TRRIGABLE LANDS OF THE COLORADO DRAINAGE. 155 
above the arable lands affording many opportunities. When this improve- 
ment is made on some well considered and well executed plan, and the 
waterways flumed through some bad sandy ground that now absorbs much 
water, the amount available at the critical period can be at least doubled. 
Some years ago a settlement was established at the foot of the Pink 
Cliffs, on the headwaters of the Kanab, but the town site was eventually 
abandoned because of the deep snows of winter and the frosts of summer. 
THE PARIA RIVER. 
The Paria River rises under the eastern escarpment of the Pauns-a- 
gunt Plateau, at about the same altitude as Kanab Creek, and flows ina 
southwesterly course for 100 miles, joining the Colorado in Arizona. 
Through the greater part of its course the river flows in a deep cafion, but 
near its head, and at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the canon expands into a 
valley. Lower in its course, and at an altitude of 4,500 feet, the canon 
again widens into a smaller valley. These are the only areas of arable 
lands within its drainage basin in Utah. ‘The larger contains 15 and the 
smaller 10 square miles. In August, 1874, this stream flowed 30 cubic feet 
per second in the upper valley. The flow in the lower would be one-third 
greater. High water oceurs in April or early in May. At this time the 
volume is three times greater than in August. Settlements have been made 
in both valleys, and quite a large area is under cultivation. The soil is 
excellent. : 
The critical period in irrigation is the latter part of June or early in 
July. At this time the stream probably carries 40 feet per second. ‘The 
land in the lower valley is much subject to flooding from heavy showers 
that, falling on the table lands and mesas in the upper portion of the drainage 
basin, pour a torrent often beyond the capacity of the channel to convey 
through the lower valley. So great was the damage done by these floods 
in sweeping away dams, breaking through ditches, and inundating the 
growing crops at the site first selected for settlement, that it was abandoned 
after three years’ occupation, and other parts, where these sudden rushes 
could be controlled, selected. Considerable difficulty has been experienced 
in the lower valley from the vast amount of argillaceous sediment deposited 
