Arizona republican., 1917-06-17

most fertile land in the world. This
land lies in the Parker valley, within
the Colorado River Indian reservation.
When it is thrown open to entry it will
provide homes for several thousand
persons and enhance the assessed val
uation of Arizona by many million
dollars.
The bottom lands of the reservation
are capable of being irrigated with
water brought direct from the river.
by a system of canals and diverting
works. This project would require
several millions of dollars. Therefore,
the state of Arizona realized that when
the government throws open the land
it likely will not at once build the IL
rigation project, thus delaying ie pro-
fitable settlement of it The state de-
cided on a more expeditions plan. 1t
drilled number of test wells for the
purpose of investigating the extent Of
the ground water supply. looking to-
ward pump irrigation. The plan was
found TO be practicable.
Irrigation Initiated
About 5000 acres of these lands have
been allotted TO the Indians. By gov
eminent appropriation a pumping
plant and irrigation system have been
installed for the Indians. The acreage
under cultivation this year will be
about 5000 acres. Twelve hundred
We're cultivated last year. One thous-
and acres have been leased to the
Parker Cattle company. This land is
for the growing of alfalfa. Another
600 acres have been leased to ]. N.
V. Brown of Riverside. He will plant
it to long staple cotton.
These are the only improvements on
the reservation at present. The land
serves no purpose except for grazing
for a few hundred head of cattle
The wells put down by the state of
Arizona to prove the ground water
supply were from twelve to sixteen
inches in diameter and from Is to 1873
feet in depth. All tests were made in
the presence of an engineer employed
by the department of the interior.
Water was struck on the bottom lands
at depth of from ten to twenty feet,
proving an ample supply for irriga-
ton there.
A. L. Harris, the engineer who made
the report for the state, said in his
report:
Favorable to Pumping
The evidence is that the lift for
pumping, when compared with other
localities where pumping for irriga-
ton is carried on, is quite low and
very favorable for economy in pump
ing.
The location of the wells should
be selected after testing to avoid
bodies of poor water. This can be
done by taking inexpensive samples
with drive point and pump.
"Alkali in the soil and in the ground
water occurs in some parts, but not to
serious extent. The conditions in this
respect average about the same as are
found in the Yuma. Palo Verde and
Salt River valleys.
1.-THE list of logs of wells shows the
fine silts occurring near the surface of
the ground; then sands of coarseness
Increasing with the depth, and finally
gravel and cobble stones in the vicinity
of 100 feet underground. few clay
strata occurs.
The ground water appears to IN
der lie the entire area Of bottom
lands. In my opinion it is continuous
with the waters flowing in the river
channel through the interstices be-
tween the grains of the sands and
gravels. This is the main source OF
the underground water.
Pup,nipn Taefe Sureeesft,I
Regarding the pumping tests made
by the state, Engineer Harris says:
''Sixteen-inch wells Nos and 8 to
shut out heaving sand and additions
perforations in the casing.
well No. 2, as shown in the record
was pumped 4S hours continuously ant
delivered about "A miners inches o
water, or S26 gallons per minute
which also equals 1.S4 cubic feet PEE
second. This is an entirely practicable
stream for irrigation purposes. TIVE
or more wells placed near together ant
under a single suction will increase tn,
amount of water delivered nearly il
proportion to their number. No. wei
had filled with sand in the bottom t.
some extent at the time of testing. 81
that about 81 feet only of perforated
casing was exposed for the entranc
of water
"a well such as No. would irri
cate a homestead of 100 acres unde
the requirements usually obtaining il
this region. The total head pumpe,
against can be kept below 40 feet. TIL
shallow depth of pit required (abou
ten feet makes possible the use O
simple horizontal centrifugal pump
run by sloping belts from the engine
on the surface, which is an arrange
ment of small first cost, requiring
minimum of attention and of muc
durability. There is no doubt that set
tiers of quite limited resources ca
establish farm homes on this land, un
der such conditions. with justifiabl
confidence of success.
We'll No. 8 was also 16 inches i
diameter and of like construction wit
No. 2, but of lesser depth It wa
found after testing had been begu
that the perforations by careless WORK
manship had been too small and tn
condition taken together with the lin
tied depth was unfavorable to a yiel
of water. Nevertheless the dischare
of this well was brought up to I
miners inches or 449 gallons per mil
ute. There is no reason to doubt tn;
an increase in the depth and a co.
rection of the defect in perforatiol