Tombstone daily epitaph., 1889-09-07

washes, or small caflons carry large bodies of water during the rainy sea son. A series of dams, one above an other, would store an immense body of water, enough to irrigate hundreds of acres of land. but the evaporation would be so great that but a small part of the water would be available for the early summer months, when irrigation Is needed most. If the water stored were to be used immediately after the rainy season, during the early fali months, this system of stor- age would warrant the expense, but | the spring and winter rainfall being so | small, there would be but little water left tor use when needed most for 2 owing cops.
 | This portion of the county gives the | best indication, from its surroundings, i for the sinking of artesian wells, with | which these large areas could be irri- gated with but very small loss from evaporation. The mountain ranges, especially the Chiricahuas and the Huachucas, show several points where ! storage reservoirs could be built, but the amounts stored would be so small compared with the expense of the dams, and the feeders to supply the reservoirs so small, that the quantity stored would be exhausted before the cultivated crops would be matured.
 MILES OF CANALS AND DITCHEs.
 In the san Simon Valley there has up to the present date been but little done in the way of irrigation by talk ing out water in di,ches; few have been taken out for the raising of al- fal!a, making about two miles of ditch
 h the Sulphur Spring Valley there has been not over four miles of ditches taken out, most of which is used for small gardens
 In the san Pedro Valley, some DOT tions of which show old ruins and re- mains of pottery and old ditches yet to be seen, show that this valley was inhabited a long time ago The valley is now quite thichly settled. there not being a mile of he bot ,Om lands but what has been settled upon, and there is now over fO., : five miles of main ditcbes and laierals in use along the river bottom. All of the main ditches a-e supplied rom be main stream by tbe buildilg oi dams in the river at tbe most available points All of the dam- built 70 date e but temporary dams, that at almost every freshet, 1 are carried away, and have to be re- built sometimes two or three times a | year. The dams are usually built of brush and earth, with some stone, if | stone can be had, some are built by l filling sacks with sand and laying then across the stream thus throwing the water from the main channel to the head of the irrigating ditch
 KINDS OF CROPS RAISED.
 The soil along the San Pedro river produces All the different varieties of vegetation, cereals, grasses, fruits, and vegetables known to a semi-tropic zone. Of cereals, there are raised corn, wheat, oats and barley. of z asses, alfalfa, blue grass, timothy, etc Of fruits the following are being produced: Peaches, pears, cherries. apples, quinces, apricots, nectarines, figs, plums, grapes. strawberries and al! the small fruits and. 1t Is noticed that the fruits have q finer flavor than many of the fruits raised in the lower attitudes of Arizona.
 The foothills on each side of the mountains are covered with nutritious grasses most of the year which render it valuable for grazing purposes. San simon Valley, as well as the Sulphur Spring Valley, is covered with luxur- iant grass growth, which makes them the finest cattle ranges in Arizona. In Sulphnr Spring Valley there are no running streams but water is abundant and near the surface and in some places gives the appearance of wet lands.
 LANDS IN CULTIVATION.
 In the san Simon Valley there is not to exceed 300 acres under cultiva- ton.
 In the Sulphur Spring Valley and adjacent foothills there Is about 2OO0 acres under cultivation.
 In the San Pedro Valley and ad- iacent table lands there IS under culti- vation about 5000 acres.
 LANDS SUSCEPTIBLE OF CULTIVATION.
 There is in San Simon Valley 5000 acres.
 Sulphur Spring Valley 200, 900 acres.
 And in the San Pedro Valley 5O,00O acres.
 QUANTITY AND VALUE OF DIFFERENT
 CROPS
 Wheat-The average wheat crop is