The Arizona sentinel., 1904-03-09
an average of s8.3S; and of the les well systems. S69, ,052, an average of S2l.S9.

systems. S69, ,052, an average of S2l.S9.
 DRAINAGE BASINS.
 Although the territory virtually be- longs to one drainage area, from an irrigation standpoint it may be divided into five sub-drainage basins. These are the basins of the Colorado river and small tributaries, the Little Colo rado, the Gila river exclusive of Salt river, the Salt river and the White river.
 COLORADO RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN.
 Tho Colorado river, although plenti- fully supplied with water at the proper season, occupies, at present, but d small place in Arizona's irrigation, be- cause most of it's course iu the territory lies in deep canons.
 In 1902 the Colorado river and small tributaries, together with springs and wells within the drainage basin; fur nished water to B systems and irri- gated II ,240 acres belonging to 303 farms. The total first cost of construc- tion wss S2S4 ,0l2, an average of S25.2T per irrigated acre. The total length of main canals and ditches was 124 miles. Eleven:systems heading direct lv in the main stream and costing S250,- 9T3 irrigated 1895 acres, at an average first cost per acre of $32.OS There WAS 174 farms and 56 miles of main canals and ditches.
 Bill Williams fork irrigated 1,256 acres belonging to 42 farms. There were 27 systems constructed at an initial cost of $15, ,636, an average of SPAS per irrigated acre. The aggregate length of main canals and ditches was 3S miles. LITTLE COLORADO DRAINAGE BASIN.
 The Little Colorado river has it's head waters in the White mountains in eastern Arizona and drains the eastern and southern portions of the Great Col orado plateau. The upper tributaries have steep slope, but for the most of its course across the plateau the fall of the main stream is gentle. The irri- gation reported along this stream is in the vicinity of Nutrioso and Springer vile, Cn Nutrioso creek: Concho on Concho creek; Taylor and Snowflake on Cniloe creek; and St. Johns, Wood ruff and Winslow on the main stream. The water supply is usually ve.'y good, and with proper storage works several thousand acres more could be irrigated.
 Iu 1902 the water from streams, wells and springs within this drainage basin was utilized to irrigate II, ,855 acres be- longing to 461 farms. There were g systems, comprising lS6 miles of main canals and ditches, constructed at an original cost of S265, 701, an average of S22.4 per irrigated acre.
 The water from the main stream was diverted by 45 systems whose first cost was $218,900. The number of farms was 297 and the number of acres irri gated, 7,270. There were IF miles of main canals and ditches.
 CHA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN.
 This stream heads in New Mexico among the Elk, Little Range and Mim- bres mountains, flows in westerly course scross the territory, and joins the Colorado few miles above the in ternatiCnal boundary.
 There are only four sections along its course were irrigation is practiced to any considerable extent. The first is in Graham county near the eastern boundary, the second in Pinal county near Florence, the third in Maricopa county few miles below the mouth of Salt river and the fourth near it's con- huence with the Colorado. A large portion of the latter section, however, is watered by canals from the Colorado river.
 The principal tributaries of the Gila, beside the Salt river, which is treated as separate drainage basin, are the San Pedro, Santa Cruz, Agua Fria and San Francisco rivers, and Hassayampa creek.
 In 1902 there were 397 systems re- ceiving water from all sources in this portion of the Gila river basin; S3, 129 acres were irrigated and the number of farms reporting irrigation was l, 1o5. The total cost of construction was Sl,- 434 ,661, an average of SIPS per irri- gated acre. The total length of main canals and ditches was $40 miles. sev- enty-four systems headed directly in the main stream, and through these 55,973 acres belonging to 1,l99 farms were irrigated. The total first cost of construction was Sl ,2O3, 1882, an average of $2l.51 per irrigated acre. There were 46S miles of main canals and ditches.
 San Pedro river and tributaries sup piled water to 70 systems which irri- gated 10,912 acres belonging to 136 farms. The systems represented an initial outlay of S40,l35, an average of s3.68 per irrigated acre. The length of main canals and ditches was 13C miles. Sixty-six systems, representing 40 miles of main canals and ditches, were supplied with water from the Santa Cruz river and tributaries, and D,606 acres were irrigated thereby at