference to your letter of May s, 1917, submitting a letter from the secretary of the cham Der of commerce of Phoenix, Arizona, enclosing copy of the resolution adopt ed by the Parker Chamber of Com merce and approved by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
 As the secretary of the Parker Cham Der of Commerce was advised under date of May g, 1917, the only existing law under which the surplus lands at Colorado river could be opened is that of April 21, 1904 (33 Stat. L., 1S9224, which provides for their disposal under the reclamation act
 As reclamation project for the ir- r;gation of these surplus lands has not been constructed, it is impossible, of course. to dispose of them at this time under the act. Neither is existing law sufficiently broad to permit of the opening to settlement and sale of these unallotted lands with a view to the de- velopment of water for irrigation pur- poses by individual pumping plants. There is a comparatively small pump ing system now in operation on this reservation which furnishes a reason ably sufficient water supply for the lands allotted to the Indians. There is a great need, however, for an additional unit to the system in order to insure a continuous flow of water and to enable additional lands to be brought under ditch. Quite a number of acres of the allotted land at Colorado river are now being farmed by white lessees, whose success depends mainly upon the con- tinuous operation of this pumping plant.
 House Bill No. 267. authorizing an investigation of the feasibility and cost of q reclamation project for the irri- gatiOn of the unallotted lands within the reservation is now awaiting consid- eration It is expected that action there on will be had at an early date.
 With regard to the underground wa ter supply of the reservation, 1 am not in a position from the limited data { available to advise you definitely whether any plan depending on such underground supply IS feasible. An in- vesugation of this underground water supply by the state of Arizona, the final experiments of which were wit messed by representatives of the In dian office indicate that neither the quality nor the quantity of the under ground water is definitely and satis- ! factOrily determined.
 On the other hand it is believed tha 1 there are ample floud waters in tht | Colorado river adjacent to this reserva | ton for the irrigation of the unallotteC | lands, and from the standpoints of er flciency, permanency, and ultimate cos ] a gravity system, of course, is far pre- ferable to pumping plants where th' annual maintenance and operation ] charges are so high.
 In this connection, your attention i invited to my letter to you of May g i 1917, in which l expressed similar view l regarding a telegeram received by vol ! from the Parker Chamber of Commerc relative to opening the unallotted land i of the Colorado River reservation.
 An extra copy of this letter is en ] closed herewith for your convenience
 Cordially yours,
 E. C. BRADLEY, Assistant to the Secretary