The Arizona sentinel., 1895-06-01

of the Gila river two miles above Agua Caliente, Tn Maricopa county, and seven milo east of the boundary sepa- rating that county from this Thr length Of the main canal, In this county, Is fifteen miles. Its average width on the bottom Is eight feet, and it has d carrying capic ty of l5,000 miners inches of water, sufficient 10 irrigate 35,000 acres of land Like the Mohawk enterprise the tract of land tributary to the canal is paral- laled, east and west, by the Southern Pacific railroad at an average distance of about seven miles This enterprise was started and is controlled by the settlers, and is carried on by co-opera tive methods. Fer years settlers waited for the promised construction of various canals by different corpora tions that only sprang into existence to meet with failure and extinction, until, at last, they took matters into their own hands and the result has been one of the finest irrigation con-: duits in the Territory. Some had a little money all had horses, and they could give their own labor. The money bought grain and nay for the animals, anu the labor joined to the little capital constructed the canal Of course, that there have been acci-. dents and set1backs arising from rams and floods, but they preserved and conquered without getting into debt, leaving their property to-day unincumbered. The canal has been in successful operation about two years. The enterprise is incorporated, and the capital stock divided among the holders of land Each share re presents water-right for forty acres The rental of water ger acre for each year is regulated by the cost of keep ing the canal in repair, and can be paid either in work or money.
 Like the general run of all the bot tom lands of the Gila river, the soil of this section is sandy loam with spots, here and there, of heavier ground and in places some alkali. There is but little of the latter, how ever, and what there is can be utilized in the raising of beets and, under proper treatment, wheat. The Mor- mons claim that the alkaline lands grow the finest wheat in the world if properly prepared. They first blow and SOW it to alfalfa when they allow it to grow for two years, cutting it regularly. Then the laud is plowed with 0 sharp blow, cutting the roo's of the plant, and the ground Is har- rowed and sown to wheat. l. k claimed that the alkali chrystalizrs about the alfalfa roots. and keeps the soil in a good condition of fertiliza- ton very conducive to a superior wheat crop.
 There are about 10000 acres of land, lying under the Farmers canal, Chat can be readily irrigated and l,500 acres are under cultivation. Those farming this section raise all the products grown elsewhere in the county, and preparations are now be ing made by them to go extensively into the raising of hogs and fattening of cattle. Both thrive rapidly on alfalfa and sorghum, and market is close at hand, Poor range cattle can be bought at an almost nominal figure, and they take on flesh, when turned into an alfalfa field, with marvellous rapidIty. lbe drive to the railroad is , short, and tut little weight Is lost en route tc market, An acre of alfalfa will fattem three head of cattle, or 48O head to a quarter section of land.
 The valley has a village named Palomas which has general merchan disc store, school house, blacksmith shop, post othce, a number of residence buildings, and the irrefresSibi saloon. One can get at thls place as fine a meal as man could want, at reason- able price, and hospitality is every where.
 Palomas is some sixty miles iron the Harqua Hala mines, and is the basis of supplies for that camp sor 6 good many products, besides furnish
 ing feed and supplies for the necessary teams and teamsters.
 Well water can be had anywhere il the valley at depth of from twelv' to twenty feet, and it is always fresh and sweet. Land and water can bt had at most reasonable prices, and the country is settling up very fast