The Coolidge examiner., 1942-02-06

Buttes site the newly proposed
damsite might impolund sufficient
waters to offset the draft on the
Gila which the increased produc-
tion of copper will require.
The copper company has recent
ly completed its new operation at
Morenci. this huge plant having an
operating capicity of approximately
25.OO0 tons OF ore per day, Gov
ernment officials responsible for
the increased production of sorely
needed copper for defense purposes
look to this important source of
copper as means of assisting SUBJ
stantially in reducing the present
shortage of that material. Accord
ingly, they have planned an en-
largement to the plant owned by
Phelps Dodge and propose to ex-
pend approximately $2S,O00.O00 Of
additional funds for the purpose of
increasing the plant to nearly
double the size proposed by the
copper company.
For several months past the cop
per company has been negotiating
with water users in the Stafford
area above Coolidge dam and with
representative of the San Carlos
project as well. In an effort to OBJ
tain approximately 10000 acre feet
of water per year which amount Is
estimated as being necessary to
maintain operations at the enlarg-
ed plant. With the already short
average water supply 1t has become
apparent to all concerned that In
order to offset such a depletion
from the upper stream throughout
period Of years, waters now 60
ing to waste should be captured
and put to use IL the rights OF ap-
propriators on the stream are to be
protected. At the outset of recent
negotiations 1t was agreed by
representatives OF the upper val
ley, those of the San Carlos pro-
ject and government officials who
are charged with the production
of war materials, that the proposed
dam at the Buttes site designed to
capture waters of the San Pedro
which now go to waste, offered
the most logical solution of this
pressing problem. All interested
parties also agreed the construc-
ton of the dam at the Buttes site
and the opportunity to conserve
water thereby assured the chance
of improving the irrigation supply
for all water users on the stream.
The problem, reyolved about the
portion of the benefits demanded
by upper valley representatives be-
fore they would withdraw their
opposition to the construction OF
the dam. While it is not physically
possible for the upper valleys to
divert and use the water from the
San Pedro, they have for years
directed opposition to any further
storage for the San Carlos project
lands unless they were granted
certain concessions in terms OF
added water from the upper
stream. At the recent conferences
Casa Grande valley representatives
were willing to guarantee that the
present rights of the upper users
would not be disturbed and addi-
tional rights to divert from the
ella River were offered them In
order that they might store a rea-
sonable amount of the water so
gained. Unfortunately, agreement
between the various water users on
the stream did not develop and
thus the plan to carry out construc-
ton Of the Buttes dam has been
abandoned and the opportunity for
the early diversion of needed water
at Morenci for use in the produc-
ton of copper has again been de-
layed.
Officials of San Carlos Irrigation
and Drainage District have taken
the position with O.P.M., R-F.C.
and other interested government
agencies that in order to expedite
the production of the much needed
war material, the district suggests
and is willing that the government
exercise it's war powers to the ex-
tent of taking the needed water at
Morenci for the duration Of the
emergency and that this taking
should not be delayed by long
negotiation or quibbling on the part
of any one concerned. 1t is believed
that should the President or Secre-
tary of War take the needed water
under powers granted to them in
an emergency of this nature, just
and fair compensation would be