The Arizona sentinel., 1903-01-21
Irrigation on the Colorado.

NGlOu III IIlS SOuI1WOSG, dIlu lS the ma gnitude of the irrigation enterprises undertaken by cap italists an6 6inNestorS has increaS- ed, renewed attention has been devoted to the Colorado river, with reference to its utilization for irrigation. Until recently it has not been considered that this great stream was extensively available for the purpose. The depth af it's canyons for hun dreds of miles of it's course makes it forever impossible that adjacent lands shall be irrigated; but careful explorations of that portion of the river lying be- tween Nevada and the Gulf of California have thrown new light upon the possibilities of the great desert regions adjacent to its lower courses. -aD ...y
 Only two years ago the lmper- ial canal, near Yuma, was open ed for the improvement of a vast district, embracing about 800, GOO acres in San Diego county, Cal, while thousands of acres more may ultimately be reclaimed in Mexico south of the Imperial district. The Algodones grant country has also been recently been thrown open to settlement, and several canals are already levying for water upon the great river. A recent reconnaissance, also, by the United States geo. logical survey has shown that it is possible to irrigate several hundred thousand acres of land between Needles and Yuma, by the construction of irrigation 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 startling resemblance to the Nile. Like the Nile, it rises in distant mountainous country, it's lower courses traverse a SubtrOpical and nearly a rainless desert, and both rivers empty into great land-locked arms of the ocean at a little less than B deg. north latitude. Like the Nile, the Colorado has for long distances along its lower courses created a narrow ribbon of fertile soil in the midst of the desert through which it flows, and has deposited a great alluvial delta adjacent to its mouth. This delta, in the case of the Colorado is chiefly Mexican territory. Like the great river of Egypt, the Colo rado is subject to an annual sum- mer 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 al kaline salts, and come at an opportune time for irrigation. Although the climatic conditions in winter are slightly more severe in the Colorado delta than in that of the Nile, yet these two regions closely, resemble each other agriculturally. Some common products are, or may be, alfalfa, wheat and grains of the sorghum class; the date palm, fig, orange, olive and pomegranite, cotton, melons and sugar cane.
 In view of its agricultural re- semblance to Egypt, in which latter country it is stated that farming pays better than any, where else in the world, the pub lie is naturally interested in the river on which this new Egypt must depend. The Arizona ex- pertinent station has just com pleted an examination of the waters of the Colorado river, covering the period of a year, with reference to their value for irrigation. The results form a part of Bulletin fl, recently is sued by the station, and are a revelation as to the intrinsic val ue of this great stream for agri- cnltnrnl 1nnlrrnSaS In thn first