The St. Johns herald., 1889-10-17
Reservoir Sites in Apache County.

The following is the report of tht committee appointed by the citizens of St. Johns to examine and repor on the water storage facilities O Apache county:
 Apache county is situated in tho northeast corner of the Territory and embraces a country of about 100 by 120 miles, exclusive of the Indian reservations. The county now contains population of only 5000 to 1000; but with sufficient water to cultivate the land that is otherwise available, it would afford good homes for many thousands more. The climate is excellent and we'll adapted to the raising Of all kinds of small grain, vegetables, and all kinds of fruit flat can be grown in a scmi-tropical climate.
 The county is drained ny the Lit tie Colorado river and its fributa- ries. The Little Colorado heads in the White mountains in the south end of the county, and runs in a northerly direction 50 miles to St. Johns, thence in a northwesterlv direction to the Big Colorado river, in Yavapai county.
 From the head of the Little Col orado to the first settlement, Sprin- gerville, 1t is about fifteen miles :; there being in that vicinity several good sites for storing water, and some 5000 acres of choice agricu!- tural lands, unoccupied, that could be brought under cultivation. This is one of the best farming sections in the county, the land being very productive.
 In addition to the Little Colo rado, the following tributaries of that river ruE into the SpringervilIe valley from the mountains, through which a great deal of water flows during the spring, but runs dry about the time irrigation begins :: South Fork creek, Water Canyon creek and Nutrioso creek. On each of these streams there are good sites for reservoirs. There are two reservoirs constructed and owned by private parties in this valley, which are very successful for stor- ing water for irrigation.
 A committee sent from St. Johns surveyed and made estimates on the following reservoir sites, be- tween Springerville and St. Johns, a distance of 95 miles, and made the following report:
 RESERVOIR SITE NO. 1.
 This place is 9 miles from St. Johns, three miles off the river, and would cost $l 800. Has q small living stream running into it from the mountains. Drains 100 square miles of the White mountain slope. There may not be sufficient water to fill this dam every spring, but from reports of reliable persons there would be ample water nearly every season. The embankment would be 800 feet long, 25 feet high, 70 feet thick at base and 20 feet on top. The reservoir when filled with i water, would cover 600 acres twelve feet deep. A natural ditch would {: convey the water from this reser- ! voir three miles and empty into the Little Colorado 22 miles above St i Johns.
 SITE NO. 2.
 This site is % miles from St. Johns, up the river, and four miles east from the Little Colorado, on Coyote wash. The work required would be masonry 495 feet long, 100 feet high, 100 feet base and 20 feet on top. Would cost about $50,0G0, and would cover 2.OO0 acres of land 90 feet deep on an average. Rock and material for construction of dam is plentiful on the ground. It is believed there is sufficient water passes down this stream every spring to fill this reservoir.