United States Reclamation Service
A number of Chandler residents worked for the reclamation service as zenjeros.
Here is how Salt River Project describes the role of zenjeros:
"Zanjeros have played a key role in the history of SRP's water delivery system. The word "zanjero" is derived from the Spanish words "zanja" meaning "deep ditch or irrigation ditch" and "zanjon" which means, "ditch rider or overseer."
A zanjero is an SRP employee whose principal responsibilities involve the manipulation of irrigation gates for the orderly delivery of water to fill irrigation requests. In the early days, most zanjeros traveled through their area on horseback or by horse and buggy as they provided water service to the shareholders.
Today, as in the early days of the SRP, service to the water shareholders remains a primary duty."
(from Salt River Project Web site, Aug. 30, 2012)
-Chief Engineer Arthur P. Davis and Supervisor Louis C. Hill arrived early in the morning from Yuma. They left immediately with Project Engineer C.H. Fitch and Engineer Howard S. Reed to check out the different projects.
They first visited the Arizona Falls power house which is almost finished. Then followed the canal line to Crosscut. The ditch received a thorough inspection. They went on to inspect the Roosevelt Dam, which was engineered by Mr. Davis. (Chandler Arizonan 3/21/1913)
-The water shortage issue on the south side of Chandler was brought up by Reclamation Engineer, H.S. Reed, at the board of governors for the Water Users' Association. He says the the shortage is due to the smallness of the canals.
He went on to ask for resolutions to be passed by the governors that give money for enlarging the canal system using reclamation funds at once.
The south branch of the Consolidated is slopping over it's banks near the head, but the water is lost before it gets down to the lower laterals. In the nine miles between the pumping station and Central Avenue there is a loss of thirty percent of the water of the Western Canal. This is by actual measurement. Eight hundred inches out of the head are lost by seepage and evaporation.
The Consolidated is built for carrying a head of 14,000 miners' inches, but it is now carrying a load of 15,300 inches. That is still not enough. Money has been asked for to meet this situation, but for a year and a half it has not been forthcoming, says H.S. Reed.
The meeting was held on June 2, 1913. (Chandler Arizonan 6/6/1913)
The ranchers south of town are getting water again after several weeks with not enough water. They are satisified now with the amount, but may be too late to save all the crops.
The well near the Kreidt home is working again after discovering a piece of wood had clogged the pump. The well gushed water all day Wednesday. The ditch has been built, and the pump is working.
The Canal Superintendent Eastman noted the piece of wood, and Superintendent Sprague was there to make sure the ditches were giving their quota of water.
Nothing was being done about the complaints until the Phoenix Democrat printed a story says the Reclamation Service was incompetent. (Chandler Arizonan 6/6/1913)
-Mr. Sprague of the water office in Mesa was in Chandler to investigate the charges against the U.S. Reclamation Service. He believes they try to do their best to get water supplied, but will investigate thoroughly. (Chandler Arizonan 6/27/1913)
-Several changes are being made with management with the service on the south side. James E. Sprague, assistant manager, and Fred Eastman, field superintendent, have been given a five weeks vacation.
A.J. Holtom, head of the United States agricultural department in Phoenix, is investigating water conditions in Chandler, Mesa, and surrounding areas. There has been dissatisfaction among ranchers over not getting the water they ordered. Also run off water from the Consolidated Canal is going to waste on the dessert. (Chandler Arizonan 8/15/1913)