Tombstone epitaph., 1919-03-23
HOLD INTERESTING
 MEETINGS IN cochIsE

Hon. George H. Maxwell spoke on Monday afternoon to a large and ap- preciatlve audience gathered at the L. D. s. meeting house. at St. David, and again at the K. F. Hall. Benson. in the evening. both houses being fill ed to their capacity.
 President Andrew Kimball accom- panied MT. Maxwell He made intro ductory remarks showing how he and other had worked in the recent ses- sion of the legislature to get through such legislation that was necessary to commence the reclamation work and that every bill that was necessary to this important work passed both houses
 Mir. Maxwell was at his best and grew eloquent as he warmed to his subject. He told of how he had str7lg- gled with the Salt River valley farm CTS 10 get them awake to the fact that they could get the Tcnto dam con structed afterwards known as the Roosevelt dam. They thought there was something wrong with his head and nick-named him George the Bap- tist-" This was I. years ago. He bought farm near Phoenix ard told the old fellows that he was younger than they and that he had come to live with them until they united or until the desert clcced them out. Iz a years time he had them ordanized in to one big water users association. all working together for the one big thing.
 Mir. Maxwell then went eas, and got the big business men interested by convicinS them that the building of this big project would open up a gigantic field for their goods. They grasped the thought and lent their aid. MT. Maxwell convinced the Rec. lamation service that the first great project should be the Roosevelt dam. which would be model The govern ment spen, s1O,OeO.OO0 and built it. The people who once considered Mir. Maxwell unbalanced in mind now look upon him as the father of the Roosevelt, far-seeing prophet Of the desert. MT. Maxwell has now under taken the project of controlling the waters of the Gila river and all its tributaries. and putting them to use for the benefit of man. IL will take ten millions of dollars to do this work several large dams will have to be constructed. one of which will be the Charleston dam on the San Pedro.
 Nr. Maxwell proposes to control the entire water flow Of this river. check the loss of land from the waters oi -hese rapidly running streams and restore the soil to its former fertility. He in,ands that this shall he a model Of food water control. IL was reces- sary first for the government to es- tab!ish policy, the policy has been established and now it only takes 8 big. united effcrt of the people 10 get behind this big enterprise. and it will go through with it's colors flying.
 Five hundred thousand acres of fertile land will be reclaimed, the pop ul2tion of Arizona will be doubled, the wealth will be greatly increased in stead of one city like Phoenix, there will be many.
 Last year over forty million dollars worth of crops were raised from the lands under the Roosevelt dam.
 Before the Benson meeting closed a committee of F was selected to form a Farmer and Merchants club. whose business will be to get behind this project and boost! boost. boost till their work is accomplished. This club will probably unite with all the commercial and business clubs and organizations of the county. which, it is hoped. will put forth one united and determined effort. and all go over the top together
 Mir. Maxwell and President Kimball are both staunch war horses. Their visit to Benson will long be remem- berer by the people. who wish them God speed and good luck and pledge them solid support in the splendii work they are doing.
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