Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-02-14
QUEEN CREEK CONTROVERSY.
Farmers Are Not Depending on Gov
eminent Water. Some Homestead
Laws.

Some time ago an article appeared
in The Republican written by the Mesa
correspondent 10 the effect that there
was quite rush for Queen Creek gov
eminent lands. The article in ques-
ton did not state the expectations of
the persons filing The Phoenix cor
respondent for a Los Angeles paper
''rehashed" the article and stated in
addition. that the homesteaders were
expecting water from the government
project. The latter version of the at
fair found its way to Washington. with
the result that a communication was
sent to the head of the reclamation de-
paTtment at Phoenix, advising them
that the parties filing i'm the Queen
Creek section could not expect to get
irrigation water for many years under
the reclamation project. Maps have,
been prepared for the Mesa cores
pondent at the land office. showing
that even a larger number of filings
have been made than was at first re-
ported.
The real discrepancy seems to come
from what constitutes the Queen Creek
section The reclamation department
considers the Queen Creek section that
portion of land which is in the vicin-
ity Of Queen Creek. which is about
thirty miles southeast of Mesa The
filings have been made from twelve to
fifteen miles southeast Of Mesa. in
what is called by the residents of this
place and the parties who have filed
on these lands as the Queen Creek sec
ton. At the present time there is over
seven hundred acres Of grain sown
in this section. Wheat was on exhibit
ton ut the fair last year grown in the
Queen Creek section without a drop
of irrigation water While il goes
without saying that the farmers would
be better satisfied If they were conf
dent that their land would be under
the canal, Vet they. or a good portion
Of them, are filing with the under
standing that they are to depend upon
dry farming. Some of them believe it
will be possible for them later OH to
install pumping plants. but the ma
jority Of them hold to the idea that
the rich made soil which overflows
once each year can be made to hold
moisture by the dry farming process
10 grow their crops.
While the rush for lands east Of
Mesa and in the Queen Creek section
continues it might be well to set forth
some Of the homestead laws enacted
in June 1902, under which these entries
are being made. The following instruc-
tons have been sent to registers and
receivers Of land Offices "You VIII
observe that lands withdrawn under
the provisions of this act are subject
to entry under the provisions Of the
homestead law only; that entries
made on lands so Withdrawn are sub
ject to all the provisions. limitations.
charges. terms and conditions Of the
act; that not less than 40. nor more
than 100 acres can be embraced in one
entry; that such entries are not sub
Ject to the communication provisions Of
the homestead law. and that. on the
determination Of the secretary Of the
interior. that the proposed irrigation
project is practicable. the entries may
be reduced in area TO the limit repre-
senting the acreage which in the
opinion of the secretary, may be reas-
onably required for the support Of a
family upon the lands in question. ana
Will become subject TO the charges per
acre which may be determined upon.
to be paid in annual installments not
exceeding ten"
Not only is the homestead entry liza
bic TO n division but in six months it
is necessary that the person filing on
fact. He is supposed to know that it