Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-28
AMERICAN NILE
CALLS RANCHERS
VAST ACREAGE WILL SOON BE
UNDER DITCH
LANDS ACQUIRED PRIOR TO ACT
RISE IN VALUE
Desert Strips open to Entry Next
Fall and Tracts Already Patented
Comprise Territory in Two
States

On April 81, 1904, congress authorized
the reclamation service to divert ana
use the waters of the Colorado river III
carrying out general irrigation enter
prises. This act was of prominent ana
permanent interest because of the IN
terstate and navigahle character OF
the river. The Colorado is the Amerl-
can Nile, though but one-tenth the SIZE
of the famous Egyptian waterway. II
rises in high, snow covered mountains
and discharges into an inland sea, tne
Gulf of California, a part OF the Paclnc
ocean. 1t has a great annual rise our
ing the period of melting snow; It's
erosion from the plateaus or Utah ana
Arizona fill the river with large quantl-
ties of silt, containing ferhlizlng prop
critics, The climatic conditions along
the lower river are such as to permit
the production of a great variety of
crops of every description, and espe-
cially of semi-tropical fruits. Our agri-
cultural explorers state that this region
is suitable for the growth of many
crops grown in Egypt and ARABIA Inc
character of the water and the fertll-
ity of the SOIL coupled with the climatic
conditions, produce a continuous grow
ing season, and make the natural re-
sources of this region unique 1000
The Colorado river drains 225!O
square miles above Yuma, all within
the United States; its drainage baslh
extends to five states and two terrific
ries: the volume of water discharging
mast Yuma is in excess, even in low
water, of the combined uses on the
lower river. where this stream becomes
international in character.
For a distance of 300 miles below the
Grand Canyon are stretches of Indian
reservations and other public lands.
Lands Lie in TWO States
There are irrigable lands in Arizona,
1874, 900 acres, and in California 4lI,4OO
acres. In Mexico it is estimated there
are 100000 acres of irrigable land, put
not yet irrigated. In an ordinary dry
wear the Colorado river will serve With
cut regulation approximately 40O,0OO
acres. In an ordinary dry year, there
fore, with complete regulation, this
river will serve 100000 acres. All re-
served water supply held over from
wet to dry year will be an additionaI
gain. Now with the successful compile
ton of the Yuma project 1t will prob
ABLY lead to the building of other sys-
TENS I'D the river, where several avail
able dam sites are receiving considera-
ton.
The Yuma project was recommended
by a board of seven engineers on April
s. 1904 and adopted by the secretary OF
ment of money for the construction of
the work was made. Since that time
the work has progressed under the Ju-
risdiction of the United States reclama-
ton service, until it is found at the
present this great government system
of water works, intended and planned
to irrigate the richest land in all TINS
broad continent, nearing succeSslui
completion.
Land coming within the benehcial
operation of this act, it is provided that
no water right for more than 100 acres
shall be granted to any proprietor Oh
land within reach of this irrigation
project. This act guards against not
only monopoly of arid lands in the fu-
ture, but destroys any large present
ownership. 1t gradually disintegrates
any large holdings without INJURY 10
the proprietors and with benefit to the
entire country. The present plans pro-
vide for the future extensions 10 the
mesa (table) land south of Yuma, ana
the canals and head works have sufti-
cient capacity to serve this area, some
40 600 acres in extent, which the gov
eminent proposes to reach with the ald
of pumps, operated by power generated
by the flow of water at the dam.
From the Colorado
The water for irrigation is taken from
the Colorado river at a point ABOUT M
teen miles north of the town OF Yuma
Ariz., where the Laguna dam has peen
constructed. This dam raises the water
of the river about ten feet ana dlVerIS
it into canals on either side, which VIII
deliver by gravity to practically all OF
the bottom lands of the project. Most
oe the bottom is below the flood levels
of the river. and so this area is protect
ed by substantial permanent leNees'
over fifty miles of protecting embank-
ment having been accomplished up TO
date.
This area lies west of Yuma, all in
California. A certain portion will be
allotted to the Yuma Indians. and the
remainder, some 1900 or $4,000 acres,
will be open to white settlers under the
terms of the homestead law, as modl-
fled by the reclamation act. The farm
unit for the reservation has been fixed
at from twenty to thirty acres, and the
areas will vary according to LOCATION
and the general physical characters
tics. This land will have to stand lts
pro rata share of the cost of the yuma
project works, which may be PAID III
ten annual installments without inter-
est. There is also a small annual charge
for the cost of maintenance and opera
ton In addition, there will be a small
cost an acre for the benefit of the IN
dams. When the cost of the work has
been returned to the reclamation tund'
the distribution system becomes lllt
rronerty of the settlers, or the land
owners; or rather it is appurtenant to
fhe nroiect, and then the annual cost to
fbe irrigator will be that due to MAIN
fenance. operation and repairs. This
land will be ready for entry this fall
about November, but the date ana
method for allotment have not been
fixed. :. A;
About all these lands had been filed
unon nrior to the reclamation act ard
so are now in private ownership \
few thousand acres, entered subsequent
70 the massage of the act are subject to
Martial REIMBURSEMENT when the farm
init has been fixed bv the secretary of
the interior. but until then there is no
land for entry on the Arizona side.
There is considerable of this prlVa Le
land for sale at prices ranging from $50
an acre upward.
The CITY of Yuma, with populatlon
of over 1000; is in the center OF this as
tric+ is fast growing and will be much
larger Tt has good schools and all
Modem. advantages of modern clNlliza-
t;on This section is traversed by the
main line of the Southern Pacific rail-
road. ,.. &c ,o,o
Those anticipating change Of loca-
+ion will find this section pronIaple
field to invest in, says Everett 1eas,
dale. real estate operator, Central
building, Los Angeles