THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



stream. Sudden and powerful Hoods sweep down the 

 valley during the season of melting snows, and it is the 

 nicest engineering problem to make constructions which 

 will stand the test. 



Alike in the Gila and Salt river valleys the agricult- 

 ural districts suffer for lack of water during the dry 

 summer season, when water is most needed. The only 

 possible solution of the problem will be the construction 

 of large reservoir systems at the mountain sources of 

 the streams. Nature has provided phenomenal facilities 

 for such storage works, but the opportunity has not been 

 utilized, owing to the large cost involved and to the fact 

 that no single company could afford to make improve- 

 ments which would be equally beneficial to all who 

 draw supplies from these streams. The work is of such 

 importance as to justify an expenditure of public money, 

 especially as large areas of public lands would be made 

 habitable in consequence. 



The enormous water supply which now flows uselessly 

 to the Gulf of California through the channel of the Col- 

 orado river must be extensively availed of in time. Mor- 

 mon settlers have reclaimed small valleys on the Little 

 Colorado in the northern part of the Territory, and ex- 

 tensive plans, looking to the use of the larger river, have 

 been made. Thus far the most notable development in 

 this region is at Yuma, where water is elevated to the 

 heights above the town by pumping machinery. Enough 

 has been done in this locality to demonstrate the value 

 of the soil and climato for the production of the finest 

 fruits, including table grapes, which arc laid down in San 

 Francisco before the California product is in the market, 

 and the best varieties of oranges and lemons. 



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