Arizona weekly citizen., 1889-06-15

Hon. $. M. Stockslager, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C.. | SIR: l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the following letter: "DEPARTMENT OF THE INFERIOR \ GENERAL LAND OFFICE, i WASHINGTON, ID. C., April 3, 1889. Major John w, Powell, Director Geol- ogical Survey, City:
 SIR: At the request of Messrs. Curtis and Burdett of this city I have the honor to herewith forward . species of grass called SSacaton" which has been transmitted to this office by the Regis ter and Receiver at Tucson, Arizona as an exhibit in certain desert land entries pending before this office, and l respect fully request that you submit to this othce your opinion as to the nature and character of said grass and whether it IS nutritious and will sustain animal life or IS of any value as crop, and also your opinion as to the character of the land producing such grasses,and wheth- CT such lands, from the nature of the grass, would produce an ordinary crop Of hay without irrigation. Very Re spectfully,
 v s. M- SrocxsLAeER,
 Commissioner.
 In reply to the foregoing letter the following statement is submitted:
 The plant sent for examination is Sporobolus Wrightii, and is locally in Arizona and New Mexico called "sucro" and sometimes "sacaton." The thick, tough roots are manufactured in scrub ping brushes, and the seeds are some times used by the Indians for food. For pasturage purposes it has no value as the stalks are not sufficiently succu- lent. The plant is characteristic of the arid or desert lands of Arizona and New Mexico. It grows about the margins of springs and along banks of small streams and under other conditions which re- quire more detailed statement.
 In the arid lands of the United States the rainfall IS concentrated on the moun- tains, and there is very little rain in the valleys and on the plains. For this req son the streams have their sources in the mountains. When they reach the valleys or plains below, most of them sink away in the sands Such streams therefore cannot preserve channels in the lowlands; but where the waters are lost for any season this plant springs up. If the season is very dry the stream is lost immediately at the foot of the mountains. In such season the "sucro" will grow up at that point. Another season the rainfall will be greater and the water will flow down further by mile or two miles, or ten or fifteen miles as the case may be; and wherever the stream ends for that particular season the ''sucro" will spring up. In the same manner, if the caving in of bank dams it temporarily the flooded land will bear a crop of the "sucro."
 For such reasons as l have given, and for many others which could be set forth, all of the arid or desert lands of the Southwest which are most valuable for irrigation are marked now and then, and here or there, by punches or patches of the "sucro" and it is considered to be one of the best guides in the proper se- lection of lands for irrigation
 It may, therefore, be said that whether this Sporobolus Wrightii is fonnd throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, etc., the lands require irrigation for ir- rigation purposes, and crops cannot be raised on such lands without irrigation; second, that wherever this plant is found it is evidence that the lands have been wisely selected; and third, that the plant itself is not valuable for agricultural or pasturage purposes. l am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
 J. w. POWELL, Director.