The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1892-07-02


cap Of iron ores known to old min
ers as gossan, and though these
caps are not rich in gold and silver
and copper, they have been in all
ages and in all great mining
countries, esteemed a good indica-
ton of rich mines. The opinion
was so strong and prevalent among
the miners of Europe at a very early
day in the history of mining, that
it found expression in several
languages. as shown by the "gos-
san hood of Cornwall" ''chapeau
de fer" of France, and the "eiserne
hut" of Germany. Though the
iron and manganese ores which
form these caps, are not, as rule,
very rich in the precious metals
they carry enough to make them
very valuable fuxes to use with
more refractory and richer ores.
One of our most important en-
terprises is now in course of con-
struction. Messrs. Mahoney,
Greenhaw and Montgomery of
Phoenix, after many preliminary
examinations, arrived at the con-
clusion that a large underground
river existed under Harrisburg and
ran in a large volume to the south
east Of Harrisburg. After repeated
tests such was found to be the case
and it was decided to put in sub
marine dam and bring the water
to the surface to irrigate the thous-
ands of acres of fine arrable land
lying to the east and south of US.
There are at least 100000 acres
which can be reached by these
waters and brought under cultiva-
ton. This land, properly irrigated
will grow anything that can be
produced in either tropical or tenn
perate climates. This country is
especially adapted to the cultiva-
ton of the orange, the olive, the
lime and other citrus fruits. Here
frosts are rarely seen, and vegeta-
ton hardly ceases the year round
The surface presents a level uni
formity throughout its entire ex-
tent, thus affording every facility
for irrigation. 1t must be remem-
bered that in the irrigated belt Of
the Pacific Slope, the values are in
the water, not in the land. The
land itself is simply worthless if
water cannot be brought upon it.
Messrs. Doctor Mahoney, Thos
Greenhaw and Sheriff John Mont
gomery hold the key to the situa-
ton. The area upon which citrus
and other high priced fruits can be
grown in the United States is limit
ed, and outside of a few places in
Florida, and Yuma county, is con-
fined almost exclusively to the
semi-tropical belt of the Pacific
Coast. In these favored spots the
rain fall is insufficient and recourse
is had to irrigation.
The land which the submarine
dam, above referred to, is proposed
to irrigate is unsurveyed and I'M
appropriated. It is only matter
of few years until the great
natural wealth of Yuma County
will be developed. Our County
Commissioners for the Worlds
Fair exhibit can aid very much to
attain that desirable end. In this
vicinity we can furnish ores of gold
silver, lead, copper, iron and 7alu-
able stone that would lend value
to the richest cabinet of specimens
on earth, by the exercise of dill
gence and industry on the part Of
those having charge of collecting
specimens for exhibit at the
Worlds Fair. There is no reason
why Yuma county cannot send q
mineral collection that will not be
excelled by any other similar ex.
hibit at that great gathering. Pull
off your coats boys and go to work
am rather long winded, hence
1 ask pardon for occupying SC
much valuable space. am
Yours truly,
JOHN McOAsEY, NJ. E.
| u1prcpTpo limo "a 1909