158 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



June 



away from the old canal head. The 

 continued high water, moreover, rend- 

 ered it impracticable to reconstruct 

 these dams in season to turn irriga- 

 tion water in the ditches for the spring 

 irrigation, and at many points in the 

 valley irrigators were left without wa- 

 ter for a considerable period. For- 

 tunately for them, however, the co- 

 pious rains which had previously soak- 

 ed the soil proved to be the salvation 

 of many a crop. 



One of the most serious calamities 

 to the people of Salt River Valley oc- 



by the Arizona Water Company, made 

 immediate preparations to restore 

 their former heaclgates and soon were 

 able to supply the ranches situated 

 under them with irrigating water 







The Arizona "Water Company is also 

 preparing to rebuild its dam. 



The protracted floods on Salt River 

 in addition to destroying the works of 

 man, did incalculable damage to lands 

 along the river, through the shifting 

 of the river bed and the caving of the 

 banks. At numerous points along the 

 river ravages of this nature assumed 



i 



. 



Bridge of the Phoenix and Eastern Railroad across Salt River, damaged by 



high waters March 20. 



curred on April 13, when a high flood 

 destroyed the timber dam of the Ari- 

 zona Water Company, commonly 

 known as the Arizona Dam. This 

 structure practically controlled all ir- 

 rigation water used on the north side 

 of the river, and its loss was a serious 

 blow, more especially to the orchards 

 in the northern part of the valley. The 

 older canals known as the Salt River 

 Valley, Maricopa, and Grand Canals, 

 which had been supplied with water 



large proportions, ranches of large 

 acreage being cut down to small hold- 

 ings, and in some cases entire ranches 

 disappeared little by little, inclusive 

 of barns and buildings, leaving the 

 owners destitute. At Tempe the river 

 cut into the banks east of the Tempe 

 Buttes, which protect the town on the 

 north side against the river, carrying 

 away many acres of valuable farm 

 land. Considerable apprehension has 

 been entertained bv the citizens of that 



