The Legislative Process

 

Pushing Congress to create what was called "The San Carlos Project" took decades and a lot of work by a lot of people.  We'll add here what we can find about it.

Sensing that the most important obstacles to the San Carlos bill had been removed, in the fall of 1923 Hayden called together Ashurst, Cameron, and San Carlos Association representatives for a series of strategy meetings, most of which took place in Hayden's office. As a result, on December 11, Cameron-Arizona's lone Republican in Washington-introduced in the Republican-controlled Senate a bill (S. 966) "to continue construction of the San Carlos Federal Irrigation Project." While Ashurst lobbied for the support of "every Democrat in the Senate," Republicans-pleased to have one of their number in the upper house from traditionally Democratic Arizona fell in line behind Cameron. On April 23, 1924, the Senate, in a rare display of unanimity on a floor vote, passed the San Carlos Project bill.

Rosy predictions notwithstanding, President Coolidge had yet to sign the bill. The conference committee had completed its report and Congress had approved $5,500,000 for construction of the dam and accoutrements, but Coolidge complained that the project would place too heavy a burden on taxpayers. Hayden quickly arranged a meeting with Interior Secretary Work and Commissioner of Indian Affairs Burke, seeking their advice on how best to avoid a presidential veto. They suggested naming the structure "Coolidge Dam.” Hayden liked the idea. Along with Ashurst, he met Coolidge at the White House and informed the president that the "marvelous structure” on the Gila River would bear his name. Evidently, the flattery worked, and on June 7, 1924, Coolidge signed the San Carlos Project.

https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/histphotos/id/18239/

August, Jack L. “CARL HAYDENS ‘INDIAN CARD’: Environmental Politics and the San Carlos Reclamation Project.” The Journal of Arizona History, vol. 33, no. 4, Arizona Historical Society, 1992, pp. 397–422, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41695967

August, Jack L. “‘A STERLING YOUNG DEMOCRAT’: Carl Hayden’s Road to Congress, 1900-1912.” The Journal of Arizona History, vol. 28, no. 3, Arizona Historical Society, 1987, pp. 217–42, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41859766.

After finishing Presbyterian seminary, young and outspoken Rev. Dirk Lay became a missionary in Sacaton, where he would dedicate over 25 years to helping the Akimel O’odham, or “River People.” He replaced the Rev. Charles H. Cook, who had established the first Indian school in Arizona in Sacaton in 1871. For several years, Lay raised money to build a church in Sacaton, on the Gila River Indian Community. Built in 1918, Cook Memorial Church is a two-story, mission-style adobe church with a large sanctuary and a basement and is still standing today.

Perhaps Lay’s greatest accomplishment, however, was lobbying for water rights for the Gila River people. “I looked about at the Pima people,” Lay said. “I felt that fighting in their cause was worth a lifetime of effort.” Because of his efforts, in part, Coolidge Dam was built in 1928 along the Gila River, and the San Carlos Irrigation Project was created. Later, as a member of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, Lay’s regiment was ordered to Panama, where he died of a heart attack in 1944. Dirk Lay Road in Sacaton is named in his honor.

https://www.pinalcentral.com/casa_grande_dispatch/area_news/origin-of-the-names-of-pinal-county-roads-and-streets/article_0d4d36ab-4003-5c51-bfb3-cf2d4f6e815b.html

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