Arizona republican., 1898-11-09
CHA BOTTOM DYKE.

] Cll4A tSO UNI U hE- We learn Of a scheme in contempia- | ten of dyking a section Of the Gila
 river bo.tcm lands just east of tho town lIevee. This tract lies in the shcPe of
 g horse shoe and comprises an area Of nearly six hundred acres Cf rich allu-
 vial deposit Of as fertile land as may
 be found anywhlre. Originally, it is IcIafned, the channel Of the Gila was oa | the sou.h side of this tract, but that, at
 Q subsequent pcriCd, the Colorado river during enc Of it's annual oycrfiows, broke across the neck of land dividing the two rivers at 2 high clay point one
 mile above town. The strong currcnt,
 striking this clay bank on the south side. turned the water westward, and making a new channel near it's present course and leaving tn. tract Of bottom
 lands alluded to, the south Of the GiIa river. The annual inuudatiCn cf this land has been constantly Gepositing several inches of sedimen. yearly until
 there is scarcely a trace of the old channel
 Now it is proposed to build a levee from tho high bank, ors mile above, in nearly a direct course along the Gila river 10 PTiscn hill. The purpose of this l-voe is to control the summer overflow from tho Colorado. The word control is used because it is not in tended to prevent the flooding of the bottoms entirely, Gs tEc water may be let in above by a headga.e and conducs- ed over the highzst portions Of the land, and the entire tract given a thorough irrigation withCut leaving any surplus to stand in slcughs to drown cut grow ing crops. A water g5ca at the lower end might serve tc drain off the lard, shculd an over supply bs let in at the head.
 A high water from the Gila river might occasionally overflow this tract as it is not Q stream upon which much dependence can be placed. IL may b3 very dry and suddenly become very wet, but an overflow from this river need net be much fGared to damags crcps, as such an sdvent is likely to occur only during the winter or early spring months, when it would prove for the most part a grea- benefit.
 The l1Tee, therefore, reed not be over three or four feet night on an average, as, fer the greater part Cf the dis ,snce the annual overflow does not rise to a height of mcre' than one CT two feet, and, at few points, five CT six feet above the level Cf the bo@tCm. 4 liberal es- timato Of the cost Of the cons rpction of 2 leve5 ten CT twe:ye fee. at base should in TO case exceed S5,000; and mig-.. be contracted for cons darab,e less sum.
 The width Of ten CT twelve feet would, it is believed, be formidable against secpage from Cverfcws. and might be made, at small cost, still more substantial by the planting of cotton wood trees along the base Further more this levoe would be Of ample width for vehicles, and wiuld make driveway, the travel -Cvsr it Cnly proving 8 benefit in packing the earth, and making it mere impcryiCus to water.
 We are hopeful that the proposition will not be allowed 10 rest long, as it would appear most practical in view cf what has been accomplished under sim liar circumstances elsewhere in many places, tC which we could cite our read CTS.
 The successful corsummat.on of thts considering it's core prox- imity tc the town, and it's slrpassing could nct fail to enhance the value Cf this tract many i'm it's pres ant value. For alfalfa alone, for which 1t would then ba especially adapted, al of ton dollars per acre. Gan olt- side estimate on the cost per acre in constructing the levee), the outlay would prove as an inves ment 8 verit- able bcn3nza.-TumG Sun.