The Arizona sentinel., 1896-06-27
COLONIZATION PLANS.
PROJECT TO TRRIGATE LANDS
FROM THE COLORADO RIVER.
New York Capitalists Reported 20
Have Purchased $4,000 Acres
in Lower California Southern
Pacific Interested and hay Build
to San Diego.


of another colonization scheme on
the Colorado river, which is said to
be wei! started. The details of the
project were given TO Union re-
porter by A. B. Boswell of Los An
geles, who accidentally learned
through relatives of the move,
which has its headquarters in New
York.
II don't know much about the
scheme" said Mr.. Boswell, "but I
am willing to tell you what J have
learned. A company of New York
capitalists has been formed and
connections established in the City
of Mexico. I can't give you the
names of these men. According to
the information given me by my
relative, who is interested in the
project, and who will act as land
agent for the company, they have
purchased $4,000 acres of land
from the Mexican government,
situated on the west side of the Col
orado river, in Lower California.
THE land is embraced within the
concession Of the Mexican Land and
Colonization company, which has
its headquarters at London, with
Offices at Ensenada. The New
Workers bought out the rights Of
the English company, and paid the
Mexican government 60 cents an
acre for the land.
"The plan is to divert water from
the Colorado river for the irriga-
ton of these lands, which are con-
ceded to be rich and capable Of
raising the finest Of tropical fruits.
When the water system is in, the
price Of the land is to be fixed at
$40 per acre, payable in ten years,
according to an agreement with the
Mexican government. Efforts will
be made to coionize the lands as
fast as possible.
"The promoters of the scheme
have visited the country several
times" continued Mr.. Boswell,
"and they evidently mean business,
as they have sent two parties Of
surveyors into the field, prepara-
tory to beginning the work Of de-
verting the river. They are de-
sirous Of keeping the thing quiet,
and do not even care to name my
relative, who gave me the infor-
nation.
"The lands in question lie just
below the international boundary
line. They include the famous
mud volcanoes and hot springs
that abound ia that section. The
richer part Of tbs country is COM
prised in the bottoms Of the New
river, which flows into the Colora-
do, Or rather is an arm Of the Colo
rado. The company proposes to
build canal thirty feet in width,
and having a total length Of about
fifty miles, taking in the best por-
ton Of these lands. The canal will
cross the boundary line and furnish
water for a good deal of govern
ment land in San Diego county,
which is equally rich and capable
of giving homes to great many
people.
Il was told that the development
Of this so-calied desert was to be
hastened by . compact made with
the Southern Paclic company"
added Mr.. Boswell. The COM
pany now has g long and profitloss
haul across the desert from Yuma
to Los Angeles, and it has assured
the projectors Of this new colonial
tian enterprise that if the country
is developed by a canal and colo
nized with enough settlers to make
proposition bona fde, the road will
be built from Yuma direct to San
Diego, in order to open up the
country, and make business on the
desert, which is now losing sec