Imperial Valley press., 1930-03-04
arizona
HOST TO
COOLIDGE
Ex-President Presides at
Dedication of Dam
Named After Him
GOVERNOR r A l. X S
Structure to Convert
Former Desert Into
Fertile Lands

GLOBE, Ariz., Mar. 4. (U.H-
Coolidge dam-one of the nations
largest reclamation projects-was
dedicated by former President Cal.
vim Coolidge "to the furtherment OF
mankind's struggle for progress"
shortly before 3 o'clock this after
neon.
A brisk wind made his character
istically brief dedicatory address
scarcely audible to the thousands of
residents of the southwest who stood
lacked closely on the upper struct-
IRE of the dam to hear him.
Stepping down from the platform
at conclusion Of his speech, Coolidge
broke bottle of Gila river water
over the concrete parapet and
christened the dam with his own
name.
Giving only slight acknowledge
ment to the prolonged and rousing
applause that greeted this gesture,
Tie former chief executive retired
to his place on the platform and
other speakers cXtold the benefits
which will come from the mammoth
project by which the ella river has
been harnesscd and made to irrigate
arid lands.
Governor John C. Phillips deliv-
cred the initial address on the pro-
gram which featured as its principal
event the dedication Of Coolidge
dam-the only multiple dome struc-
ture Of it's type in the worldly
the President for whom II was
hnmed.
"The building of Coolidge dam
marks the beginning of an epoch in
Arizona's progress and an unfold
lnent that is nf outstanding import
ance, if not of history making con-
sequences" tho governor said.
"Long the Fl0rcnce-Casa 'Grande
valley has lain uncnltiva.ed, unpre.
ductivc. like a,Nast desert wastes'
he continued. . =
"Thc Pima indians inhabitinG
the valley were able'to wrcst from
the soil but mcager crops hardly
enough to keep them alive. Little
wonder thev were. poorly fed and
scantily clad. :...-
"Ncarby, natnrc had provided n
canyon along the C,na river and the
site for dam to hold its waters.
But the Pimas had not the means
at their command to take advantage
of this opportunity. =.
"White settlers were few, bat
among them were men Of vision who
saw an opportunity of making a
desert into n fMtiley farming land.
1t was these Nho first promulgated
4 m !. 10
great engineering triumph-.Coolidge
dam"
As the governor concluded his
brief address, thc Indian bands
struck up the national anthem.
Coolidge arose and remained bare
beaded in the stiff breezes that
swept across the dam.
ENGINEERING Marvel
During the cheering that follow!
cd, the former President bowed to
the throne. At his side. Mrs Cool
idge smilinglv acknowledge the ac'
claim given to her
Then the official party was con.
ductcd to the Pcnstock tower on
which n special "Prcsident's lunch
con" was served them. For an
hour thcv rested and eniove,f the
view Of the rugged Gila gorge.
During the interval. Lynn Atkin-
son, designer and builder of the
mammoth barrier, explained to
Coolidge the manner OF its construc-
tico and dimensions.
The three half.domcs of concrete
that withstand the force of 100000
acre feet of water in the 23-mile
long reservoir formed bv tie dam,
are 81 feet thick at their base and
tarer TO four feet at the top-2OO
feet above the stream bed, he said
A concrete bridgework spans the
three domcs, which are wedged to-
Cethcr and held by massive, abut'
ments placed in an excavation. from
which 2s0.000 cubic Yards of rock
and gravel were removed
The entire structure comprises
100000 cubic feet of concrete, re
irforccd hv $500 tons Of steel. The
water it impounds will irrigate lOO,
600 acres of the Florence Casa
Grande valley, including the Pima
Indian reservation lands. '"-'