Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1901-02-13
A r1Ar1r1OTH ENTERPRISE
One of the Most Stupendous Undertakings for the Storage of Water in Arizona Ever
 Projected in the World.
Thousands of Acres of Desert Land be Reclaimed for Placer Mining Gigantic Scale and also for Electric
 Power Included in the Enterprise.

mammoth water storage proposition for the southwestern part of Arizona has been undergoing the process of incubation for the past year quiet way and has progressed to such stage that the seal of silence the part of the newspapers which has heretofore been requested by its pro moers has been broken Nothing like it has before been attempted and the parties promoting the enterprise have feed that nothing be said of until their plans thor oughy perfected for its being carried out to successful cu mination
 Wells H Bates who naugurated the Walnut Grove water storage enterprise has been the prime in this enterprise and has already spent large amount of money in making minay surveys for the dam, dtches and pipe line for the
 irrigation part the enterprise and in thoroughly prospecting the placer ground which is proposed to work under it.
 Briefly outned the object of the enterprise to store water for irrigation for placer mining and for the development of electric power furnished to adjacent mining companies
 The location selected for the storage dam what is known Bill Williams Fork, at point six miles below the junction of the Santa Maria and Big Sandy ves which have upper end of what is known as Striped canyon At this point the canyon 100 feet width at the bottom and at night of
 5 feet 400 feet wide These figures represent the size of the proposed dam 100 feet long at the bae 25 feet hgh and
 Above the proposed the valley fiat and level and wdens and actual surveys made has been demonstrated that dam of above size will form lake of eight miles long and two miles wide at its widest point Nature it will be has furnished natural site for the enterprises all that is left for do is to fill the hole left by it described above.
 Competent engineers who have had charge of the work figure out the amount of water contained lake of the above dimensions at 2 cubic feet about 154 100000
 The Pomosa Water and Power company which has been incorporated carry out this mammoth undertaking hun de of of placer ground along the banks of the Bill Williams Fork below the dam e which they propose work
 Second is proposed convey the water by of canals and pipes the Tyson well section Plomosa and Desert valleys Yuma counties distance of about five miles, for the purpose of irrigation and placer mining.
 Third to erect immense plant at the dam to de- veop electrical to supply mining companies with well furnish water supply to such gold and copper mines as it is found practical.
 Mr. Bates who has been spending considerable portion of his time there for the past few months left few days for that place and expects be joined there in short time by Prof John A. Church. of the eminent mining engineers in the United States and they will the entire propos ton together is expected that this will occupy full months me In addition to examination and test of the placer ground, and investigation of the agricultural possibilities they will visit all the different gold and copper contiguous to the dam and to which water might be furnished all with view of getting absolutely reliable data reference to the possibilities of the enterprise in all its different phases
 Mr. Bates has camp established at the dam site and has
 small force of engaged in the preliminary work of opening 9uaes and in running tunnel through solid rock formation through which the water of the stream will be diverted while excavang to bed rock for the dam site and while the dam is being built
 The dam will be built of rock and cement and its srucon proposed employ the very best hydraulic eng be had that its durability after construction will be assured
 Just the winter rains and it is consd cred safe that there will be no interruption from high water active work will be commenced putting in the foundation for the dam.
 the usual supply of water which found in the two streams the entire year, together with the flood waters which ample keep the reservoir full will be seen that thereis scarcely mining The altitude the site of the dam is 120 feet and tive as can be found anywhere that this section will in few years large population and the inevitable railroad will be there within few years.
 The conditions in the way of agriculture exist in that section today which existed Southern California few years ago. The finest soil earth needing only the power of water to mae the most productive The conditions which exist in California today also be produced there through successful operation of this enterprise of the Pomoa Water and Power company to prouceness of the soil with the added benefits which practically ncacuabe to be derived from its placer mines and power,
 While at glance the stupendous plans of this company staggering consideration they emineny practical and but repon on larger scale Of what has been complshed elsewhere.
 The site of the dam about forty fifty miles from point the Colorado where the Bill Williams fork empes into the Colorado River.
 idea magnitude proposed reservoir can be formed when it is stated that its capacity will be greater than that of all its iu the state of California combined An idea of the value of to the territory may be gathered from the fact that Caornas reservoirs bringing wealth to that state than all of her gold mines
 The estimated number of which the from this reservoir will 500OO0 Reducing to quarter sections allowing quarter each family who settle and will be that it will provide homes for 32 families or population of over 900 on the land alone With the other enterprises will accompany it. the neya be building of for the interchange of its commerce. and be safely estimated that will support population of
 The Plomosa company has title to acres of rich gold placers below the reservoir These be mined hydraulic process of only three four cubic careful tests made of them have value of fifty per cubic yard in gold In addition to this by Po- mosa company there to the southwest Of another marvel ouy rich tract Of placer ground o 3OOO few placer miners working there making good wages while their drinking water is hauled distance of fifteen miles in stances.
 The construction of this dam will give to this entire
 region and result in the wrenchng of untold wealth ommother earth The value of these pacers have been known years and many prospco have looked upon them with longing eyes but have been unable to make them deliver their golden treasures through the lack of water
 This enterprise when carried through completion will evoutonze the geography of Arizona and will mark in its development and growth such has experienced While it will require vast amount of capital carry through the careful and conservative estimates of the results which be obtained from shows that will prove profitable in vestment for those will invest in it.