SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES 201 
Leaving the bank of the Gila River near Olberg the railroad skirts 
the rocky slopes of Malpais Mountain and passes through Dock and 
Santan sidings. There are many sahuaros, or giant cacti, and cholla 
(mostly Opuntia bigelovii) on these slopes. Indian houses are in sight 
at many places (see pl. 24, B), and the Pima Indian village of Santan, 
with a large school, is a mile east of Dock siding. Three miles south 
of Dock is the larger settlement of Sacaton, with the Indian agency 
that administers the Gila River Reservation.* The reservation 
consists of 371,422 acres of which a small part is under irrigation. 
Now that water of the Gila River is conserved by the Coolidge Dam 
a much larger area can be cultivated than formerly. Near Sacaton 
is a field station of the United States Department of Agriculture in- 
vestigating the crop conditions of the region. 
East of Santan is a group of rugged ridges and hills culminating in 
a peak 3,093 feet high known as Santan Mountain, which is a con- 
spicuous feature from the wide desert plain to the north. This 
mountain and the surrounding — consist of pre-Cambrian 
granite and schist cut by younger grani 
Near the Maricopa-Pinal county line ne railroad bends due north 
and goes through Chandler to Mesa. 
Near Serape siding the Salt River Valley is entered, consisting of 
almost continuous irrigated fields in a high state of cultivation, utiliz- 
ing water from the Salt River conserved by the Roosevelt Reservoir. 
(See p. 214.) The contrast between desert conditions and vigorous 
plant growth is strikingly shown on the margins of the irrigated 
areas, especially at the foot of slopes of the rocky ranges rising out of 
the plain. The use of Salt River water for irrigation dates back to an 
early time, for the aborigines had many ditches, some of them of con- 
siderable size and length. These and the later ditches of the white 
man were washed out or damaged every few years by floods, which 
are especially prevalent in the arid region. In 1877 many settlers be- 
gan coming into the valley, and since that time its development has 
been rapid as irrigation has been improved and extended. 
Chandler, in the southeastern part of the great Salt River irri 
tion district, is an attractive rural settlement founded in 1912 by 
Chandler Dr. A. J. Chandler. It is also a noted pleasure and 
: health resort with an artistic winter hotel. From 
Population tee ~©6Chandler and northward there are fine views of 
New Orleans 1,507 Four Peaks, the high summit of the Mazatzal Range, 
fae and of the bold west front of Superstition Mountain. 
44 The Pima agency also administers | on ranches in the adjoining regions. 
the Gila Bend and Chiu-Chiuschu Res- | About one-quarter of them speak 
ervations, occupied by small groups of | English, and many speak or understand 
Papagos. are Spanish. 
152100°—33-——_14 
