Arizona republican., 1908-10-12

Parker, the present terminus of the
Arizona and California railroad, is
. located on the Arizona side of the
river upon a mesa almost as level as
a floor, and which comprises about
10000 acres. This plateau is fine
agricultural land. but its elevation
which is about forty feet above the
level of the Colorado. river, precludes
the possibility of any great develop
fnent until the question of capital
and engineering skill are brought to
bear upon the project. The low bot
tom land, not subject To overflow,
comprises about 10000 acres, which
is as fine as ever eyes gazed upon.
Unfortunately all of this great area
of agricultural land is covered by the
Colorado River Indian Reservation,
upon which an agency was establish
ed in 1861, with Colonel Dent.
brother in-law of General Grant, as
the first agent. In the latter part
of 1862 or '63 Colonel Dent was sue
ceeded by Doctor Tarner, who, it is
stated. constructed a canal. for the
benefit of the agency, the remains Of
which are still to be seen. The gen
eral information. as detailed by old
construction OF the canal, but, Billy
Mack informs the writer, that it was
during the encumbency of Doctor
farmer Nevertheless, as the ditch
was only twelve miles in length,
costing the government S25O,OOO,
through which water only flowed a
short time, reflects very little credit
upon the actual constructor. The fail
ure of this piece of work was due to
bad engineering. Where the water
was taken from the river, a rocky
promontory puts out into the water.
Tunnels were driven through this
point. work being prosecuted from
both sides, but at the supposed point
Of juncture connection failed by a
distance of over eight feet, which
necessitated a crOss-cut between the
two When the water was turned in
its contact with the cross-cut wall
splashad the roof of the tunnel and
as the formation is principally lime,
the constant wetting it received caus-
ed it to slack, and as a result, the
tunnel was blocked tight as a wedge
by cavings. The point has been
known ever since as Headgate Rock
and will some time be utilized again,
as through il there certainly can be
made an outlet, and economically at
that, when the cost Of such enter
prises are considered, of any guam
tity of water for the irrigation of
the bottom lands. But to irrigate
the beautiful mesa upon which Par
ker rests, it will be necessary to
raise by a dam the water in the
river. Headgate Rock, with a SINH
lar elevation opposite on the other
side of the river, supplies a most
favorable location for a project of
this character. A dam can be con-
structed between these given points,
the length of which will be 1,4OO
feet. that will not only raise the
water to cover the mesa. but Will
furnish an enormous horsepower for
electrical purposes. 1t is said that
engineers for the Edison Electric
company have reported favorably
upon this proposition. Besides this
site. the Box Canyon, less than twenty
miles above Parker, is an admirable
location for a dam. The difference
between the two is that the Head
gate Rock dam will cost more than
that at the Box Canyon and on the
other hand the expensive canal would
be eliminated At whatever cost a
solution will be worked out some day
for capital will not permit such
body Of water to run idly to waste
by such an area OF agricultural land,
amounting probably to one-half mill
ion acres.
As things stand today, the restless
promoters of gigantic enterprises
must bide their time, until Uncle
Sam realizes that 1000 acres for each
buck, squaw and papoose under his
charge on this reservation, is a heart
less Dissertation of the rights and
privileges of others and of practically
no benefit TO the Indians themselves.
The section of land to be allotted
as the townsite of Parker. has been
referred by congress to the commits
sioner of the United States land Of
flee. Whether the department has
instructed the surveyor general TO
order a survey for the townsite, the