History of the Phoenix Area- Part VI
In 1902, President Teddy Roosevelt signed the National Reclamation Act. This Act permitted the building of dams for reclamation purposes on western streams.1903 saw the formation of the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association; its purpose was to manage and oversee the prudent use of the scarce water resources available to the area. It still controls much of the flow of irrigation water today.
The Roosevelt Dam was begun in 1906. It was the largest masonry dam in the world when completed in 1911, and was the first dual purpose dam(water and electric power) built under the National Reclamation Act. The former president himself dedicated the dam. With it came a new era for the farming community, which was now assured a steady supply of water, and power.
In 1912 Arizona became a state, and Phoenix became its capital.The first state legislature was called into session the same year by the first governor, Governor Hunt (Hunt Highway). Shortly thereafter, the voters of the city of Phoenix ratified a new charter, by an overwhelming 2 to 1 majority, which gave the city a “city council, city manager” form of government. This was a very progressive form of government for the time, and still the governing format in use today.