Tombstone epitaph., 1888-03-17
ARIzoNAs OPPORTUNITY.

For many years Arizona Territory has been trying, as we'll as her fettered representation in Congress would per- init, to induce the Federal Government to appropriate a triflng sum from the surplus toward the development of her hidden sources of the water supply. At last the committee on Territories has decided in favor of ascertaining the water resources of that Territory and New Mexico, with view of retaining tho so-called deserts by irrigation. The committee has already reported bill to the House appropriating Sso,ooo for each of the Territories, which sum the Secre' tary of War is directed to expend in bor- ing artesian wells in the public lands in those Territories and m making hydro graphic survey of each Territory, and from such surveys to ascertain as near as may be the practicability of storing the waters of the Territories in reservoirs or other receptac'es for the purpose of irrigating the public lands. The Secre tary of War IS directed to cause. the work to be done at as early date as possi- ble and to make full report to the Fifty frat Congress. All landsreclaimed from a desert condition by any water thus developed are to be subject to entry as homestead claims at the minimum price of S4 per acre.
 Many centuries before Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land, Arizona was thickly peopled by civilized race who dwe,t in their walled cities, had their system of municipal government and priesthood, and cultivated large areas of fertile land. Numerous relics of this mysterious race, whose origin nobody knows, are scattered through the Territory, and thelr great water courses, which they used for irri. gation, may still be traced for miles through what is now dry and deserted expanse of mesa, covered with cactus, greasewood and struggling mesquite. The engineering science of this prehis- toric people is proved by the fact that in several instances, where modern survey ors have followed the route of these old canals, it has not been found necessary to deviate foot from the line which they had adopted.
 The old idea of the desert character of Arizona is gradually giving way to bet ter knowledge off resources and possi- bilities. The whole Territory contains less actual desert than does the Colorado Desert in Southern California. The vast mesas possess arieh friable soil, which is perfectly adapted to the growth of grain, fruits and vines. needing only the life giving touch of water to produce as lux uriously as it did when a succession of cities, in groups of seven, stretched from what is now southern Nevada far down into Mexico.
 A large amount of land has already been brought under irrigation by means of ditches, during the past few years, and many more are being constructed, but there is an immense area of fertile land, upon which water can only be brought either by mountain storage or artesian wells. How vast this area is may De judged from the fact that the Territory ofAeizona contains over 77,ooo,oo acres of land, of which less than 2,ooo,ooo acres are suscep- tible of cultivation for want of water.
 The benefits thas will accrue to the Territory from judicious expenditure of the small sum appropriated by this bill which will undoubtedly pass-can scarcely be overestimated. Arizona will now have the opportunity she has so long sought. to prove whether artesian water can be had upon her fertile mesas. Should the result be favorable, there will be no lack of capital to develop the precious fluid, and immigration will crowd into the Territory. Los Angeles being Ari- zona's natural supply point, we feel much interest in anything that tends to the prosperity of that Territory, and hope soon to chronicle that an ample supply Of artesian water has been discovered,