Arizona republican., 1899-08-19

creek empties into the Verde river 10
and including the Red Rock country
Allowing leo inches for each individual
ia uch ditch and 800 inches for each of
the company bitches. l find there is
already appropriated for agricultural
purposes and in actual use 400 inches
of water and so far as | can see there
IS no precephble falling off in the size
Of the streams. And very few people
know that there is one spring or
rather several springs that come out of
the mountain Al an elevation of sixty
or seven.y feet above the bed of Oak
creek that affords 30G0 inches OF
water. | have been told by men who
seem to he cOnverslnt with the sitg!I-
lien aud understand the mode of hand
ling electricity that if this vast body
of water WAS utilized ii would afford
all the power needed 10 handle all ore
and electric lights at Jerome. Il mining
town of about 1000 Inhabitants with
over / ,OO0 men on the pay rolls. and
said TO be the largest and richest mine
in the world. but as farming is my
forte shall only tell you what 1 hear
others say about the mines. and in adj
dition to the bitches already mention
ed | will say there is one ditch or c5n-
duit surveyed from the big springs
aud In process Of construction. that
when completed will cover about 1000
acres ard afford waer power for l..
NJ. Turner's mill This mill was
butt ut the springs by Mr. Turner
about three years ago. but is only used
for making corr meal and graham
flour. but 1t is Mr.. Turner's intention
TO move 1t to the lower end of the big
ditch. now being built and to add to it |
Il full roller process. He already has
on hand at the proposed new mill site
a Pelton wheel and 323 feet of 12-inch |
fourteen guage steel pipe The new
mill site Is as near as IT can possibly |
he located in the center Of the farming
community OF the Verde valley and |
wi:hin about fourteen miles Of Jerome.
Mr.. Turner has so far been able to |
patl(lle his own beat. but as the ma |
chinery for a rGI.er mill is an eXpen- |
sive affair he is going to sell stock. or
rather ask that farmers help START the |
enterprise. and for such help lie will /
repay every cent in the way of toll |
or MIL stuff from time % time. as his /
means will admit of. That he Will |
faithfully keep his word no better |
proof can be offered than that he was
the trusted friend at all times of Rod |
rheIr assassination ne was selected by |
the relatives of 10th parties to carry |
on and conduct their business at this |
place. and with 4 mill under his man.
aoemeut in the Verde valley. where
there is Il population of 10000 people, |
Including Jerome. l think it Il safe in
vestment and one of the very neces-
sary Institutions for this valley, which |
has several thousand acres Of virgin |
soil and an over abundance of water /
at all times for irriga'ting purposes
Where four good crops OF alfalfa can I
be cut every year and possessing every /
n advantage of Salt River valley and /
not nearly so oppressive in tie way OF
heat. and where there is no likelihood /
of wa:er ever being scarce. and IL u /
good fruit and vegetable section OF /
Arizona with the exception OF tropical
fruits
81 have thus far given you only The /
4 agricultural outlook of Oak creek
7 will close by saying there is Plenty /
of good land on Oak creek and a i
never failing supply Of water. bur
the land laws on the higher or sec
ond bottom. It takes larger and !
longer bitches therefore. Capital or
co-operation Is all that is necessary
TO reclaim it. have been a resident |
Of and near the Verde valley Tor
thirtv-one years and know the situ1l-
tinn lust as herein stated. l have
omitted from this letter the number OF
fruit trees and vineyards. OF when
there are several thousand Of the
former and several acres of the lat