Arizona daily citizen., 1901-02-13
ARTESlAN
WATER IN ARIZONA.

The success which las been at
tanned in securing artesian water in the
ella and San Pedro valleys has been re-
markable. and it opens way fer
the reclamation OF large areas OF lands
in southern Arizona. The hisbec Press
contains an interesting editorial upon
the development OF artestan water which
we present herewith. The Press SAYS:
1t may not he as difficult fur the
present generation to forsee future de-
velopments in Arizona as it Was fpr
early explorers, as the two great indus
tries are progressing rapidly; mining
and agriculture, but as the later depends
for its success upon permanent water
supply the future is still more ar L. : Il
problem, a. the present water supply u
proving inadequate To- the constantly
increasing demands upon it,
The Spanish explorers were stimulA-
ted by hopes OF securing vast hords of
the precious metals, and il they titled the
soil at all it was simply to supply the
force which enabled them work. Even
the holy fathers who were the real adj
venturers Of thosa times worked the
rich mines while they taught the gospel,
and later established missions us far
north as ancient Tplquson (Tucson.)
After the Spaniards and Mexeans
lost their hold upon this country, at the
beginning OF the last century, desultory
efforts were made to establish ranches
in the San Pedro and Santa Cruz valleys,
but the Indians were hostile, and it was
not until the Apaches were subdued
not so many years ago, that it beacme
possible to work the land in safety,
At the present time there Is but little
land in Arizona capable of raising a crop
by irrigation but what has been filed
upon and in some of the older sections
OF the country the question OF water is
becoming serious one. Appeals to
the federal government have, So far,
been of little use, and while waiting the
pathetic legislation steps have been
taken to secure artesian water, and in
some cases, notably in the ella valley.
near Stafford, with astonishing results
1t is not year since Mr.. J. r. Hid
reth began sinking for artesian water on
his ranch near Stafford, where he has
twenty or thirty acres irrigated from a
spring There VAS much skepticsm re-
garding results and some unkind re-
marks were uttered, but Mr.. Hildreth
perseyered and at depth of sixty-eight
feet flow of water was secured Others
at once began work, and in a very short
time many drills were at work, and at
the present writing there are in Graham
county alone between forty and fifty
wells of flowing water, and other wells /
are being sunk.
1t does not take very wise wise man
to foresee the burning necessity oil /
more water for Arizona, nor need man
be a prophet or the son OF a prophet
to foretelI that in artesian water lies our
immediate salvation. The legislators
at Washington own no arid land and .
the question OF reservoirs is apparently !
as far OFF as it eve: was, notwithstanding :
they ultimately need not cost the federal !
government single penny.
Successes at Stafford, st. David, Ben /
son and other points have stimulated +
explorations and it is not unlikely that /
the near future will show large flowing
wells in many Of our rich valleys, nov
barren, or nearly so for ages.