Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-11
DIVERSION DAM
IN GIL A RIVER
IS COMPLETED
Irrigation Project Is to
Water $4,000 Acres Of
Desert Lands Now, and
Ultimately 10000.
ESPECIAL DISPATCH 70 noaa,ss jousaALl

Florence, Ariz., May 10.-With
bands playing and banners flying
the great government diversion dan
in the Gila river ten miles above
Florence, was dedicated today in a
blaze Of glory. The great hydraulic
gates of the big dam were operated
as a demonstration OF how the
waters of the river could be divert
ed into the big canal and back
again into the river through large
sluice ways. Gl ~
Dwight B. Heard, of Phoenix
was one of the speakers, and laid
emphasis in the progress that had
been made In the development 'ot
the ella river system. He called
attention to the fact that this dam
officially known as the Ashurst'
HAYDEN dam, was the entering
wedge in the building of the great
san Carlos irrigation project, which
will bring into cultivation hun
dreds of thousands of acres OF
desert lands near Florence.
Secretary A. B. Fall, who Is
deeply interested in reclamation
said: eH1
at is most fitting that Arizonans
should celebrate the completion OF
the Florence dam. the first import.
ant unit of the great ella river
project. The dedication of this
structure today was made possible
by the get-together spirit of two
races, Indian and white, and the
same mutually OF interest in the
future will insure speedily under
taking the larger task Of providing
storage and irrigation works fol
extensive areas now vacant anc
untitled. In this endeavor the de.
partment of the interior is in hearty
accord. The ella valley is on the
threshold of a new era of develop
ment and progress, the magnitude
of which may be visualized by q
glance at its prosperous neighbor
the Salt river valley"
Superior Judge Baughn Of
Florence presided at the cere-
monies. Delegations from all parts
of Arizona participated, while vari-
GUS speakers of prominence gave
voice to their predictions of q
great future for the district to be
watered. Special trains and autos
by the hundreds carried the null
titude to the dam. A big barba-
cue with all the trimmings, Arizona
style. was provided.
The project is to water $4,000
acres of desert lands at this time
with the ultimate limit of 1000
acres when a big reservoir is pro-
vided in the mountains to hold the
floods Of the ella river. 1t il
claimed that this reservoir, which
will be known as the San Carlos
dam, will have a larger capacity
than the great Roosevelt dam
which provides both water and
electric power for the Salt River
valley and the cities Of Phoenix
Chandler and Mesa.
Like the Salt river valley, some
of the lands to be watered belong
to the Indians on the Pima reser-
walton, the government building
the project works in order that thC
Indians may have water for theii
lands, as well as providing waite,
for lands belonging to white iner
who have homesteaded further VI
the stream.
The chief cities in the district
to be watered are the towns of Flor.
ence and Casa Grande in Pima
county, Arizona.
The cost of the entire proje Ct
is estimated to be about eigh'
million dollars and to take fly;
years to complete.
Congratulations were read fron
Arizona's delegation in congress,