Arizona republican., 1903-10-01
IRRIGATION MEETING
Visit of Geo. H. Maxwell to Yuma
 and Tucson.


 MT. and Mrs. George II. Maxwell re- turned home from Tucson yesterday morning, having been the guests of the Tucson board of trade and the people generally the day before. MT. Max we'll had been advertised for an ad- dress there Tuesday afternoon on the subject of irrigation, and having filled q similar appointment in Yuma the day before he was joined in Tucson by Mrs. Maxwell
 The occasion was one of unusual in terest and differed from most of the 1 irrigation meetings which MT. Max well has attended in that it was of a social nature as well as a business meeting. The reason for it is that in most cities where he has gone to talk irrigation the question is of vital, per sonal, business importance to those as sembled, and there is no time for any thing but business either on the part of the speaker or his hosts.
 But Tucson at this time has no big project exclusive to itself that it is in- terested in furthering. It is, however interested in booming anything that will boom Arizona, well knowing that Tucson will benefit greatly from what | ever helps Arizona at large. The peo- | pie, therefore, gre interested in irriga- | tor as a great principle rather than as a personal enterprise and for the same reason they have not followed the de- tails of the movement as closely as ir other places, Phoenix for instance ! They were, therefore, a pleasing audi | ence and showed to the fullest extent | their appreciation of all that was said | in explanation of the great enterprise now being undertaken and t2e results ' that are to follow in the west gener- | ally.
 The meeting was held in the Elks | hall, which was crowded with an as | semblage Cf the representative citizens | and business men. The meeting wa: preceded by g. reception and most en
 tertaining music was furnished by : talented orchestra The meeting wal presided over by Judge w. H. Barnes who made an appropriate opening ad
 dress, and subsequent to MT. Max
 wells address Dr. Cannon, who is il charge of the Carnegie Desert labora
 tory, spoke interestingly, as did Pro lessor Babcock, the newly elected president of the university of Arizona l
 things to say of the hospitality of thu Tucson people, the rapid growth ant
 flourishing appearance of the city an( the interest taken in irrigation matter
 wherever there may be projected en | terprises.
 The Yuma meeting on Monday wa! also a decided success and was als'
 held in the afternoon in Eiks' hall I which was crowded to the standing
 room point. It was presided over b! l M. Winsor, a prosperous rancher O
 that section, and the closest attention was given to the remarks of the l speaker.
 Yuma is especially interested in tho | immediate development of Colorado | river projects, and that it may be in line i to receive the most benefit at the ear Hest possible moment they are organ l izing d water users association pat termed after that of the organization | in this valley. One thing in which they are better situated is that they have l fewer old canal systems and priol rights to deal with in settling affairs tremendously and with justice to all
 MT. Maxwell says he was really sur | prised to see the area of land possibl; | for reclamation in that immediate Vi cinity. With Messrs. Ingraham, Win | scr and Captain Ingalls he drove ul l past the Blaisdell orchard to a. poin; overlooking both the valley and tho l higher mesa lands. As far as the eye could reach were vast acres only wait 1 ing the application of water to become an unbroken field of green. By divert l ing the water at the proper place f | can be taken to the mesa, lands as wei as the valley, and it is estimated tha. fully million acres can be reclaimed in the vicinity of Yuma.
 l Another nice thing about the Yuma region is that the crops that will be | produced there will hardly come ir l competition with crops in other parts of the west for the reason that they will for the most part be different 1T nature or so much earlier as to bC marketed before others are ready. Fol instance there are early melons, fruits and vegetables. Dates have beer proved a success and their culture is yet an infant industry in America | The mesa lands are nearly all unex | celed for citrus fruits, and sugar beet: i have been grown as successfully a: anywhere. The people are even nov 1 talking about the construction of sugar factory and it is nd doubt onl! | a. matter Of a short time when the3 l will have it. The native hemp is alsC available for manufacture and there are many other products that have | been grown successfully. Speaking O 1 citrus fruits MT. Maxwell says tn, | Blaisdell orchard covers a full section
 of land, the greater part of it planted
 to citrus fruits. and he thinks it i' | the finest orange orchard he ever saw