Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-03-25
TIE NEW ssrTlryENr oy Tgr oTr.A.

Ihh NEW S2I4LEAEhT 9k TEE GlLA-
 The new settlement on the Gila river. promises to become permanent. The almost insurmountable obstacle in forming settlements on the lower Gila hithertc, has been the expense neces- sary to he incurred in taking water out of the river, which is so great, that save in a few favored places, the ordinary
 settler could do but little towards rr- claiming the rich bottom lands in that locality This difficulty IS now being overcome. 4 responsible company has been incorporated and placed under the management of a competent superin;edent for the purpose Of taking out water with which to irrigate a large tract of land. The
 canal is to be thirteen miles long, ano most Of it has already been brought tC grade, with an average fall of about five feet to the mile. The construction of this canal Is no chlld's play. 1t moi only requires nerve, but ready cash. Wing dams must be bullt. and fumes con- struc,ed 10 lead the water over the ex- tensive sand washes near tEe river bed, out on to the firm black bottom soil, which contains enough, Of what is known m California as ''siickeus," to form most complete channel and when the water Is once turned in, its sedimeutary depJsi. forms a coating of soft mud over the sandy spots, and prevents the escape of any considerabl, amount of water. Several hundred acres Of choice land have been entered uncer 'lv 1----. l7nd act hy member oi the water company, but no5 wIsu a-. speculative purpose, but in good faitu, with a view of improving the country and showing to others what can be pro
 duced on the land when the water ls put upon it. They will receive n, favcrs from the water compan, that will not be extended to others wh. may desire to settle upon contiguou. lands, as the water gate Wili be the sam, to all It is estimated that ere al, 100000 acres of choice land along the line Of the canal, which may be taken uI by any one desir0us of locating oa pub
 lie lands, and while the water rates ol the company have not yet been mad, public, it is the intention of the water company to put the Fate al a low figure in order to encourage the settlement oI the laod. The broad and liberal view of furnishing many Gt reasonable rate, rather tLad a fewat high rates. has bee resolved upon. It is expected, however that those who nay desire the benefit of water rights, shall open up and in prove the land, but no encouragement will be extended to those who may talk, up land for speculative purposes. Th. canal will not be completed in tune fui a spring crop, but wlll be ready for an- other year. As soon as the canal + completed the water will be turned IL and allowed to thoroughly slturate th, ground Of such as may be ready vitl their lateral dItches, previous to pre- pairing it for a cr'p. It IS beliyed that the land in this section of our Terr1to- ry will produce oranges equal to thos' of Hermosillo and Ciapes equal to th, best produced in California. Sorghum, | sugar Cane, cotton, wheat uudbaIley ar, known to do well, and We see DO reasoL | why this new settlement may not be l come one of the most important auc | prosperous in the Territory.