Arizona republican., 1921-07-04

further encroachment eight miles in | length, and fourth of mile wide | would claim 1000 acres Of land. P1ac- | ing the value at the conservative fig- ure of $10o an acre, the value of the | land itself would reach $2o0. 900. with an additional $1oo,ooo representing the value of farm houses and other improvements If one takes into con- sideration the possible damage to railroad tracks, oil plants, fair and
 capitol grounds, and the residence section it is easy to see that the prop erty subject to actual and absolute
 destruction might reach well into the millions.
 One of the greatest damages which
 might be done is that of the flood waters to the new county highways.
 There are something like SO miles of
 pavement under the county highway creek flood area. Estimating the cost
 program located in the present Cave.
 of construction at $30.00o per mile we
 have $1,so0.000 as the value of high ways which might be partially or
 totally destroyed in case of heavy flood
 How to prevent all this has for years been a deep study on the part | of engineers connected with the Salt
 River Valley Water Users associa- | tion. During the past ten years the
 association has spent $75.000 in re-
 pairing damage to the Arizona canal, and now that the streams course has l actually trespassed on the irrigated lands, the association has been active
 with others in securing a co operative 1 financing of flood control works l which will forever remove the l, menace.
 In view of the possible danger to | state property. the state legislature
 was asked for an appropriation for
 flood control The legislators first on the claims of the engineers and regarded them as well-meaning alarmists. However when a commit
 tee of the legislature was take to . point just north of the Arizona canal
 and shown the course of a real river as revealed in the photo reproduced
 on this page. they were convinced ot
 the fact that a real menace existed and a bill for $500 was passed and signed by the governor.
 The city has voted $100,00 toward the improvement, and it is expected l that another $50,000 will be forth coming from the Water Users. It it
 stated on good authority that tn, Union Oil company. whose plant lies in the future course of the stream | has signified it's willingness to ad. vance s5,000 to the cause, and a pro I portionate share of the expense, g.. 900, will be borne by the Rio Grand, Oil company, whose plant is south o the capitol.
 Both the Arizona Eastern and San. ta Fe railroads are interested in tn, flood control plans as a means 0 saving them large sums for futur
 bridges. The Standard oil is also in terested and has been conducting al independent investigation.
 Whether flood control can be sec ured this year. however. rests entirel. with the board of supervisors of Mar T icopa county. They have been aske, for an appropriation of S100. 900 unde l state law which provides that sue appropriation may be made for foo control purposes even though 1t necessary to issue certificates of in debtedness to secure the ready fundi Otherwise the starting of the i'm 3 provement must go over for anothe year. and it will be fully two year before the much needed protectio can be afforded.
 T Much can happen in that time.
 The engineering plans have bee Il figured out in detail and afford T feasible solution to the present diff & culties, it is claimed. Ten miles mort of the Arizona canal a 55-foot dai 5 will be construted, creating storss 2 reservoir capable of holding the biz