The Winslow mail., 1899-11-09
a Commendabie Enterprise.
One that will Contribute to
the Material Prosperity
of Our Little City.
Others of a Similar Character are
Likely to Follow.


of the Little Colorado river, To-
Gated and being developed by
the Sunset Ditch Company. The
site contains about 4SO acres of
land, when fully developed. The
levee under construction at the
present time will cover $50 acres
to an average depth of five feet.
The site is below the level of
the river, and is to be fed by
ditch tapping the river some two
miles above. It is a cheap, but
safe proposition, nature having
performed the major part OF the
labor. The only thing left for
man to do, was to cut ditch,
put in headgate and raise one
side of the reservoir by a levee.
This is now being done by the
Sunset Ditch Company in sub
stantial manner, and will be
completed before the holidays.
According to the estimate of
County Surveyor Frost, who has
had considerable experience in
such work, the present levee,
which is to be about seven feet
high. in the lowest places will
give an average depth of five
feet of water over $50 acres of
land. This amount of water,
in conjunction with what can be
used in the early part of the sea-
son, from the river direct, will
give three feet of water for irri-
gable purposes to 1000 acres,
which is more than sufficient to
insure a good crop. Every foot
added to the heighth of the
levee will increase the depth Of
the water a foot. The level of
the reservoir is twelve feet be-
low the river where the ditch
taps it. So that the area of the
reservoir can be nearly doubled
as we'll as the depth of water,
by raising the levee, which can
be done at a nominal cost, in
comparison to the land to be re
claimed.
It must be remembered that
this system is not dependent en-
tirely upon the fall of snow dur
ing the winter or the summer
rains, but is fed from living wa
ters. In addition to this, the
Little Colorado drains a big
scope of country, between st.
Joseph, which is the nearest
point above on the river from
which water is taken, which in
sures a big flow of water in the
spring and later during the
rainy season.
The land lying between the
reservoir and the river and that
below the reservoir, is compara
lively free from alkali, is a rich
sandy loan, on which vegeta
bles, fruits, small grain and any
of the hay grasses would GER
tainly do well.
The promoters of this worthy
enterprise, looked the ground
over, saw the natural advan-
tages for a storage reservoir, and
without any flourish OF trumpets
or vain boasting, went quietly
to work, and are backing their
Judgment with their money.
That the enterprise will be a
pronounced success, there is no
question. The reservoir has been
tested, and that it will hold wa
ter clearly demonstrated. That
the reservoir, even when en-
larged to its utmost capacity,
can be filed and kept full, is a
certainty beyond peradventure.
The advantages this enterprise
will be to Winslow are almost
incalculable. It will demon
strate the fact that the soil will
hold water-that the land will
produce when water is put upon
it. That water for irrigation
can be had in abundance. That
the country abounds in reservoir
sites which can be utilized at d
small cost in comparison to the
advantages to be derived. The
example of these gentlemen
ought to be an object lesson to
Others of our citizens. It shows
what can be accomplished by
small capital in united action.