Arizona republican., 1892-05-17
THE woLFLEY CANAL.

Some of Caliiornia's best people are locating in Arizona, and pronounce the soil and climate better adapted for fruit culture than that of their own state. A late issle of the Riverside Press says;
 Since number oi Rversders have taken up land near Gila Bend, Arizona, it may be of interest to the readers of The Press to know something of the magnitude of this irrigation enterprise which is one of many now being devel- oped in that territory. With a climate similar Co that of Southern California, it is fair to presume that with the appli- cation of irrigation this desert waste may be made to blossom as the rose. and to yield in abundance.
 There are great bodies of level land with deep rich soil which only requires water 10 make 1t very productive; and with the waters oi the Colorado and Glla rivers spread over 1t, Arizona will soon came to the front as producer of something more than cactus and "kick- CTS"
 In no other portion of the United States is there today presented SO large field for the development and recla- nation by irrigation, of the heretofore worthless desert lands on such a grand scale as is found in Arizona, when it's waters are spread upon the land instead of being allowed to run to waste.
 From A. c. Frederick, who is well posted in the matter, we learn few facts;
 The "Gila Bend Reservoir and IT, rigatiOn company was inaugurated through the efforts of ex-Goy. Wolhey of Arizona, and is backed by strong company of capitalists of Peoria, ill.,, who have constructed dam across the Gila river at a point miles north of Glla Bend, rising the water above the highest watermark, there diverted and carried through canal 3S miles in length to the lands to be irrigated, most of which lie from 6 to II miles west of the town of Gila Bend.
 The contract for the canal has been let and work begun, and it is expected that water will be running through it in December of this year. This canal is 20 feet wide on the bottom, Al feet wide on top, and is to carry s feet of ater, the present plan being to carry 75O cu- bic feet per second, or g 500 miners inches, enough to irrigate more than ,0OO acres at the rate of an inch to
  water is being sold and should further demands require it an immense storage reservoir can be constructed by simply building the dam higher, as at that point the channel of the river is walled in with mountains on either side SO that by building the dam 100 feet high, reservoir 20 miles in length would be formed, which would be filled in sum- mers as well as in winter, for the source of these rivers is in Colorado and New Mexico, where summer rains give a supply of water at a season when it can be utilized if stayed on it's way to the sea
 As the land has to he taken up under the Desert Land Act" subject to recla- nation by irrigation, the securing of water is the all important consideration. 1 To accomplish this, the irrigation com pany sell water franchise of one cubic ! foot per second, continual flow, with each l6O acres entered under their canal and the payments made upon this water franchise satisfies the requirements of the government for the money to be ' expended toward reclaiming the land | Under this canal nearly 50,0O0 acres have already been taken, and it is not 1 improbable that the whole amount will | be taken by the time the water is ready | tor delivery.
 Gila Bend, that has been but A way | station in the desert for the past thir- ' teen years, is waking up from a "Rip l Van Wrinkles sleep," and already there !. are signs of life and activity that re. minds one of boom times in California. ! when towns sprung up as if by magic. ! Town lots are selling rapidly, and prices | are marked up every thirty days. ! Among the most important improve l ments now being made is a large hotel. | said to surpass any in the territory, two !. large double stores, an office tor the Ar | izona Construction company; q bank is | promised inside of 20 days, and all of ] this is.the result oi assurance of water 7 for irrigation.