Arizona republican., 1908-08-02
G0VERNMtNIEXPERIMFNT.
FOR SACAI0N INDIANS.
A Description of the Drilling Tests
Now Going On On the Reservation.

Nesting at the base Of-the south
side of the peak called San Tan,
which is a part of a small spur of the
Sacaton mountains, and situated about
a mile north of the ella, lies the little
Indian village of San Tan, the inhab-
itants of which numbering about two
hundred and fifty to three hundred
VIII be the first of Uncle Sans wards
to derive direct benefits from the i'm
mense project now under way at this
reservation, by the United States re-
Clsmation service. and which is to
eventually reclaim over twenty thou
sand acres of land lying to the south
west along the north bank of the ella.
For untold ages, the Pima stock re-
siding in this fertile valley, has fol-
lowed the peaceful pursuit Of agricul-
ture, being compelled, however, from
time to time to act on the defensive
side. and to wage terrific warfare with
their most deadly enemies, the ma
rauding Apaches.
The Pimas are industrious, thrifty,
and for generations have titled the
rich. loamv soil on the banks of the
ella river. which water course has
furnished these farmers a dependable
water supply until late years. Their
earlier habitations were generally bullt
of reeds and plastered together with
clay. forming a picturesque contrast
TO the more modern and substantial
structures to which many of the for
mer have given place. These are al
WAYS erected on the highlands, thus
allowing the lowlands to be devoted TO
cultivation. The inevitable hay stack
which one always sees there, testifles
To the fact that these Indians believe
in LAYING up store for future use.
Several of the Indians have been
given steady employment in the fur
nishing Of from fifty cords Of wood
per month for use at the steam boiler,
and for this they receive a compensa-
ton of 81 per cord.
The number Of Indians that will be
directly benefited by the reclamation
of this land is roughly estimated to be
from twelve to fourteen hundred rms
work has been taken up in view OF the
fact that the Indians who could at one
time depend on the waters of the Cha
for irrigation, cannot do so at the
present time, owing to the fact that
the large diversion dam constructed
across the river at Florence several
years ago. prevents practically all eX-
cepting the flood waters Of the early
spring and later those caused by the
summer rains. from reaching the titled
lands by the Red Men.
so FAR SATISFACTORY.
In view of this fact, the government
has been experimenting with the sink
ing of deep wells, the first of which
were sunk at Sacaton on the grounds
where the United States Indian school
is located. These in a great measure
have proven very satisfactory, but
have left much to be desired IN the
way of furnishing a steady and con-
tinuous flow in large volumes. After
these experiments were made the mat
ter was left for many months in status
quo. until Superintendent Louis {. Hill
of the United States reclamation ser
vice with headquarters now in Phoe-
nix. took up the matter with Roy Nc
Cormick, an expert well driller and en-
gincer. After going over the ground
thoroughly. the kind of machinery
which it was thought would be neces-
sarv for the work, was determined up
on. ordered. and in due time was ship
ped to Mesa and transported overland
to the north bank of the ella, nearly
opposite to the present town of Sac
atom.
In the drilling % these wells, it is
the plan of the government to have
stations located approximately a mile
apart, at each of which test well
will first be driven for the purpose ID
determining the different strata form
atoms. This plan will be carried out
at each of the stations along the line
of the proposed canal, and which the
wells will eventually feed. The canal
will start about one mile to the east
and slightly to the north of the vii
lage Of San Tan. and will run in
westerly direction, bearing slightly to
the south along the north bank of the
ella. for distance of between twenty
five and twenty-eight miles. When the
drilling of these test wells has been
completed. six additional wells will be
sunk at each of the stations along the
canal. II, each of these wells, CEN
.rificial pumps capable of raising 100
miner inches of water will be installed,
and these will be operated by electric