Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-09
BIC ELECTRICAL
PROJECT UNDE R
WAY IN ARIZONA
Grand Canyon Water May
Be Used to Run DynamoS
to Furnish Power for
Mines and Irrigation Work

Especial Correspondence to The journal
Holbrook, AriZ., Aug. S.-A pro-
5ect to supply the entire state OF
Arizona with, sufficient electrical
power to serve the purposes OF
railroads. mines. irrigation pump
ing and domestic uses from two
big power plants in the Grand
!, Canyon is rapidly nearing realiza-
al tion, according to Frank Cameron,
who gave out detail of the plans.
Engineers have been working
on this project for the past four
years and have proved that it will
be practical" Mr.. Cameron said at
his headquarters in the CONNER
C tal hotel at Phoenix, where he
lad an array of maps and figures
TO emphasize each point of the
extensive plans, There is no
doubt about the project going
through"
The plans call for one power
plant about sixty miles north of
Williams, where a dam 400 feet
high will be built. The second
plant is 20 be located about eighty
miles northwest of Kingman,
where a dam 900 feet high will be
built. These two plans will de-
velop 965,000 k. W.. or sufficient
power to supply every demand in
Arizona for the next twenty-five
years.
That these two giant generators
of electrical power will furnish the
stimulus to make Arizona one of
the greatest producing states in
the union is the opinion of Mr..
/ Cameron, who pointed out the
great resources which only await
development here.
. when l made a@statistical sur
Vey of the state in 1909 I found
that the mines furnished "a per
cent OF the total revenue of the
state. Agriculture furnished only
/ per cent. There has been little
change in the ratio since then.'fhe
foundation of all countries is agri-
culture, and to get on the map
Arizona must develop its farm
u lands. There are nearly four mil
Elion acres of land which cannot be
5irrigated by stored water. But
z these barren lands may be made
productive by the use of pumped
water, and the two power plants
lin the northern part of the state
will be the means of redeeming
these lands"
81 Mr.. Cameron said that high Of
ficials of the Southern Pacific rail-
road and prominent engineers had
ssmade a careful study of the land
Elm the southern part of the state
Y and ascertained that in that sec
stion sufficient water can be pump
IL cd to irrigate about $500, 900 acres
of land. The water ranges in
depth from thirty-five to eighty
feet.
The opening of these lands to
i practical development would fur
nish farms for about 100000 faml-
lies. This power could be furnish
] ed by the two big plants at very
Glow cost The ranchers would get
This current direct from main lines.
kHe would also have the advantage
8of directing his energies entirely to
shis own lands instead of assisting
I i'm the upkeep of an extensive IT.
] Irrigation system.
An encouraging indication that
the project will soon so through Is
the interest that the Santa Fe rail-
road is taking in its realization, ac-
cording to Mr.. Cameron. OFFICIALS
of this railroad have been consid-
ering the plan for several years.
They contemplate electrifying the
main line of the Santa Fe railroad
from Gallup. N. NJ. to Barstow,,
Calf. and the branch lines from
the Grand Canyon to Phoenix and
from Phoenix to Cadlz. The pres
emit shortage of oil and coal is
tending to make railroads through |
out the country turn to electrical |
power
=, BY the use of current from the |
two power plants the mines cannot
only obtain power to bring ore to
the surface but they will be en-
abled to smelt the minerals at
low cost.
Mr.. Cameron said he had assur-
ances that the railroads and mines
would subscribe for enough power |
to care for the interest on the
bonds. He said it would not be
necessary to ask for federal aid in
out the project, as there
Twas sufficient private capital in
Iterested to assure its success.