El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-14
A FINE EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS
OF u. S. RECLAMATION WORK
OBYH HI

HERE better proof OF the value of United States
reclamation projects than that which is brought for
ward this year by the Salt River valley of Arizona,
in the middle of which is Phoenix L NJ Lawson project
manager for the Rio GIande project said here few days
have an actual increase in crop value Of from Soo0o0 to
100000 for this year He added that the cultivated
has been increased this year from about $4,000 to
about 100000 MI Lawson said that $4,000 acres are be-
ing devoted growing cotton which last year brought the
producers SIPS and that growers of alfalfa are
expecting net profit of SIS acre, owing to the high
price which hay IS commanding and the heavy crop.
The Salt River valley, irrigated by waters stored be-
hind the Roosevelt DAM IS producing proogous cops TINS
year And those great crops viii bring record prices.
Were not for the Roosevelt dam, the Salt River val
ley would be in about the condition it in 1900
when nearly everything persisted IN protracted drouth
Prior to that year. great orchards were spread out through
the valley particularly In the vicinity of Ahambra and
Glendale north of Phoenix, and Tempe and Mesa.
makesht dam Of rocks and brush such as the farmers
lsboousy constructed every winter only to It swept
down the river in the summers freshes awaited to supply
the valley with little water out not much barely enough
to keep alive the orange groves which, because Of their great
value and the heavy expense connected with planting the
trees and bringing them into bearing rather favored
Other farmers received very little water Not only did the
pear apricot and peach orchards die, but the alfalfa fields
in most parts Of the valley, total loss That fall
the papers conspicuous because Of advertisements Of
farm auctions particularly Of land livestock, farm imple
and household furniture of farmers in the Aambra
and Glendale districts They disheartened and they
got out Land sold low $40 It could not be
bought now rock bottom prices for less than $780,
So slight has been the rainfall in northeastern and
Arizona this year that not for the dam and the
lake of water stored behind it. the Salt River valley would
be about the straits IN that bad year Instead
Of increasing the acreage farmers would be decreasing it
Instead Of extraordinary crops they would be of famine
proportions and the land would be worth but fraction Of
its present price.
To the southwest assured water supply gives prsc
teal immunity from crop failures for the climate is as
nearly ideal for growing things could wish Some
times crops retarded by cold spring. this year. and
sometimes Unexpectedly there ranstorm before the
hay is In the Otherwise there little ground for
complaint where the water supply is ample and continuous
An ample and continuous water supply is what the United
States reclamation service is supplying to communities IN
the west It is the best crop insurance the southwest
have As the drainage problem In this valley
settled the farmers viii into their own and THAR
viii crops and money every year, good farm
buildings automobiles, and the comforts of life.
The country very nearly forgotten the president ever
said there such thing nation being too proud to
fight.
Motorcycle police viii all the number 10 and some
motorists viii wish them all the luck that goes with Il
When German submarine crews add robbery to tor
pedoing, they make themselves common pirates
Americans will fight just as hard to defeat Germany
as to make the Liberty Loan a success
American exports Of foodstuffs steadily increasing
Three long, silent cheers, very silent
The Turks have made Palestine the un-HOly land !