Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-03-25
U. S. TO SPEND
$75O,OOO UPON
COOLIDGE DAM

| $3.50, 900 is the estimated cost of the
work proposed to be done by the
United States bureau of Indian affairs
on the Coolidge dam of the San Car
los irrigation project for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, according to
information received here this morn
| ing from Senator Ralph H. Cameron
at Washington, D. c., by Collector Of
Internal Revenue John r. Towles.
The estimate contemplates complet-
! ing the transportation road, the
building of a power line, providing
for camp water supply, telephones
and all other preliminaries neces-
sary to actual dam construction. 1t
also provides for rock excavation
above the river, excavation in the
river bed installing the foundation of
the dam, and for the project organi-
cation.
1t is officially stated that the In
dian service is anxious to go ahead
with the work as soon as possible rs
excavations in the river and INSTALL
ing the foundation must be done dur
ing the season that is comparatively
safe from floods, from the middle of
March to July l. Senator Cameron
said that if the work of excavation
above the river can be begun about
September of this year. river bed
excavation and foundation installa
ton can be done between March and
July Of next year.
Here. are the official figures of the
Indian department on the estimated
cost of proposed work from July 1,
1926 to July 1, 1927:
Road excavation, dam Site. s 10000
Power line, 16 miles ........ 10000
Camp, water supply telephone
etc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $4,000
Excavation above river bed :. $4,000
Excavation in river bed -. 10000
Rock excavation in river bed $4,000
Concrete dam foundation -. 1000
Project organization ....... $4,000
Total Observation-Disclosures 75O,OOO
Appropriation, 1926 ...... -. 100000
Expenses to July 1, 1926. -. 10000
Balance available ....... 100000
Appropriation contemplated. 100000
Total ...".............. $3.50, 600
Mr.. Towles says that the estimate of
the bureau of Indian affairs is somc-
what contrary to what has been an
erroneous impression created by in
complete publicity given to the finan-
cial status of the construction of the
San Carlos irrigation project and JUS
titles the strenuous fight of Senator
Cameron and his colleague, Senator
Ashurst, before the committee on APP
preparations of the United States
senate to have the committee APP
prove the Cameron amendment pro-
viding for a $45O,OOO appropriation in
addition to the unexpended amount
of the appropriation of last year.
Mr. Towles added that this does
not agree with the conditions that a
recent editorial in a local paper
would set forth, in which Congress-
man Cramton, of Michigan, is pic
tured as friend of Arizona.
Though it may be true that Cram.
ton did vote in favor of the pro-
ject at first, it is probable that he r.,
INSTRUCTED speedy progress of con-
struction. Of the project when, upon
his recommendations, the house COM
mittee on appropriations eliminated
the additional $45O,OOO appropriation
sought for by Senator Ashurst and
Cameron" Towles said.
MI. CTdMIOn WOu1Q nave 1t CnaC
the amount to be expended for the
project would be the residue left over
from last years appropriation. This,
as shown by the estimate of the bu-
reau of India naffairs, would he
quite insufficient to bring about the
speedy completion of the project
holding back the reclamation of
about 100000 acres of land for n
year or more, to the inconvenience
of and loss to many Indians and set
tiers in the valley of the ella river"
he added
"a good test of the sincerity of
Mr.. Cramton, or any other senator
or congressman for the speedy COM
pletion of the San Carlos project will
be the position he takes in voting
upon the Cameron amendment for
the $45O,O00 in addition to the unex-
pended balance from last years APP
when it reaches the con-
ference of the two bodies of con-
gress. Mr.. Cramton will be one of
the three conferees from the house."
Towles concluded.