Arizona republican., 1921-11-03
Florence Diversion Dam Is Recognized as Part of San
 Carlos Irrigation Project

About the time of the unemploy- ment conference it was suggested by citizens of Arizona under the pro- posed San Carlos storage dam and by Governor Campbell and others that the prosecution of work on the main Iros ct would be an excellent unit for the relief of unemployment. The matter was taken up with Arizona's congressional delegation with the re- suit that whether that object will be a ned, recognition has been secured of the fact that the project is already under way in the construction of the diversion dam as a part of the stor- age dam project, which is therefore regarded as definitely decided upon. The following correspondence on the subject followed:
 Department of the Interior
 Office of Indian Affairs
 Washington
 Oct. IS. 1921. Otto Mallery.
 Public Works Committee,
 clo Department of Commerce,
 Washington. D. c.
 Dear Sir:
 Reference is made to your commu nication of Oct. II, 1921, to Senator Ashurst concerning the San Carlos irrigation project, wherein you stated that the project not already being un- der construction the public works committee is not authorized by the report of the conference to list it.
 The reclamation service has recent 1y made investigations in connection with this project which are summar- ized in a report by board of engin- eers of Feb. 21. 1921, in the following statement:
 "The irrigation plan of the San Carlos project contemplates the con- struction of a storage reservoir on the Gila river 2. San Carlos, of a di- version dam on the Gila near Flor ence. a gravity canal from this di- version dam to a point near Casa Grande with a feeder lateral there from for Indian lands to the Little Cila river at the east end of the Gila River Indian reservation. a lateral system from this main canal for the white lands, a diversion dam on the Gila river near Sacaton with canal and lateral system therefrom for the Indian lands, a power plant at the reservoir with a transmission line and distribtuaries to pumping plants on i the project, and pumping plants for ground water development through cut the project area"
 I A part or the general scheme herein 1 outlined is already in process of construction. Appropriations in the | sum of S250,000 for the construction of the diversion dam on the Gila river I near Florence have been made and l the work of this dam is now nearing l completion. These appropriations ] were provided for in the acts of May l IS, 1916 (39 Stats. L.. 123), S75,000; 1 March ?, 1917 (39 Stats. L., 969) l S100, ,000, and Feb. II, 1920 (41 Stats 1 L., 40S), s75,000. The act of Marcf l ?, 1917, also appropriated S75.000 to 1 be expended for the construction of 8 ] canal in connection with this diver sion dam. The act of May 25, 1918 1 (40 Stats. L., 56D, appropriated ar I additional $50.000 for this purpose and rthe appropriation act for the present l fiscal year, approved March 3, 1921 1 (Public 359), carries another s75,00t for this purpose, making total oi | $200,000.
 l ss00,000, to be used in connection witt ] the construction of a dam with 2 bridge superstrueture and the neces- sary controlling works for divertins water from the Gila river for the irri- gation of Indian lands on the Gils l River Indian reservation, Arizona 1 having been previously approved. Int l act of Feb. II, 1920 (41 Stats, L., AID | increased the sum to be expended fol this purpose from s250,000 to sait 1 amount. Certain machinery, etc. 1 which were used in connection witt 1 the construction of the diversion dan
 across the Gila river near Florenc' are now in the process of being trans ferred to be used in the construction | of the Sacaton dam. Actual worl i thereon will be begun in the nea | future.
 These two diversion dams. witt | their controlling works, are to b
 used in connection with the natura | flow of the Gila river, while the Sal
 Carlos project conterplates the con
 struction of a storage reservoir ol
 the Gila river at San Carlos, Arizona
 This storage reservoir will be con
 structed by the reclamation service
 but as outlined in the above quota tion, it will be part of the genera scheme of irrigation. It no doub
 will be necessary in many instance
 to obtain water for irrigation pur l. poses from the storage reservoir a
 the natural flow of the Gila river i
 inadequate to supply at all times tn
 demands for the irrigation of tn lands under the system.
 1t will be seen, therefore, while ac tual work on the construction of tn
 San Carlos storage reservoir has no
 been started by the reclamation serv ice for the reason that appropriation have not been heretofore made, never theless, in view of the surroundin circumstances, as herein set forth, might be possible to consider tn whole project as one general sehem and. therefore, have it listed by tn | public works committee.
 Anything that can be done in thi matter will be greatly appreciated and I feel that great benefit will derived if the initial appropriatio of s4,00O,0O0 required by the Unite States reclamation service for wor on the San Carlos reservoir site made. as it will, in addition to bein beneficial to the general irrigatio scheme in Arizona, give employmer as set out in the letter dated Oct. 4 1921. addressed to you by the actin director of the reclamation servic z to from three to four thousand me for the rest of the fiscal year. I am sending copy of this lette I to Senator H. F. AShurSt.
 Sincerely yours,