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Umax Powerlook 2100XL, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 11,550,360 bytesGrande Valley above the Indian reservation now draw heavily on the stream before it reaches the Indians. These conditions have so affected the flow of this river since the report as to render it practically impossible to even successfully raise one crop a year by means of irrigation with the available water supply. This means that if present conditions are permitted to prevail the Indians within a comparatively short period of time will be entirely deprived of this natural flow of water to which they are entitled, rendering their land barren waste. To add to this acute situation is the contemplated development of reservoir facilities by white interests in the valleys mentioned, which will undoubtedly materially interfere with the development of the Indians in that section, as their opportunity of providing adequate irrigation facilities will be gone forever. The only alternative would be water development by means of pumping, which is entirely too costly to be of material benefit. In order to safeguard these water rights it is absolutely necessary for the Government to initiate storage rights which can be accomplished by the beginning of construction of the San Carlos reservoir project. In this connection, time is a material element as it is necessary, in order to initiate and complete valid storage rights, to do so in such way as to not infringe upon rights of others; therefore, if the Government fails to initiate construction of this reservoir project prior to similar action being initiated by white interests mentioned by conducting other reservoirs, it might find itself, in so far as protecting the Indians is concerned, in rather an embarrassing position. In my letter of March 17 it is stated this reservoir, when constructed, will provide adequate irrigation facilities for some 80,000 acres of land both in Indian and white ownership. The greater part of the lands in white ownership to be benefited are those in the Florence-Casa Grande district that come within the Florence-Casa Grande irrigation project constructed by the Government, consisting of 27,000 acres, as against 35,000 acres in Indian ownership (see the last paragraph on page two of this letter regarding the Ashurst-Hayden dam and canal and lateral system.) The Government has a lien against these white owned lands to assure repayment of the proportionate share of the costs of the project. The matter referred to by you appearing on page 101 deals with the Florence-Casa Grande, or the Ashurst-Hayden division dam above referred to. The cost, as therein stated, was based on the cost of material, labor, etc., at that date, which cost has in many instances, more than doubled at the present time. The reference made to that part of the conclusions appearing on page 96 thereof, which reads: ‘‘The proposed San Carlos project is entirely practicable from a construction standpoint, and is eminently desirable in that it will develop agriculturally a large section of Arizona which is now unproductive, but it has some serious faults, of a physical and economic nature, that should receive careful consideration before any plan of reclamation is adopted’’ has in mind practically the question of desilting the reservoir. The next paragraph states the most physical objection to the construction of the proposed San Carlos project is that due to the large accumulation of silt that will be annually deposited in the storage basin by the water of the Gila River. The silt problem since then has received much study by various branches of the Government, including the irrigation service of this bureau, and it is the opinion of the engineering force that much of the trouble in this respect contemplated at that time can now be obviated. It is believed by proper methods of retarding the velocity of the inflow of water into the reservoir, thereby eliminating silt from the water before it reaches the reservoir, this objection is removed. The fact should not be lost sight of that no engineering project of this magnitude is free of all impediments and that the report calls attention in advance to those that existed at that time. That part of the report referred to in your letter appearing on pages 100 and 102, respectively, has already been discussed at some length. I might say further that in view of the surrounding circumstances and conditions, and particularly the irreparable damage the Indians' lands will suffer by reason of loss of water right, the time is propitious to construct at the earliest practicable date, the San Carlos reservoir project and not to longer defer. Cordially yours, Chas. H. Burke, Commissioner. Hon. W. L. Jones, United States Senate