El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-12
NEW DRAINAGE PROJECT FORMED:
PHOENIX HAS TROUBLES LIKE REST

IT will be noted with no small satisfaction Throughout the
southwest that the Of the Salt River valley and
the citizens Of Phoenix have joined hands fguravey and
have voted in favor Of creating drainage project con-
templang the expenditure Of $4,000 to eliminate flood
aoabout which little has been said heretofore and that
little quite guardedy because the people most concerned
anxious that undue alarm concerning the 100000
acres Of fertile Salt River valley become widespread
Now that IN special election the community mas agreed
TO 90 ahead with drainage plan recommended by engineers
Of ability It is doubt permissible to say that damage
similar 70 that which the valleys adjacent 10 II Paso nave
suffered menaced the people Of the Salt River valley
There are few small areas in the valley where the
water has the surface as to drive up what Is
called back aka" and until drainage be secured the
viii practically worthless It is not growing crops
nov There are farms where the water level few years
ago was IS feet OF more the surface The level Is
10 feet below the surface with every indication that
the table would continue rising unless remedial
taken There water IN cellars Of
business establishments IN Phoenix IN May Of this year
That fact awakened the people Of the city to the need for
But when the drainage plan was first discussed there
opposition because many residents Of the valley
did not comprehend the peril Curiousy enough not all
the valley was menaoed Water was near the surface IN
only few places Others who seemed to be in danger
Of ruined land hestan about putting their
financial burden over and above the assessments for
payment Of the cost Of the Roosevelt project. Again
cuTousy, the land which damaged by rising
higher than land which was not affected at all
However, If all opposition not removed, it at
least quieted for in the election Wednesday last week.
those favorng establishing the drainage project prevailed
The margin was narrow In fact owing partly to in
ineemen weather and partly to the universal apathy
American voters toward any Of bonding proposal very
few ballots we're cast They we're sufficient for the
purpose.
The Salt River valley viii not undertake drainage BY
the method being used IN the upper valley here
the ditch method which is already proving successful
The Azouaus have agreed to establish system Of pump
ing plants at various places IN the valley, Of them
being IN Phoenix itself The ditch idea abandoned be-
It would the removal of beyond
irrigation project where could be to good advantage
for irrigation By the sinking Of wells and the installation
Of pumping plants It is intended water from
underground and make il available use on the surface
places where needed Many without water
to receive supply by Of these wells Phoenix
less water than is believed desirable city will be
bonded for 100000 the money be used in sinking well
and installing big pumping plant the water thus brought
up TO be added to the cs supply. As for the residents
outside the city they have voted assess themselves $40
where they may be determined by scientific investigation
70 be needed The water drained away underground
and raised to the surface will be added 10 the irrigation
supply
good start has been made If the project is inteIi-
gently carried through there is danger Of failure
been demonstrated and again that drainage viii
prevent good land from being flooded restore land
ruined by flooding FL Pasoans been watching
things up the valley know that is being proved before their
OWL eyes II has also been proved near Tempe Arizona
In the case Of ungaed lands Il has been proved over
and again N the arhy lands in the middle west and
Of the south in sections where every farm is tiled and
drained
Danger Of flooding and the consequent necessity of
drainage not thought Of when these reclamation pro
ects undertaken At least average person did
not think Of them and they discussed If engineers
realized what was coming they did not take public
INTO thelr confidence And yet 1t Is said, whether quite
accurately not that the drainage problem conronts land
owners N every reclamation project If that is true all
had better make preparations for drainage and when new
projects are constructed it should be with the thought of
drainage IN mind Preventive could taken be-
land is put under cultivation at less expense and with
less actual loss than afterward.
Arizona farmers have no reason TO be uneasy that