The Coolidge examiner., 1944-07-28
U.S.. Senate Sub Committee
To Hold Florence HEARINGS
Senator McF arand is chairman of subcommittee
CATION and reclamation holding meetings in Arizona
Florence date August 3rd.

preparation of data to be submit
ted to the subcommittee. It Is un-
derstood that facts will be pre-
sented to show the amount of sup
Elemental water supply required
for lands now being served by
gravity water as well as for those
lands whose supply Is derived ex-
clusively from underground sources
through pumpage.
Within the Casa Grande valley
there are approximately 100000
acres of fertile land presently In
cultivation. This area includes the
San Carlos project acreage served
by waters of the Gila, controlled at
Coolidge dam. and an additional
10000 acres of pump lands located
in the valley floorsin the Eloy area
and in the vicinity of Maricopa,
Other smaller acreages are being
cultivated under pumpage on the
north side of the river in the Mag
ma and Queen Greek areas.
1t would appear the investigation
being undertaken by this subcom-
mittee marks an important step
forward in developing facts regard
ing the availability Of water from
the Colorado river and the possi-
bil1ty of its use for the development
of this state. The Casa Grande
valley area with its presently con-
structed works for irrigation and
its large and valuable area of pump
lands which need only a small
amount of supplemental water to
assure their future stability should
receive serious consideration in the
ALLEGATION of water capable of be-
Ing transported from the Colorado
river for agricultural use.
The great Salt River valley prof.
ect reputed to be one of the finest
and most successful in the country,
receives much more dependable
supply of gravity water than do the
lands of the Casa Grande valley.
While the drainage area of the Salt
River valley Is much smaller than
that of the eGila above Coolidge
dam, its yield of water per square
mile Is many times that of like
area in the Gila basin above San
Carlos reservoir. 1t is believed the
Salt River valley lands will re-
quire some supplemental water for
the purpose of increasing the de-
pendability of their present supply.
Should the investigation Of this
subcommittee and engineering
studies which will follow, show the
reasonable feasibility of bringing
water from the Colorado river to
acreage in Pinal county and other
counties in the state requiring new
supplies, there should result most
useful and important programs Of
postwar construction and an un-
precedented era of activity and
prosperity over the entire state.
The magnitude of construction
program, leading to the develop
ment of Colorado river water and
power for use in central Arizona,
is of such proportions that but few
citizens outside of those acquaint-
ed with this type of work can grasp
or appreciate the character and ex-
tent of the work involved and its
possible costs. Hearings such as
those contemplated by the subcom-
mittee will result in bringing to
light factual data and in clearing
up questions and problems which
have long been in the minds Of
residents of the state.
1t is understood the hearing to
be held at Florence Is open to the
public and it is expected that there
will be a good attendance of those
interested in the future agricultural
developments of Pinal county.