Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-10-24
ARID LANDS.
Governor Murphy's Views,-Lef the
Land be Coded to Arizona and we
will do the Rest,--Grand Reservoir
Sites and Desert Reclamation Pos
Utilities.

In his recent annual report 10 the Sec
rotary of the Interior Noble, Acting Gov
ernor Murphy has the following timely
discussion Of this most interesting topic.
He says:
"The public lands of Arizona are near
ly all properly called arid With the
exception of a very few small valleys
where cultivation is had because Of sub
irrigation. The lands if cultivated re-
quIre the conservation Of water by dam
ing streams or building reservoirs, and
service on the lanG by means of canals,
bitches, etc. These methods ere expen-
sive and require large capital, especially
where the lands under the water system
operated, are not thickly settled and the
population using and paying for the de-
livery of water is comparatively small
conditions which exist in Arizona.
The question of reclamation of arid
regions has agitated our legislators for
several congressional sessions, much dis
cusslon has b.en had, plans proposed
anu appropriations OF money made, yet
no satisfactory progress has resulted. A
large and influential convention has
lately been in session in Salt Lake City
Utah, the object of which was to bring
about proper. solution of the arid land
question if possible. 1t evidently is. and
has been the intention and desire Of the
general government TO further develop
ment Of the western territories by leglti-
mate AMI properly directed aid )if an &C
ceptable plan can be determined) looking
into the reclamation and settlement Of
the arid region.
Strong influence has been exerted in
Washington to secure large appropria-
tons of money 10 be expended by the
geological officers of the government in
preliminary and in large sense expert
mental work and the act of congress of
October I'd, 1888 on this subject was con-
sidered by our people the entering wedge
for the expenditure OF a great deal of
public land money without beneficial
results; besides holding back the pro
gress and development of the country
by the withdrawal OF lands from entry
for a long period pending the COM
pletion of the proposed governmental
work, and the repeal Of the obnoxious
law was very gratifying.
1t is argued that. If reservoirs and ca
mails are located and constructed under
the expense and direction of The general
government, a very large outlay will be
=
of the public lands, and that the gov
eminent can, in that way, Dotwlthstand-
ing the preliminary expenditure, be re-
imbursed from he sale OF public lands
not now desirable for settlement, even
though the reservoirs, canals, ETC., con-
structed 10 this way be donated to the
states and territories and not operated
by the government; and at the same
time such action will be liberal encour-
agement and aid to the development and
prosperity OF the arid land region.
1t is respectfully submitted that while
the government might by such methods
be reimbursed by the sale of lands for
the expenditure of large sum of money
under the direction and to the advan
tage OF interested parties, it is exceed
ingly doubtful if any margin of profit
would result to the government.
If the general government desires to
be liberal and legitimately encourage
the development of the arid region with
out immediate pecuniary profit to itself
substantially demonstrate It's liberality
by ceding these public lands to the
states and territories in which they lie,
and to reclaim the lands and make them
Immediately available as a source of
profit, might loan TO the territory or
state sufficient money to construct the
necessary reservoirs and canals, possibly
under the direction and control, until
completed, of government authority,
and take it as security the bonds of the
state or territory at per cent. annual
interest.
Under such action the territory of Ar
iona would Immediately become fnan-
cially strong, populous and beyond all
question capable of self-government
AS to the details Of a plan looking to
such results and the regulations to be
prescribed in relation thereto, whether
euch benefits may be donated to the
territory before admission into the I'M
ion or given il trust until admission As
a state, and other material questions of
Such plan certainly would be more
beneficial to the general government
than the other way of expanding large
sums of money simply to be reimbursed
from the sale Of public lands without
profit or interest, and without great or
advantage 10 the terri DRY.
The un-AmericAn and selfish argu
ment is advanced by come representa-
tives of the older states, that aid by the
general government for the reclamation |
and development OF the arid region |
should be opposed on the ground that it |
would be creating damaging compe |
tition to the farming interests OF their |
by making available new |
and marvelously productive agricultural |
country. Such opposition can certainly |
have little support from progressive |
legislators.
The greatest part of the arid land OF |
Arizona is very fayorably located for its |
Reservoir sites on the |
Salt and Verde rivers, upon the ella |
and Aqua Fria, Santa Cruz, Little Col |
0rado, Hassayampa and several other |
smaller streams present the very test |
advantages for the storage of water
enough to reclaim an area of country /
arger in extent than several of the |
New England states The water supply
8 ample, and only needs conservation.
Private enterprise would no doubt build |
many reservoirs and canals if the lands
belonged to the state and were avalla-
Die; but the largest and more extensive
mes are beyond the reach of the ordin-
Try syndIcates, AMI therefore govern
mental aid Is desirable
1t has been demonstrated 10y reliable
Engineers that immense reservoirs can
,e built; one on the Salt river above its
JUNCTION with the Verde, in Maricopa
and another on the ella at what
8 known as the Buttes. above Florence,
n Pinal county, of sufficient capacity
o store water enough to reclaim and IT.
igate every acre Of land in the immense
alleys of the Salt and ella rivers, con-
aiming over 5000 square miles.
To build these reservoirs would re-