Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-07-12
Sahino Canyon Water Co.

Among the enterprises of prospective importance to the future of Tucson Is the supply of an abundance ot pure, fresh mountain water from the Santa Catalinas, for which purpose the Sabino Canon Water Company has been formed.
 The Sabino Canon is situated in the fcot hills of the Santa Catalina noun tains, being the only southern outlet or water channel. The water supply IS der1ved partially from permanent springs, aud from the accumulated snows of winter, vast fields Of which lie on the high ranges until late in the summer months. These mountains he to the north of Trcson some ten miles, forming the northern boundary to the mesa or plains Of arabic soil lying for miles along its base. This water is now. and has for unknown periods been, running to waste, from the mouth of the canon, down into the sandy rayine, where 1t sinks to the bedrock and is lost to view.
 It is proposed by a company of gen. tlemea of this city who have secured title to the canon and the water runDing through it, to make practical use of the precious element. Their purpose Is to build strong and substantial stone dam at a point some short distance up the canon from tue outlet, and there Tetaln all the water that flows down from the higher ranges into basin CT reservoir. When this is completed, they will be thsn prepared to lay strong east iron mains of suiiiclent diameter fo supply not alone the city Of Tucson and the railroad Gcp0ts with abundance of mountain water. put a full quantity for irrigation or the farming lands lnow useles5l through which the main line Of pipe will be laid n its route to Tue son. Ii j. confidently -xpected should these plans be succ assfuliy crnsum- mated as proposed, the many miles oi ardbIe land VII be at once settled upon by practical farmers, who I4 ad Iilon to tha two crops or grain per year, eau in due course of time, successfully cul- tivate frut trees of the usual varieties. and all such produce wall find aE i'm mediate market in Tucson, and in ad- dition to this, tLe county will be benefited by the increased value Of the land occupied. and business benefited by an additional number of thrifty nelghhors.
 When this portion of the enterprise is well on inc way 60 completion, the company intends to make farther use Of the water, previous to its entering the reseryoir-namely: It is intended to erect B steam saw-mill, as near as may b to the great forest Of pines thai crown for five miles by ten miles the high summit of these mGuut3Ins, and to convert this fine growth of timber into lumber suitable Tor the uses of this market; and at or near tho mlll. lt Is intended 10 commence the erection of . Y Hume, and continue it down through the canon 70 some point of delivery. Through tlis Hume Il Is proposed tJ float the saTei lumber to tbe valley where 1t is Co be loaded on wa -ons aud freighted to T0cson. The company having secured tile to number O. acres of this timber forest they are fully prepared Co utilize it at the proposed time. l. has always seemed unaccount able 10 OrULGdsg buSlIc,S DllO-. VII. this forest ot pine timber has not long ago been converted into lumber. situated as 1t is. So short a distance from thls central point of distribution along tho railroad and to the south ami west tC the various mining camps. Yet in, vestigation shows that the Sabino canor Is the only possible outlet by wh!cb lumber can be conveyed from these Iaouatains, as on the east there is nc natural route to the San Pedro river aud roads to the American Flag el Oracle districts could not be made practicable without an enormous outlay of capital. The ronte by Canon del Orc Is equally impracticable, and all are greater distances from Tucson. The Sabiuo canon route is the only one b. which timber can be proitably brought out of the mountains.