Arizona state miner., 1925-04-04
FIRST MONEY TO BUILD COOL.
iDGE DAM is APpORTIoNEp

tGGG LAM Is NPPOR TIONEO
The first step toward construction
OF the new $5,500,000 Coolidge Dam
across the Gih River Canyon near
san Carlos, Arizona, was taken We'd
nesday. when $4,000 was made avail
able for surveys, contracts and other
preliminary work. The project is to
lrrlgate Pima Indian lands and other
private and public lands.
The S50,000 allotted represents the
tlrSt item in an appropriation of
@49o,000 for the fiscal year 1925. The
sum will be used to determine the
total area to be embraced in the pro-
leet, to appraise lands to be pur-
chased by the government, to negoti-
ate a basic contract with the Casa
Grande Water Users Association and
to arrange for relocation for the
Southern Pacific railroad which now
7 trayerses the reservoir site
History of the Project
The bill providing an authorization
III S5,500,000 for the construction of
the San Carlos project was introduc-
ed in the senate by Senator Ralph
h. Cameron, December II, 1928 This
measure was later referred to the
committee on Indian Affairs of the
Senate, which approved the measure
by unanimous vote. It later passed
the House of Representatives and
was signed by President Coolidge on
June 6, 1924.
A dam approximately 200 feet high
is provided for by the bill although
certain tentative plans also called
for dam 259 feet. A dam 200 feet
high would impound 100000 acre
feet of water, while dam 259 feet
high would impound 100000 acre
feet of water. The average annual
flow Of water in the Gila River at
the damsite is approximately 400 900
acre feet. The watershed of $4,000
square miles Of territory assures an
adequate suppy of water year in and
year out for the project.
Great for Arizona
Commenting on the project. John
Z. TOwles, register of the United
States Land Office at Phoenix. said:
1T is the greatest thing that Con-
gress has done for Arizona since the
passage of the statehood bill. It not
only rights lOng-standing wrong to
the Pima Indians, who have always
been aweabiding, peaceful tribe
that considerably aided the govern
ment years ago to conquer the fero-
c1ous Apaches in campaigns costing
the government more than $4,000 900
but it means that hundreds of home
steaders and desert entrymen will
construct homes on their lands. which
they have held for years looking for
ward TO the construction of this dam
1t will also mean the development of
another agricultural empire similar
to that of the Salt River Valley, for
these lands are equally as fertile as
those of the Salt River Valley. The
importance of the San Carlos devel-
opment Is seen in the fact that the
original authorization for the Roose-
velt project was only $3,750,OOO. It
will mean the addition of millions of
dollars to the taxable wealth of our
state"
Just to give an idea of the interest
taken by Arizonans in the progress
OF this project, according to Mr.
Towles, thousands of inquiries have
been received at his Office during the
months while the bill was before con-
gress. These people realize what the
Roosevelt dam did for the Salt River
valley and are certain that results
will be more than duplicated by the
Coolidge Dam in the Gila Valley.