Arizona republican., 1909-03-08
AN. ACHIEVEMENT
 IN H0MESlEAD|AG
r. C. Fonda Reported to Have Jumped the Desert Wells Property of Shat. tuck-Nimmo Warehouse Go.

What is probably one of the greatest achievements, or at least an attempt at achievement, in the claim jumping or homestead contesting which has been going on rather premiscuously since the government canals have become an assured fact is that reported from Des- ert Wells, wherein it is stated that T. c. Fonda has jumped the claim on which the wells, as well as pumping plants, corrals and other improvements belonging to the institution are located Eight miles east of Mesa George Mo rey, who is at present, and for years past. has been trusted employe of the Shattuck- -Nimmo Warehouse com- pany took up a homestead in section 13. township north range east. The tract is at least three and one-half miles from any irrigated land or any land that is possible to irrigate from dam across Salt river with a crest no higher than that at Granite Reef In fact, the claim is worthless as far aS,/irrigation from the river is con- cerned. MT. Mercy is a single man and he has been over the claim time and again, for he is now in charge of the work at Goldfield, where MT Shat tuck is opening up the Bulldog mine, and MT. Mercy frequently comes to town and of necessity comes past Des- ert Wells. Desert Wells is an impor- tant station for the freight service car ried on by the Shattuek- Nimmo com pany. from the fact that it is the first station out and is the logical stopping point for all teamsters who load out n tfv,aa of nfalArLr In Ia ing It has never been so important as q stage station on account of its prox- imity to Mesa. However, it is impor- tant enough that the company does not propose to give it up.
 MT. Fonda is here for his health, notwithstanding the inference that he might have come in quest of the filthy lucre that cOntaminates and makes us have the gout. Some time ago he and A. Fraine, who is also a health seeker conceived the idea of building portable cottages and moving them to the des- ert east of Mesa, where they might gulp down the pure air just as it slid over the crest of Mount Superstition. However, they found beautiful blue sky, miles and miles of level grass cOv- cred desert, pure air in abundance, but drinking water was over 100 feet away and in downward direction. Digging desert wells is a very expensive pas time. and it was this obstacle which moved them to look around, which they did. with the result that MT. Fraine took up the southwest quarter of the section, while MT. Fonda took up the southeast quarter.
 Mir. Fraine, when asked concerning the matter. said that he and MT. Fonda had moved their houses on the land as described above, and that their families were now located thereon. However, he said that they could not find any record of the land having been filed upon, and that they took it with the understanding that 1t was not to be a contest We do not expect to fight the Shattuck- Nimmo company" said MT. Fraine. we simply want to | be out there close to water. Mir. Shat 1 tuck has told us that we could have l all-the water wanted for domestic pur poses for just what it cost him to | pump. We are satisfied with that kind ] of an arrangement
 The matter seems to be. a peculiar | entanglement with a mistake some where, or probably coincidence, like when the door bell, the telephone and | the alarm clock all go off at the same | time.