Arizona republican., 1922-01-01
EASTERN
CANAL PROJECT To
WATER 41,5OO ACRES

WHIIlI TIgUUU hUIlLU
The Eastern canal OF the Salt River
project was completed and put into
operation by the United States recla-
nation service in 1909. 1t is only
necessary to pay a visit to this sec
ton between the Eastern and Con-
solidated canals OF the Salt River
project to see the remarkable results
that Eave been accomplished in the
short period of one decade. Having
this wonderful object lesson before
them, several people met in the cham
Der Of commerce in Mesa in January,
1920, for the consideration of a pre-
hminary plan relative to the possi-
bilities of bringing into cultivation
some of the lands lying to the east
OF the Eastern canal. This prelimi
nary suggestion met with immediate
response, and at a subsequent COM
bined meeting of representatives of
the Mesa and Chandler chambers of
commerce, the project was presented
more in detailed form, and from that
meeting an association resulted which
was called the Auxiliary Eastern
Canal Landowners association. The
officers and directors Of this associ-
alton were: II. L. Chandler Of Mesa
chairman; Frank II. Parker Of Phoe-
nix, executive secretary: J. l.. Entte-
kin of Chandler, f. w. Griffen of
Phoenix, and w. r. Stewart of Mesa.
Under this organization the pre-
hminary work necessary to determine
the practicability and feasibility of
the enterprise was carried forward.
Detailed surveys were made and COM
plete engineering reports and plans
were made by the engineering offices
of Howard S. Reed and Sheldon X.
Baker. A delegation consisting of
Frank n. Parker, f. w. Griffen, j. l..
Entrekin, Richard E. Sloan, Howard
S. Reed and Sheldon X. Baker was
authorized to proceed to Washington
in May, 1920. to present the method
of irrigation and development and en-
gineering plans and estimates to the
secretary of .the interior. This pres
entation was made at the hearing
held May II, 1920. by Judge Richard
E. Sloan legal counsel for the asso-
ciation who has since acted in that
capacity for the irrigation district.
The plans met with ready response,
both from Arthur p. Davis, director
OF the reclamation service. and the
secretary of the interior, the generai
plan being approved by the secretary
on May 21, 1920.
Immediately upon the return of the
representatives. of the Landowners
association to the Salt River valley,
negotiations were entered into be-
tween the Auxiliary Eastern Canal
Landowners association and the salt
River Valley Water Users associa-
tion, looking to the perfecting of an
agreement between the above named
parties, to the end that the flood and
surplus waters of the Salt river could
be diverted at Granite Reef and
transmitted through portion of the
canal system of the Salt River prof
ect to a point on the Eastern canal
where it was proposed to install the
pumping plant to elevate the waters
to the lands in the mesa above.
This contract was entered into on
June "a, 1920, and was approved by
the secretary of the interior on Au-
gust 9.
At this point It was deemed advis-
able to change the form of organiza-
ton from the original Landowners
association to an irrigation district
as authorized under state laws
Through negotiations with financial
people in the early part of 1921, II
became apparent that the original ir.
rigation district law and amendment:
were inadequate to provide the neces.
eary machinery by which an irriga
ton district could be successful!
formed, that would pass the careful
investigation and scrutiny OF invest
ment houses. Fortunately, the stat
legislature was then in session, and
through the strenuous work of thos
interested, a bill amending and codi
flying all the laws on the statute book
pertaining to irrigation districts wa
introduced and passed. This bill pro
vides a practical working law ad
vantageous both to the district an
the investor.
Although thS Auxiliary Easter
canal irrigation district was forme
under the old law, the new law pro
vides that 'the provisions OF this ac
shall apply with full force and effec
to irrigation districts heretofore or
ganized under the laws OF the state {
Arizona"
AS required by. the law, there hav
been three elections held relative
the district as a whole, all resultin
IN unanimous action in favor Of til
proposition presented at that pal
ticuIar election, not one dissentin
vote being registered. This situattc
Is unique in the history Of the forms
tion Of irrigation districts.
Geographically, the location OF Il
lands of this district is not only II
teresting but attractive. The upp'
end of the project, east and nortl
east from Mesa a stretch approx
mating two miles in width, is at
elevation of 1850 feet above sea lev
ut its most northerly point. The me:
itself is IS feet above the river bt
of Salt river. AS the district extent
southwark, its width increases to al
proxinately five miles at its soutl
erly boundary, this being the nor
line of the ella River Indian reserv;
tion. The elevation OF the lowe
point. the extreme southwest cornC
The main line of the Arizona Eas
ern railroad traverses the distri
about midway. The Roosevelt roa
or Apache Trail, crosses It's upp
section, and the main transmissit
lines of the Salt River project tr
verse il in three different localities.
One Of the outstanding reasons f
the development Of this project is &
success that has attended the d
Velopment Of lands that have be
under cultivation through individu
pumping plants, proving the wo
derful fertility of the soil, its adap
ability for all classes of citrus CT
k-zg. deciduous fruits, vineyard, ce
.als and long staple cotton. The ar
within the district that has been
cultivation in the past through the
individual pumping plants has be
about 5000 acres.
The agricultural possibilities
this project are easily determined
a. casual observation or the Sj
Piver project, and particularly Ian
- - 4 nrn-rn the East ern and CO