Arizona republican., 1906-12-27
COL. SIMPSONS VISIT
 A MILITARY RANCnER
Has Owned Salt River Valley Lard For Twenty Years, and Saw it Yes tcrday Fer First Time.

Colonel W. A. Simpson of the Unit
 ed States army. stationed at San Fran
 cisco, arrived here on Monday and
 left last evening for his present home city. Col Simpson Is one of the
 many Arizonians who have not yet | found it to their interest to live here i but through personal sentiments and i financial investments is entitled to be | called something of an Arizonian, | though this was his'first visit to PhOc-
 nix. Col. Simpson graduated from 1 West Point in 1875, five years after 1 the graduation of Col. Brodie. with whom he has served at various points during his career Another friend and
 comrade is Col. C. w. Williams. About twenty years ago Col. Williams induc- ed Col Simpson (though neither was
 colonel at that time) to put little surplus money in Salt River valley lands. They did so and so far as Col. Simpson is concerned at least. it has
 been there ever since. He has always
 hoped he had an investment that would
 some day make him rich, but thus far
 all he has raised on his land is tax
 certificates and expectations. Howev-
 CT, he has not allowed the matter to
 worry him and like true soldier he
 has been patiently waiting for the
 right time to come for more active or-
 erations. He has been trying to ar
 range a little side trip to Phoenix for
 the last twenty years but always, about
 the time he got things shaped up he
 was ordered away to some far corner
 of the American earth and trip was
 impossible.
 His holdings consist of 200 acres of
 titled land, northwest of Peoria. a considerable distance out. but never
 theless good land and within the res ervoir district. being signed up to the Water Users association. Since be- ing stationed in san Francisco as ad- jutant general the title to that office has been changed to military secretary of the department of California. with | headquarters in San Francisco. Since l the fire. however the offices have been | moved to the Presidio. He secured d l leave of absence, thinking there would 1 be no better time to run down and see ] his Arizona property.
 Yesterday he was driven out to his | holdings by B. A. Fowler. president of | the Water Users association. who has | had some correspondence with him | during the life of the association. and | therefore a sort of a postoffice ac- | quaintance. MT Fowler not only show ed him his own ranch. but many oth- CTS. and explained to him the cana systems and the government storage project in considerable detail. Aftci his return Col. Simpson said that h. had been somewhat disappointed dur ing the years that have passed. but he is now quite well satisfied with condi- tions and prospects. His first impress sions of this valley were gained years ago when there were but few ranches and orchards and an abundance Jf water. shortage not being dreamed of then. He saw many pictures of or chards, vineyards and flowing canals and believed it to be a land of milk and honey. In the years that followed with their accompanying troubles ali these things were changed, and Col Simpson merely stayed with the game, and now he is rather glad of it. ! He believes like the home people do. that another couple of years and completed storage project will work Prospective railroads and increasing land values. will in few brief years make his holdings valuable not only returning him for his outlay. but no doubt showing a nice balance on the right side. Though he has no plans in that direction. ha s approaching the age when retire nent is not unexpected and it is quite possible that when he reaches this point as fortunate soldiers always do. he will come here and make this valley his home. Though he has been disap- pointed in the past, he is glad his visit was delayed until the future again looked bright not only glad for him. put for all land owners in this valley
 Col. Simpson did no; care to enter largely into details of his military career. saying merely that it had beer similar to that of all the older offic- ITS in the army. Between his gradu- ition and the outbreak of the spanish American war, it was mainly garrison iuty. Since then he has been almost everywhere where the flag floats on and. He went to the Philippines first ,n the staff of General Merritt and vas present when the city of Manila vas turned over to the Americans. ou August 13, 1898. Returning. he spent tome years in Washington and was again sent to Manila. as military sec 'etary of the Philippine division. While n this position Col. Brodie went to the and was made military of one of the departments. He is well acquainted with Col. E. E.. OravO and has been for years, Col E )ravo being also a large property owner here and a well known friend of his valley.