Arizona republican., 1901-03-31

them have turned the desert into a garden spot faster probably than in any other part of the valley. For dur ing all the hard times and the dry times and the good times new settlers kept locating in that region, and though many of them were without great resources they went to work and were in position to prosper when the conditions were right. In addition to the big canals many wells have been sunk, which may be depended upon to aid irrigation, if needed, during the hot summer months. and many more will be dug in the course of time. Dr. A. J. Chandler and A. C. Mcqueen, who has charge of the simon J. Murphy ranch, each have five big wells. from which a flow of about G5 inches of water can be had and when needed will be raised with the latest improved pumps. Thousands Of acres under these ca rals are now in cultivation and there Is greater quantity not cultivated that Is equally as fertile and will be reclaimed as the water supply in- creases, The farmers. 1t may be said.
 
 they now have and use it economically. A vast quantity is doubtless wasted annually. and many use water they do not need when they can get 1t for fear they canot get it when they do need it. Many tracts of land produce fair crops with little or no irrigation in the sum- ner time. Two cases in point may be referred to. Dr. Chandler raised a crop of 2.000 pourds of grain to the acres last year on a tract that had no irrigation after the preceding Novcm- Der. MT. H. $. Phelps raised very good crop of grain with only one spring irrigation. During the present spring there has been an abundance of water and for the most part the grain will nsed little or no further irrigation, a fair crop being assured already.
 This brings to mind a new enterprise In which a number of Mesa people are interested and which they call dry land irrigation. Not long ago corporation was formed, called the Queen Creek Canal company. Its stockholders are all Mesa people, and the company was organized for actual farming on lands between Mesa City and Queen creek. Even in the dryest years there is a lit- tie rain in some parts of the great mesa land between Tempe and the Pinal mountains, and it has been noted by residents of the upper valley than when 1t rains at all the storms pass over the lands drained by Queen creek. Scarce ly has a year passed when the great area between Mesa andQueen creek has not been flooded once. twice or thrice during the summer for a short time. The soil is rich and it is believed by the promoters of the Queen Creek enter prise that by judicious planting good grain crops can be raised. depending almost wholly upon rainfall. They have to be sure appropriated all the wa ter, and more too, they can hope from a dry wash to river but this is simply to use if they can do anything with ft--a matter of precaution. as it were. Each st1ckholder agrees to and Is now clearing twenty acres of land on which to experiment, and will pay his pro rata of the expense of sinking a well for camp and stock purposes. Whatever the result of this enterprise. 1t will be watched with interest, and if successful it will mean much for Mesa City. MT. Phelps is managing the com pany.
 The farmers in the vicinity of Mesa City are seemingly in a most prosper ous condition. It is true they have lit- tie cash at the present time, as they, In comon with the whole valley, suf- f-... I At. though even that hardship was not so severe as many suppose. for while their crops were meagre the prices were pro- rlrtionately better for what was rais- ed. Their prospects for the present sea - son are very bright. Crops are prac- tiCally assured and the acreage is vast ly greater than last year. One man | estimated that the acreage of alfalfa would be three times as great as last year and the acreage of grain five times