Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-05-20


ished The transformation az the
Little Colorado River valley. Arlssna.
from O cattle range into q farming
community. now ls under way Since
mo first settlement W the I.itila Colo
rad" River valley cattle and sheep
have heen the most profitable indus
Try. and millions have becn raised on
the open range: but water now has
come. and soon the valley wiii ~ glil-
cd with homes and the livestock VIII
be pushed bnck from the level plains
into the hills
Arizona Is state OF few reciama-
ton possibilities. hut the magaltuda
81 its Irrigation enterprises challenges
comparison with the rest ~ the world
I In no other state II Il so difficult for
the individual farmer 20 develop his
own source Of wsftcr. In no other
state has the value Of greet irrigation
systems greater recognition.
The rainfall IN portions 81 she state
would be sufficient 20 mature many
crops II evenly distributed through
the growing season. bur unfortunately
the months % May and June are the
driest months Of the year In the
ether semi-arid states there are many
little streams from which the small
farmer may divert water 10 nourish
| growing plants. hut Ia Arizona the
streams are limited In number ana
the erratic character of the great riv-
ers has served TO discourage the pio-
ucer. whom. usually. we find settled
along the water courses 81 the west.
The periods OF high water come IN
the spring and fan ana between the
floods. come long weeks 81 sunshine.
the weather most favorable for plant
growth To impound the floods. and
to conserve the water until the grow
ing season arrives. is all that Is re-
auired 20 transform the dry plains IN
To- rich meadows of alfalfa and fields
Of grain. hut to impound these floods
Involves the construction Of great res
ervoirs az an expense wholly prohihi-
tive To the early settler
While other states were steadily
improving their natural resources Of
agriculture, Arizona was developing
its mines and It's livestock industries
Money came easily from iss great cop
per deposits and IT. stockmen grew
weplthy. Little attention was al
rected TO agriculture until great
state was built up. and then az the
opportune moment the Salt River vat
ley reclamation project was under
taken by the federal government Fol-
lowing the completion Of this enter
prise. land heretofore next 10 worth
less grew in value with astonishing
rapldity and the stimulus Of the great
achievement soon spread throughout
the state.
Arizona has been state % ex-
iremes From o long period Of ngri'
cultural lethargy il with one stria'
has advanced 10 the front by the most
modern and the most successful sys'
tenn Of irrigation. Tho conditions
which were unfavorable for the recln.
nation OF small tracts. and served e
retard the growth OF agriculture "
the state. now are recognized as bless
lngs IN disguise. for now irrigation
projects may be undertaken and pro
secuted 20 completion unhampered by
the annoying and conflicting claims
of small prlor appropriations Of water
stoiagc 81 Water.
The storage az water II the mosi
advanced method Of artificial irri'
cation. and the most valuable LANDS
are those provided with reservoirs
, Fortunately. Arizona has been favor
2 ed with number ~ magnificent res
ervoIr sites. Nature furnished th'
broad acres 81 fertile land and th'
long sunny days conducive To plan
growth. and Il she has not Distributed
I, the rainfall equally throughout tn
, growing season she has Furnishes
exceptionally favorable sites for stor
age. II has remained for man e
improve upon Nature by storing ,h
1 floods, and IN Arizona the irrigation
farmer starts the seasons work Tor
> titled with the knowledge that cleA
sky will smile upon hts sreen fields
ana that ample water Is a. hand read
3 for application 20 his CROWNS plant
p IN lust the right quantity and az *
: actly the proper time
The Little Colorado River vale.
2 particularly Is fortunate In the mum
her aud location of is reservoir sites
and the Lyman reservoir Just com
pleted. h. next "a the largest In IN
state. u IL four miles long. about
mile wide. has capacity Of abou
AZ. 600 acre-fcct, ana was constrne'
ed for the purpose az roclaiming
tract Of excellent land immediatel
adjoining the town Of ST. Johns.
Unlike the Roosevelt reservoir -
government nid WAS extended ir 40
construction ~ the Lyman reservoir
ANA none was asked. The citizens q
Sc Johns knew the fertility Of the soi
aud they believed that reservoir
serve the community might be but
hy the community without the ~
cesslty Of surrondering control To "a
reclamation service, and without N
heavy expenss incident 10 federal ~
perVision. An alliance was forme
"A between tho S. Johns citizens an
> the Lyman Land company the larNe
, land owner under the system. and N
!. reservoir was built FOR their mutui
8 benefit The fact that the great ~
y torprise has been completed wttho'
I mortgage or bond. particular