Telegram-herald., 1890-08-04

Passss Rerfecssa fsE xaral1S Ara i2ads
l1to Fertllt k&FE1s-


Arszsna has no lack q arabls laad.
Hunarsds II thousands II fertile acres
lie uncultivstsd and unprod1criye ali
ever TIE terrlsory, needing but the touch
of water 70 hl0oa with luxazlant vese-
tzion. The Eaiaa q man Is turned to
ward schemes for supplying the safh-
ciencY. The sEassler stIeaE2s = Arzons
sre al of ons class, running fullest II
TIE spring ard alHost falling Ia the
sun1zer. Those that run into TIE plains
sink IN the ssads. and are lost for the
major portion of tee year. The question
naturally arises. Why not store the win
ter water IA suitable catchnent reser-
voirs, 10 Do spread ON the thirsty lands
at the rlrne u the drought
This proposition has been appreciated,
as Is shown by the location of dam sites
foT water storage purposes II many parts
OF tho territory. The Walnut Grove
dam, owing to faulty construction, was
a l@nentable failnre. buf before il gave
way showed by tie 6ne body of water
iInp0anGed The entire pr&ctieabihsy u
the scheme. Tho Florence Canal com
pany has just finished an extensive res
ervoir in Pnal county t0 assist in the
irrigation cf the lands adjacent 10 the
Casa Grande.
Among the projected reservoirs that
have been located for tAe Improvement
Of the lands lying below one OF the most
important is that upon New river, about
thirty miles northweet Of Phoenix. Ii is
situated whore New river debonches on
the plain. The projectors arc John
King and W. c. Collier, who have been
quietly working On the enterprise for
years.
The dam viii need to be nearly half
mile in length. Sso feet in thickness on
the bedrock. 80 feet broad on top and 70
feet high. Hydraulic lime for the man
ufacturc of cement, limestone and other
rock for the construction of the dam are
at hand IN abundance, and can be cheap
~ quaTTied. Estimates from civil engin-
eers OF repute fix the cost OF the work at
less than $500. .000. With the height Of
dam proposed the water would cover an
area Of eight by four miles, there being
but little slope 10 the valley above. The
supply Of water from The spring freshets
of the river is deemed ample, but as d.
precaution levels have been run TO hud-
son creek, Castle creek and the Aqua
Fria, and it has been demonstrated that
it is practicable to divert at low cost the
waters of those streams into the reser-
voir.
The Aqua Fria, at the point tapped,
flows the year round. All danger Of
overflow can be avoided, as a natural
spillway exists at the proper height two
miles back from the dam, conducting the
water over low bridge into the valley
of the Aqua Fria.
The land sought to be irrigated is real
ly continuation Of this valley, and en-
braces over 70, ,000 acres of excellent soil.
Many claims hare already been filed in
expectation of the benefits of the dam.
About eight miles farther to the west
of this dam site and over ridge is the
location of similar enterprise of fully
equal magnitude. Il is the property Of
the Aqua Fria Water and Land com
pany, composed of L. II. Orme, J. p.
Or1ne, J. D. Monihon, n. o. Murphy and
William Hancock, all Of Phoenix. The
dam is TO be situated at the narrow gorge
Of the Aqua Fria, 300 yards above the
Frog Tanks hotel. The walls Of the can
yon at this point are but 800 feet apart
to the height Of seTenty-five feet, and
above this gradually retreat from the
stream The proposed dam is to be 175
feet high, with al ample width and a
length on top of about l 600 feet. 1t viii
not be difficult of construction. All rock
and lime needed can be obtained right
at hand.
a darn of the dimensions ststed will
back the water up stream a distance Of
ten miles with depth at the mouth Of
Castle creek of 125 feet. At point two
miles above the dam the reservoir will
be three and one-hslf miles in width,
besides extending for some distance up
Castle and Humbug creeks. The ca
pacity of the reservoir is estimated at
40, 600, 900, ,000 cubic feet Of water. This
amount viii supply for twelve months q
canal carrying 10000 miners inches of
water and allow for en- evaporation Of
% per cent. The natural flow Of the
Aqua FRA will more than supply this
amount every year.
The main canal will be taken from the
river on the east side about one and one
half miles below the Frog Tanks station.
1t will run along the slope of the river
bottom for a distance, emerging Oh the
,laiv fIrao r-,ilac bofo-r- t5,a TorI-e TIL
land TO be irrigated comprises about 75,-
600 acres. 1t is Of excellent quality,
especially adapted to the growth Of cit
rus fruits.-Phenix Republican