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Umax Powerlook 2100XL, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 11,786,940 bytesMr. Burke. The war came on after the report of the engineering board. Mr. Meritt. This matter was thoroughly investigated by Army engineers of the War Department and they submitted a report to Congress which contains full details. Here are pictures of the dam site. There is no better dam site in the United States than the San Carlos dam site. I will call attention to House Document No. 791, Sixty-third Congress, second session, and leave a copy of this for the committee's information. Mr. Cole. What is the extent of the area? Mr. Meritt. Between 90,000 and 100,000 acres will be irrigated under this project and the land will be worth from $150 to $200 an acre. Mr. Burke. It is worth $10 an acre now. Mr. Meritt. Yes, sir. The Chairman. How much land will you have to condemn to impound this water? Mr. Meritt. Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty acres will be flooded. That is on the San Carlos Reservation. Mr. Cole. Is it all Indian land? Mr. Meritt. About two-thirds of it is Indian land and one-third is white land. The Chairman. Four years ago, at least four Members present here this morning made a thorough investigation on the ground, and I, at least, as one Member, was convinced that this proposition was feasible and ought to be constructed. I was completely won over to the question of irrigation by the wonderful sight that I saw due to the construction of the Roosevelt Dam and the prosperity of the people along the Salt River, due wholly to the construction of the Roosevelt Dam, thereby, making it possible to irrigate the loveliest valley that I have ever ridden through. I am convinced that if we ever build this proposed dam that a similar environment will spring up around the waters that will flow down the Gila River. Mr. Hayden. In answer to Mr. Dallinger's question, I will state that it was expected that this would be one of the first projects undertaken under the reclamation act. That was not done, greatly to the disappointment of the Indians. Mr. Dallinger. That was due to pressure of other interests. Mr. Hayden. Yes. Then Congress provided for another engineering investigation and we were ready to proceed when the war broke out. Everything was stopped on account of the war, due to the high prices of labor and material. We believe that now the San Carlos project can again be considered on its merits. Mr. Sproul. What is the proximity of this land to be irrigated to a market, and what would be the extent of the market for farm products? Mr. Hayden. There is a good market and excellent railroad transportation facilities. As the chairman has pointed out, since the Roosevelt Dam has been constructed there has grown up in the Salt River Valley one of the most prosperous communities in the United States. That land is worth from $150 to $500 an acre. Before the construction of the Roosevelt Dam the same land was worth about $10 an acre. Exactly the same conditions exist unde