Weekly journal-miner., 1910-02-02
JUNGLE SAM MAY TAKE OVER TRACT
(From Wednesdays Daily.)

| sumed to be cOnversant with the motives of the Interior Department in withdrawing from entry certain lands in central Arizona, covered by possessory rights of the Walnut Grove Water Storage company of this county, make the statement that it is probable this unexpected move is due to no other reason than that ne gotiations are under headway for the purchasing of this valuable fran chise.
 The interesting statement is also made that since last October the gov. ernment has had under consideration the taking over of this project in its entirety, and is dealing directly with the heirs of the Van Buren estate, who own the entire capital stock.
 It is significant that last fall three engineers of the reclamation service visited the dam sites and inspected the water ways and mesa lands under this watershed, and became eonver- sant with the utility of the enter prise. Previous to that expedition, Luther Wagoner, chief engineer of the company, resided for several weeks along the Hassayampa, and is said to have made surveys for an additional intake dam at a point about six miles above Wickenburg, locating that site in the name of his company.
 From this dam it is said water could be taken by gravity to a point opposite Morristown, where a domain of several thousand acres of desert land would be reclaimed, and which some months ago was withdrawn from public entry. MT. Wagoner finished his field work early ip September, and went to New York, where a consulta- tion was held with the company, and later the data was submitted to the overnment. Since that time the mat ter has been under investigation, and additional data gleaned through en- gineers who entered the field at that point.
 After nearly four months since the project was presented, it would seem from the official order that emanated a few days ago at Washington, clos ing to entry the lands to be affect ed in this water storage project, from Wagoner to Morristown, along the Hassayampa, that the motive is to purchase and rebuild. It is not be- lieved that the government will with draw these lands and permit them to remain unused. On the contrary, the utility of the project is desired for exactly the same reasons the com pany advanced, and would sooner or later have under headway. In the order withdrawing these lands, a large area of patented ground owned by the Walnut Grove Water Storage company is included in the designated boundaries mentioned, which, in it. self, is a strong indication that me- gotiations are progressing rapidly and also satisfactorily, toward purchasing. Another potent fact is that in closing to the public such a big strip of land, unbroken for over forty five miles along the Hassayampa, from the original dam site at Wagoner to Morristown, the government desires its future plans to be protected from interference in the event that a land squatter or a water right usurper steps in for any pecuniary consider ation.
 MT. Wagoner is said to have sub mitted an immense amount of data, covering this gigantic enterprise, of which he was the original engineer, and the purpose of the Van Buren interests was put before the govern ment as long as five years ago.
 If the sale is to be made the amount to be paid will run into the millions, is the belief. The dam went out in February of 1890, and since that the annual assessment work has been performed that will show an expenditure of at least $100,000 to hold title. The basis of this title is governed by placer mining rights. The foundation of the proposed storage dam has been completed in this work across the Hassayampa on the site of the old dam, and is ready for the actual commencement of work. The intention of the original promoters of the enterprise was to conduct hy- draulic mining along the Hassayampa and on Fools Creek, running parallel, and to reclaim several thousand acres of land for agricultural and stock raising purposes.