The Arizona sentinel., 1901-03-27

Struct reservoirs or lakes in which to receive and store the overflow. There are natural basins or dry lakes into which by simple means the water could be conveyed.
 The lands situated in and about the Gila val ley may conveniently be classified as follows: First, the bottom or overflow lands; }, slightly higher valleys, lands subject to no overflow; 3, mesas or sloping uplands; 1. high but compar- a.ively level pains: > mountains.
 The bottom lands, well as those slightly higher. stretch along either side of the Gila and Colorado rivers for varying distances north and south until they meet the more elevated meSaS which rise from the valley. The bottoms lie directly along the river and are subject to inun- daticn annually. Immediately following the subsistence Of the waters the local Indians were in former times accuntomcd to plant corn. pumpkins. melons and other vegetables. These spring into maturity with startling rapidity. rarely failing to yield bountifully without addi- tioual irrigation. The custom is occasionally fo.,crcd by resident farmers to this day. with excellent results. although but single crop can be harvested. These bottoms form D per cent of the valley lands. and may without difficulty be secured from further invasion by system of dizes and lcvecs. if deemed necessary and desir-
 
 brownish yellow sandy foam. generous, mellow, porous, with a depth ranging from to 20 feet the whole resting upon underlying strata of gravel Gnd sand that readily carry from the surface such excess Of water as might otherwise prove injurious to seeds and growing plants
 Concerning the geological formation of these lands. the following from the report of the citizens executive committee is sufficiently comprehensive:
 There is unmiStakabie geologic evidence that all this land during some prehistoric period was covered with water, constituting in fact an eUormouS lake the surfaces rising in places to upper portion Of the oUtsllrting mcSas The soil lying at the bottom was made by the washing and ero ion Of the surrounding mountains The soda from the dccOmposcd vegetation the mag nCSa and lime from the m&gncSium-lime forma- tionS. and the potash from the decOmpoSing granite rocks were carried with unceasing re- gularity year by year. until deposited in the bottom. Eventually upon the disappearance of the lake. the rich fertile alluvium. than which there is none be.ter. was left to reward the efforts of the modern husbandmcn. But nature, not yet satisfied with her handiwOrk directed the accumulation of the detritus washed from
 
 the soi! is extremely rich in the elements best adapted to thorough fertilization for it contains a certain amount of organic matter which. on decOmpoSing. further enhances it's agricultural value. By constant overflow and change of channel the deposits are evenly distributed over considerable areas the process continuing through centuries. These soils are further en- riched by dccompoSed organic contributions, including the sandStones. marlS, limeStoneS, shaleS. etc. Besides the ingredients mentioned, a chemical analysis shows that iron. ammonia. and phoSphoric acid enter into it's composition in the proportions best adapted to add to it's productive qualities The extremes of tempera- ture are somewhat greater than on the high lands but there is also more moisture.
 The bottom lands are so easily cultivated that it is not uncommon, after clearing the sur face from the brush and Stubble. to pass over the ground with an ordinary cultivatOr single time. afterwards sowing to grain and grass. In three or four months large crops are harvested. tine soil meanwhile being entirely innocent of the blow. All plants seem to grow rapidly. maturing remarkably early. Indications of an cient ditcheS are apparent throughout the val ley showing plainly the existence of irrigation works by the ancient AZtecS. CuriOuSly enough. in certain instances. the identical routes of these long extinct people have been followed for cOdSideratabe distances by their modern sue ceSSOrS.