The Arizona sentinel., 1905-06-21
The CONTRACT SIGNED,
A New Era for Yuma Ushered In.
Gid Things are Passed Away aad
All Things are Become New.

the Interior had signed the con-
tract for the construction Of the
DAM with J. G. White & Co. of
New York.
The news spread rapidly, the
word was passed from lip to lip,
crowds gathered in happy
groups at Sanguinetti's window,
and at the various bulletins about
town, discussing the glad It'd
ings.
Every body wears a broad
smile and u satisfied air, steps
more briskly, looks about two
inches taller and whole lot
straighter.
The backbone of tho conanau-
nifty, SO. to speak, has been Won
derfully stiffened. Hope has
given place 80 confidence and
now will come fulfll1nent; the
splendid faith. Of this people
will soon be rewarded with, album
dant frui5ion.
A, great deal has been pub
Gshed in these columns ia the
past two years, about the "Yu-
MA. Project"
The first irrigation work ap-
proved by the Secretary of the
Interior, after the passage Of
the reclamation act, was the
Tonic Basin dam, the estimated
cost Of which is three million
dollars. It was feared that, OW-
ing to this large allotment, many
years would elapse before Yuma
Valley could hope to share the
benefits of the reclamation fund.
The Sentinel, however, was
one Of those who believed that, in
the valley Of the Colorado, with
its WOndrOus waste Of waters,
its tributary fertile lands, it's
marvellous clima tic conditions, -
was to be found an ideal situa-
ton for a great irrigation ex-
pertinent, and that it would not
be overlooked or ignored in the
Government plan for the re-
clamation Of the arid and semi
arid lands Of Uncle Sans do
main.
In September 1902, a preli
minary survey Of the Colorado
river from the Grand Canyon to
the Mexican line, was made by a
corps Of Government engineers
in charge Of Mr.. j. B. Lippin-
colt. After only a cursory sur
vey, Mr.. Lippincott became SC.
enthusiastic that, on his own
initiative, he called meeting of
the business men of Yuma at the
Court house, told them the
Colorado river work would be
among the first to be projected
by the Government, and ex-
planned the vast possibilities of a
work Of such. magnitude, in the
development Of d region closely |
rivaling in richness the farfamed /
valley Of the Nile.
On Mr. Lippincott's advice, the
Water Users Association was,
organized, and steps were taken.
70 secure reclamation benefits.
This was not accomplished
without ffiction, delays, dis
cOuragements3, and even antago-
nism engendered by the influence
private corporation that sought
TO divert the hearts, and minds,
Of the people from the Govern
nent plan.
The first definite good news
came to us in, May 1904, when
5he allotment of 100000 was
made by Secretary Hitchcock
sor the Yuma Project. At
great mass meeting held in Yu-
IA soon afterwards, at which.
Governor Kibbay, Mr.. Lippin-
;ott, and other notable speakers,
the attitude of the
Government, and the proper
procedure by which this apprt-
}riatiOn. could become available.
he real work Of the Wa ter !
JaerS Association was fairly inau-
5urated. In due time, the re-
Iuired number Of signatures
vas secured, and reported to {
he Reclamation Service, max I
ng available this allotment of