The Coconino sun., 1924-04-25
..HIGHLY RIDICULOUS?"

About the most amusing declaration we nave
heard made relative to the development OF the
Colorado river is the flat statement of Senator
Fred Golfer who says the report of the special
committee of engineers appointed by the govern
ment to 90 over all existing data gathered DUR
ing the past ten year relative to proposed develop
ment schemes, is "hghly ridiculous" because 1t
saws his "highline fantasy is not feasible. This
bold statement coming as it does from one whose
main occupation has been punching cows up 10
very recently may astound not only the people
of Arizona, but many engineers who nave never
had the opportunity to punch cows during the
years they have put in studying engineering.
"Our survey is the only survey made at the
2OOO-foot level declares Golfer. This survey is
probably the one which cost the state Sl2OO Tor
Golfer and few friends to make during couple
weeks rest period when they were not lecturing
over the state on how to lift water from the 1000
foot level, build tunnel 81 miles long through
the mountains, big enough to carry river
through to flume river across few low
places and eventualy-in thousand years II nec-
essary as Golfer declares, irrigate 3,5OOO0 acres
of land The initial cost of S275 per acre for wa
ter and other incidentals in the way of preparing
the land. etc., is the least of Golfers troubles.
Millionaires might be able to develop such high
priced desert land, but no man who has ever tried
pioneering on such land would think Of attempt
ing to even build shack on piece of land loaded
with such an overhead expecting to get the price
of the shack back.
Golfers highline scheme can be nothing more
than proposition to make the people Of the
United States pay the freight or scheme IN the
interest of millionareS.
He again AYERS that this committee of govern
ment experts has never been on the ground IN
Arizona consequently are speaking without knoWl-
edge That again was misleading statement,
but rather a pertinent one from cowpuncher
view for good cowman must look over the
range from time to time to ascertain conditions.
Grass and forage differ at different seasons and
different years. But the surveys, topographic
maps showing the contours, average water flOW
in long periods the character of soil and like data
gathered by experts over long period of years,
do not change, even though many reports OF eXr
perts may differ. The committee of experts ap-
pointed by the government may or many not
have been over the ground in Arizona, but they
were expert engineers appointed to digest the
great volume of facts and figures that had been
gathered during many years past. fs
Golfer and his coterie of cohorts, and he signs
himself as president Arizona Highland Recama-
tion Association seem to be provided with funds
from some other source other and ardently
advocate keeping the pact out of politics." but
vote the democratic ticket, except Senator Winsor
or Congressman Hayden. s
Congressman Hayden once made the foolish re-
marks that water was more or less inclined to
run down HILL It is probable that Golfer and his
bunch accidentally heard of this statement and
are most strenuously resenting this imputation
on their great ability as engineers. 81 a
The ridiculous part of the whole thing is that
any number of people can be fooled into accept
ing the advice of section hand as othe best and
most economical method of running railroad
system
Ordinarily it does not seem necessary to warn
the people against going to blacksmith shop for
an appendicitis operation, on to have goitre
readiusted, but if Arizona has to go to a SEN
atarium to be cured of the antipact disease, with
political complications, we are certain the tax
payers and boosters for the development of Ari-
zona will be mighty sore at the poor old assessor
when they pay their taxes.