Imperial press and farmer., 1903-03-14
Water For The Desert.


 in the Southwest, and as the magni- tude of the irrigation enterprises undertaken by capitalists and invest ors has increased, renewed attention has been devoted to the Colorado River. with reference to it's utilization for irrigation. Until recently it has not been considered that this great stream was extensively available for the purpose. The depth of it's canyons for hundreds of miles of it's course makes it forever impossible that ad- iacent lands shall be irrigated; but careful explorations of that portion ot the river lying between Nevada and the Gulf of California have thrown new light upon the possibilities of the great desert regions adjacent to it's lower courses.
 Only two years ago the Imperial Canal was opened for the improve ment of vast district, embracing about 500,000 acres in San Diego county, Cal while thousands of acres more may be ultimately reclaimed in Mexico, south of the Imperial dis trict. The AlgOdon grant country also has recently been thrown open to set dement, and several canals are al ready levying for water upon the great river. A recent reconnaissance, also by the United States Geological Sur vey has shown that it is possible to irrigate several hundred thousand acres of land between Needles and Yuma, by the construction of irrlga- tion works no more extensive or inn possible than many of those which have been built by the British and are now in operation on the Nile.
 The Colorado River, indeed, in many respects bears a striking resemblance to the Nile. Like the Nile, it rises in a distant mountainous country, US lower courses travese a subtrop1cal and nearly rainless desert, and both rivers empty into great landlocked arms of the ocean at little less than 32 deg. north latitude. Like the Nile, the Colorado has for long distances along it's lower courses created mar row ribbon of fertile soil in the midst of the desert through which it flows, and has deposited great alluyial delta adjacent to it's mouth. This delta, in the case of the Colorado, is chiefly Mexican territory. Like the great river of Egypt, the Colorado is subject to an annual summer rise, sufficient to overflow great areas of it's border and delta lands. These high waters are rich in fertilizing sediments, are exceptionally free from alkaline salts, and come at an opportune time for IT. rigation. Although the climatic con ditions in winter are slightly more severe in the Colorado delta than in that of the Nile, yet these two regions closely resemble each other argicult urally. Some common products are, or may be, alfalfa, wheat and grains oi the sorghum class; the date palm, fig orange, olive and pomegranate, cotton melons and sugar cane.
 Value of the Water.
 In view of it's agricultural resem blance to Egypt, in which latter country it is stated that farming pays better than anywhere else in the world, the public is naturally inter ested in the river on which this new Egypt must depend. The Arizona ex pertinent station has just completed an examination of the waters of the Colorado River, covering the period of year, with reference to their value for irrigation. The results form 2 part of Bulletin A, recently issued by the station, and are revelation