The Roosevelt Dam [1] / - Public domain portrait print

Film depicts TR's commitment to the reclamation of desert land and his belief that natural resources exist for the public benefit. Included are close-up views of Frederick H. Newell, first director of the U.S. Reclamation Service and Gifford Pinchot, first chief forester and leader of the conservation movement in the U.S.; both influenced TR's thinking and action on conservation. TR fought successfully for the passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, which authorized the creation of the reclamation service. In 1906 work on the Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona began and was completed in 1911. Film consists of views of desert area, including many varieties of cactus; construction of the dam; the completed dam, hydroelectric plant, reservoir, and irrigation system. Scenes of fields and orchards, sheep and cattle grazing, men clearing, plowing, and harvesting fields with various types of farm equipment, and scenes of crops of wheat, alfalfa, and melons, all represent the benefits brought to the Salt River Valley area by the availability of water.
At the formal dedication of the dam on Mar. 18, 1911, TR presses an electric switch opening sluice gates; TR speaks and shakes hands with Indian workers. Behind him on the platform are, left to right: a woman who may be Edith Roosevelt; a bald man who is probably Louis C. Hill, supervising engineer of the project; an unidentified man; Benjamin A. Fowler, president of the National Irrigation Congress; another unidentified man; Richard E. Sloan, territorial Governor of Arizona; and a man who is probably John P. Orme, president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association.
Copyright: no reg.
Editor, Caroline Gentry.
Appearing: President Roosevelt, Frederick H. Newell, Gifford Pinchot, Edith Roosevelt, Louis C. Hill, Benjamin A. Fowler, Richard E. Sloan, John P. Orme.
Duration: 4:58 (part 1), 4:12 (part 2), 4:55 (part 3) at 18 fps.
Film depicts TR's commitment to the reclamation of desert land and his belief that natural resources exist for the public benefit. Included are close-up views of Frederick H. Newell, first director of the U.S. Reclamation Service and Gifford Pinchot, first chief forester and leader of the conservation movement in the U.S.; both influenced TR's thinking and action on conservation. TR fought successfully for the passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, which authorized the creation of the reclamation service. In 1906 work on the Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona began and was completed in 1911. Film consists of views of desert area, including many varieties of cactus; construction of the dam; the completed dam, hydroelectric plant, reservoir, and irrigation system. Scenes of fields and orchards, sheep and cattle grazing, men clearing, plowing, and harvesting fields with various types of farm equipment, and scenes of crops of wheat, alfalfa, and melons, all represent the benefits brought to the Salt River Valley area by the availability of water.
At the formal dedication of the dam on Mar. 18, 1911, TR presses an electric switch opening sluice gates; TR speaks and shakes hands with Indian workers. Behind him on the platform are, left to right: a woman who may be Edith Roosevelt; a bald man who is probably Louis C. Hill, supervising engineer of the project; an unidentified man; Benjamin A. Fowler, president of the National Irrigation Congress; another unidentified man; Richard E. Sloan, territorial Governor of Arizona; and a man who is probably John P. Orme, president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association.
National Park Service acquired from Roosevelt Memorial Association. Ref print (FEA 8949) and dupe neg (FPB 9906) have additional RMA material at beginning and end of film. DLC
Sources used: Roosevelt Memorial Association. The Roosevelt Dam (script); Roosevelt Memorial Association. Annual report. 1928:16; Harbaugh, William H. The life and times of Theodore Roosevelt. 1963:304-319; Sloan, Richard E., ed. History of Arizona. v. 2, 1930:316-322; Arizona republican, Phoenix. 3/18/11:1-2; 3/19/11:sec. 1:1; 3/19/11:sec. 2:4-6; P&P portrait file; Portrait and biographical record of Arizona. 1901:[334]
Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
Received: 6/1976 from LC film lab; ref print, dupe neg; preservation; Theodore Roosevelt Association Collection.