The Arizona sentinel., 1905-07-26
HE YUMA PROJECT.
NaNMell'S TaliSman.

gatiOn project on the Colorado
 river above Yuma:
 Water will be diverted from
 the Colorado river by the Lagu- na dam and the sluiceways about ten miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona, into two canals, one on each side of the river. The ca nal on the Arizona side will have an initial capacity of 1,600 sec ond feet, and the one on the Cal if0rnia side POO second feet. These canals will irrigate ali of the bottom lands of the Colorado rlver and the Gila river between Laguna dam and the Mexican boundary, in Arizona, an area of 64, GOO acres in round numbers, ana the bottom lands in the Yuma Indian reservation in Cal ifornia-an area of l., ,000 acres.
 The reclamation service has nnder consideration the plan to pump water for 25,000 acres on the Yuma mesa, near Yuma, Arizona, but final action has not yet been taken in this matter. The plans contemplate the con- struction of a complete system of Ievees to protect the bottom lands from overflow, and a drain age system to remove the sur- plus water from the low lying areas.
 Probable Cost Per Acre.
 The sum of s, ,000, GOO has been set aside by the secretary of the interior for the construction of these works. It Is estimated that the cost per acre reclaimed will be approximately s35 for the bottom lands. Estimates for the mesa lands have not yet been completed.
 The lands under this project have Eeen withdrawn from all forms of entry except by home stead, under the provisions of the reclamation act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. L., p. 3S8). Pend ing further investigations the mesa lands have been withdrawn from all forms of entry. Under the provisions of the above mentioned act, an individual holdings on the mesa have not been fixed, but will probably not exceed 10 acres.
 The method by which the lands of the Yuma Indian reser- vation will be disposed of to set slers has not been decided upon, but 1t will probably be sold in small tracts, either by the Indian bureau or the reclamation ser vice, OF both departments in CO., operation.
 Plan of Payment,
 The cost of the irrigation works will be assessed upon the lands within the district and be paid for in ten equal annual in- stallments, the first being due when wateris ready for delivery, as provided for in the reclama- tiOn act. The only additional charge will be the maintenance. The distribution of water, col lection of annual payments, main tenance charges, etc, will be through the Yuma County Water Users Association, an organiza- ton formed by the land owners in the district.
 The bottom lands in this pro- ject are of great fertility, as. has been amply demonstrated by the farming operations now under way. The principal crops raised are alfalfa, grain, corn, kaair corn, sweet potatoes, etc. The i mesa lands seem to be we'll adapted to the raising of citrus fruits, figs, early grapes, early ] Eantaloupes aud vegetables. It l ls the intention of the United l States agricultural department, i in connection with the reclama- l ton service, to establish expert mental farms and gardens near Yuma, where practical demon strations. can be made of the suita bility of various new plants 3or tbis region. Prominent among these proposed plants is She dase palm.
 Bids bave been awarded for | f ti1a construction, Inf tho E..Curo i