THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



is celebrated in song and in story, commemorated 

 in marble, in granite and in bronze, and lived over 

 again in world's expositions, in which all mankind 

 participates. Building canals will not make public 

 sentiment, but making public sentiment will build 

 canals. It is therefore no cause for discouragement 

 to learn, after a careful survey of the field, that very 

 little important construction has been accomplished 

 during the past year, and that there is not much 

 actually in hand for the coming year. Nevertheless, 

 many interesting things have happened in connection 

 with the irrigation industry on its physical side. 



Arizona.California and New Mexico com- 

 and^ffew prise what is popularly known as the 

 Mexico. Southwest. Arizona is a very hopeful 

 region. During 1894 the important system known as 

 the Consolidated, on the south side of the Salt river, 

 not far from Phoenix, has been largely extended by 

 the use of a massive dredger, which attracted wide 

 attention in construction and engineering circles. 

 Some new work has been done in connection with 

 projected canal systems from the Rio Verde and the 

 Agua Fria, which are also in the neighborhood of 

 Phcenix. The large dam belonging to the Gila Bend 

 system, commonly known as the Peoria canal, has 

 been rebuilt. Much preliminary planning has been 

 indulged in concerning projects about Tucson and 

 Yuma. There is no question but that results will 

 follow in good time. The Casa Grande system at 

 Florence has been perfected by the completion of 

 dams and canal. But the most important item of the 

 year's progress in Arizona is the construction and 

 practical completion of the railroad from Prescott to 

 Phoenix. This will furnish at a very early day a 

 northern outlet for the products of the wonderful Salt 

 River Valley. The result is certain to be a very 

 marked impulse in the growth of population. Arizona 

 is very little known to the country and the world. 

 The new railroad will be a part of the Santa Fe sys- 

 tem, which is very active and enterprising in exploit- 

 ing its territory. This system covers a wide stretch 

 of unprofitable country in the arid West, and, now 

 that it has reached a valley that has something to be 

 seen and something to be developed, the Santa FC" 

 people may be depended upon to inaugurate very 

 effectfve plans for the benefit of Arizona. It has been 

 a dull year in New Mexico. The great works on the 

 Rio Pecos were practically completed in 1893, but one 

 large reservoir, which had been destroyed by a cloud- 

 burst, was rebuilt during the past year. The exten- 

 sion of the Pecos Valley railroad from Eddy to Ros- 

 well was a notable achievement in the midst of 

 financial panic. The completion of this work fore- 

 shadows a further extension to connect with some 

 railroad to the North. Settlement has progressed 

 somewhat along the Pecos during the year. The only 



other progress to be noted in New Mexico is the 

 building of a dam and canals, to water about ten 

 thousand acres on the Armendaris Grant, the proper- 

 ty of Mr. Wilson Waddinghan, near San Marcial. 

 The event of highest importance to New Mexico was 

 its success in securing the Fourth National Irrigation 

 Congress for Albuquerque, September loth next. 



It has been a year without important 

 Interesting 



Events in construction, but not without interesting 

 California. eventS) j n California, the foremost of the 

 irrigation States. The failure of the Bear Valley 

 company came with the close of 1893 and had a de- 

 pressing effect upon all enterprise on the Coast. 

 There seems to be a good prospect that the Bear 

 Valley works will be in the hands of a new company 

 of abundant means early this year. If so, the new 

 dam will be built and the distributary system ex- 

 tended to cover the Alessandro and Perris irrigation 

 districts completely. The Arrowhead system has 

 made some progress during the year. Many im- 

 portant undertakings have been projected throughout 

 California, but the year's interest centers in colonial 

 development. The most notable successes in this 

 line were those of Lake View and Antelope Valley. 

 The irrepressible Frank E. Brown originated the 

 Lake View project and organized excursions of 

 home-seekers with extraordinary success. But he 

 came to grief as the result of reckless management. 

 He was forced out of the control by a Pasadena 

 syndicate which took up his work and carried it 

 forward several stages. Mr. Brown demonstrated, 

 however, that it is possible to organize colonies of the 

 best class when the matter is undertaken with suffi- 

 cient energy and ability. The same truth was illus- 

 trated in the almond colonies of the Antelope Valley 

 by an enterprising Chicago firm. The unique 

 development of the year in California was the 

 colony organized by Editor Wilson of Farm, Field, 

 and Fireside. No colony plan was ever exploited 

 with more tact and ability than this one, and none 

 was ever carried more quickly to success, so far as 

 the selling of land was concerned. But Editor 

 Wilson is a better writer than engineer. His ad- 

 jectives are considerably more abundant than his 

 water supply. It is sincerely to be hoped that water 

 will be found for the lands so promptly purchased 

 by the readers of the Chicago agricultural journal 

 over which Editor Wilson presides. There are so 

 many places in the West which are well watered that 

 it seems a great pity to have such rare energy and 

 notable success squandered in a district where any 

 element is doubtful. . The most widely-discussed 

 development of the year in California related to the 

 " purchase " of the Crocker-Huffman canals and 

 lands in Merced county. This dramatic episode has 

 worn many phases at different times. One of the 



