The Arizona champion., 1886-04-17
Holbrook Happenings.
AN IRRIGATING SCHEME THAT WILL MAKE AN ARID
 DESERT A GARDEN.
INVASION OF THE TOWN BY SIGHT.
 SEEKS FROM KANSAS AND ILLINOIS.
Correspondence of the CHAMPION.

read In Arizona) teaches us, that he who raises two blades of grass, where but one grew before, Is benefactor to his race. If this be- so-and no one will dispute it-the enterprising people of Holbrook are entitled 10 great credit, for they are engaged in turing what has hitherto appeared to be an arid deserl into luxuriapt gar den.
 For years il has been known that all along the Little Colorado bottom from around the junction of the Rio Puelco with the Little Colorado for a distance or some twenty-five miles there Is a rich alluyial soil, capable of producing any agricultural pro ducts, if only properly irrigated. Through the center of this valley runs tha Little Colorado river, a stream that was never known to be dry, but from its low lying banks, the land on either side rises in very gentle slope to the abrupt barriers on its northern and southern boundaries. From this formation of the ground it can easily be understood that any overflow of the river would only cover 9 compara, lively small area of land on either side of the stream, while its continu- ous low-lying banks and sluggish cur rent have seemed to render irrigation, to any great extent, impossible, There was plenty of water in the valley, but the thirsty land seemed to say to the flowing stream in its midst,
 Thou art so near and yet so iar'
 from the parched surface of this rich soil ready to yield forth the fruits ot the field, if it could only be layed by the water within sight.
 A few years ago Mir. F. M. Zuck discovered that about two miles east of Holbrook, immediately below the confluence of the Colorado and the Rio Puerco, the valley narrowed and the river passed over a bed of sand stone rock, rising on either side to sufficient height to make a splendid reservoir or basin, if dam of suffi- cient strength could be built across the river to stem the current, Nature seems to have framed the place to aid mans handiwork in spreading water over the millions of acres of rich soil that stretched away below,
 It is needless here to speak of the difficulties which surrounded even the commencement of such an enterprise, but company was incorporated, named the uolbrook lrrigating, Ca nal, Dam and Bridge Company, with the following gentlemen IS inoorpora- tors: Messrs. Pedro Montana, A. L. Stivrrs, B. NJ. Terrett, David Rope and F. Nj. Buck, and work was begun.
 When went 10 see it the other day, in company with the indefatigable secretary of the undertaking, found the enterprise approaching comple, ton. About eight thousand dollars have been rlready expended on the dam and canal, and about two thous ann more will finish the work as far as at present planned, but no doubt q further extension of the system will be eventually made. Above the dam there IS now huge lake, which looks to the uninjtated as if Il contained water enough to iyriglte the valley for thirty miles. From this lake two dltches are being made, dive rgiug 10 the northern and .ou.hosa boundaries of the valley, where they will run along under the bluff; on either side and be tapped by lateral ditchc7 aun ming down towards the river ia the center of the valley, thus completely irrigaHug every portion Of the land. and there is not one acre of the vas, area ttal is not ripe fog cultivation.
 The present off CTS of the com pany are. Pedro Mon,auo, president; 1 ], NJ Higgins, vice-prcsjdent; F NJ, 1 Zuck, secretary, and !, T. Ll5e, treasurer. These gentlemen hy thei5 work are confeftiag upon the country around HolbrooE the $ cate5t blessing that hUman hands can give to i,, fol l by their efforts, what has been hither- to an arid waste, will in 2 few year. blossom as garden, rich with thy fruits of 9 generous soll providing the means of sustenance for hundreds of families, who will find happy and prosperous homes in this portion oI Arizona.
 HoLBROoH INVADED.
 After the west bound train had