Graham guardian., 1897-02-12
THE UNDERGROUND FLOW

OF the ella Valley, and How to Utalize 1t.
The following paper was read by
VIM. M. Whipped, of Pima, at the
farmers institute at Thatcher last
Saturday night, which we deem
worthy of publication:
In submitting this paper we real
lze that we are dealing with a sub
Ject, in some respects, comparative
ly new; consequently, we do not
expect its effect to be the immedi-
ate conversion of all who listen to
its reading this evening, and who
are vitality interested in etfecting
better conditions for the farmer OF
this valley. But if its effect shall
be to provoke friendly criticism
and general discussion OF the sub
ject matter, giving weight to points
we'll taken, and discarding the de-
fectlve, its object will have been
attained.
The subject has been given some
attention near Tuscon, notably in
the Canoa canal, owned and oper
ated by Maish & Driscoll. This
canal is on the land grant owned
by the above parties, and its CON
struchon came about in the follow
ing way: There being Il we'll on
the ranch which was used in
furnishing water for stock, and the
waters being so abundant in it,
that it could not be lowered to any
great extent by drawing from it
constantly for hours at time, it
was decided by the owners to tap
the water, and by going down far
enough to secure proper fall, and
running an open cut deep enough
to draw from the layer of water.
The last account read of the canal
was published in the Tucson Citizen,
and stated that there was q pure
crystal stream seven feet wide and
three deep flowing out of the
ground, and the owners were max
ing preparations to farm on a large
scale.
| have since talked with Judge
Blake, who has also seen a practi-
cal illustration of the feasibility of
the plan, different in some respects
to the Cauoa canal, IN that drain
thing was used instead of the open
cut, and the bed of a stream already
running five hundred miners
inches Of water was the scene of
operation. In this case the flow
was increased five hundred per
cent, or to twenty-five hundred
miners inches.
Now, here are two plans: The
open cut and the covered; each
having points favorable to special
conditions. The open cut would
not do in river bed, and the thing
might be hard to keep clean. But
let us take the Union canal for ex-
ample, and apply the open cut and
see how it would operate. The
fall OF this canal from the V up is,
l am informed, fiye feet to the mile.
Ii, then, we run7fromNthe V TO the
present head Of the canal, dis
lance Of about five miles, on Il fall
of two and half to three feet per
mile, we will have gained IN depth
ten to twelve and one-half feet,
which in our opinion would be
more than ample to furnish a sup
ply the year around. But, if drain
thing were preferred, we would
only have to go far enough down
to secure proper fall, on the two
and d half or three feet fall to the
mile, to make the head of the canal
low enough to make Y shaped
trench sufficiently large and deep
to bury the thing to sufficient
depth to insure its protection
agrinst floods, and our supply, we
think, is secure.
However, we incline to the open
cut as the more feasible plan for
several reason; among which NAV
be mentioned: The river bed IS
yearly washing deeper, and con.
stantly changing its course, which
would make it unsafe for the thing,
also, the cash outlay for the tiling
would not be small item, when It
is considered we would have to
ship it all in from California or
some place where it is produced.
Now, as to the feasibility of the
plan: First, we are quite certain
that the above depth in the open
cut, or the thing in the river bed |
will be sufficient for a canal full of
water the year around.
Second: 1t is q we'll established
act that when the water in the
liver is lowest, it is highest in the
wells; and who knows but what a
supreme being or power
las so planned it that 1t might be
Utilized in just this way?
Third: The cost of the Canoa
anal was little upwards of five
thousand dollars, and the greatest
Iepth attained was, think, twenty
wo feet. The cost of lowering the
Union ought not to be much more;