Dzheromskiy Colony Arizona 1916

From Russia, to California, to Baja California, to Arizona, and back. 

By Andrei Conovaloff and Mike Rudometkin,

Updated : 21 August 2018 — Link: goo.gl/2hOHkI

 Contents   Click on topic then link.

1.  Introduction        3

2.  130 arrive January 1916 from Mexico        4

3.  Why Jerome Junction?        6

4.  Called “Russian colonists”        9

5.  Vacated within a year, 2 lawsuits        10

6.  Why? Where?        10

7.  Land Grants        11

8.  Dzheromskiy 1916        13

9.  Lawsuits        16

10. News Articles        17

1.  Introduction

In January 1916, 20 families that immigrated from Russia contracted to farm 2,500 acres in Chino Valley, Arizona. They were to supply fresh food to miners and Prescott residents. They signed an option to farm 10,000 acres (15 sq. miles), expecting more Russian families to come. The City of Prescott prepared a farmers market for their produce and dairy products. Tours were arranged for citizens to greet and meet the new farmers. They built a village, planted crops, helped build the dam and irrigation system, but did not get water. All left within 7 months. Why?

In the Russian Empire their ancestors evolved from various tribes of non-Orthodox folk-Protestants who collectively called themselves “Spiritual Christians.” The state-controlled Church called them heretics who were routinely exiled from central Russia so they would not contaminate the Orthodox faith, and to populate borderlands of the expanding Empire with Russian citizens.

In 1895 in South Russia, one-third of a large tribe of Spiritual Christian Dukhobortsy were severely punished for protesting the military by burning guns. Due to intervention by Lev N. Tolstoy and the Society of Friends (Quakers), London, about 7,400 were given amnesty, land, religious freedom and transportation to central Canada in 1899. By 1930, about 8,780 migrated, about one-third of all Dukhobortsy, and the largest group migration to Canada. Due to their history of protest, association with Tolstoy, scholars and a large population, much has been written about the Canadian Doukhobors who further divided.

In comparison, less has been documented about non-protesting neighboring Spiritual Christian tribes in the South of Russia who also wanted to emigrate to Canada. They had to petition for and sponsor their own migration, which began in 1904 in small groups with little media attention, and less than 1% left Russia, about 2,000 total, most from more than 20 villages across the South Caucasus.

On their way to Canada, all were diverted to Los Angeles by P. A. Demens who objected to Canada being chosen for Dukhobortsy. He personally intercepted the next arrivals, escorting many to Los Angeles where he believed life would be better for them. About half the arrivals wanted their own rural villages, which Demens and associates had tried to arrange in Hawaii, Mexico, and along the Pacific Southwest.

The people who arrived in Chino Valley were Spiritual Christian Pryguny from Tiukma village, Kars Oblast, which is now Dikme, Turkey. From 1904 to 1912 they arrived in Los Angeles, and chose to build their rural village near Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, with similar religious tribes from the South Caucasus, Russia.

The Mexican civil war economy and climate in the Ensenada area caused the Tiukma elders to seek a better location with more land, water and financial aid. The winning offer came from Central Arizona.

Path Traveled by Pryguny from Mexico village to Jerome Junction.

Map adapted from: Robertson, Donald B. Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History, Caxton Printers, 1986, page 26.

In January 1916, 130 Tiukma Pryguny left Mexico by wagon with their belongings and animals. At Tijuana they crossed the US border. Their host bought equipment, supplies, and building materials, and moved all by train to Jerome Junction, Chino Valley, during a heavy rain and snow.

In Chino Valley they built 20 houses, a meeting hall, and a school was provided probably at the location of the present Chino Valley Unified School District. In March, 12 more families came from Los Angeles. They planted crops and grazed animals on 2,500 acres; and repaired ditches, canals and helped build Watson Lake Dam.

In the Spring, irrigation water was not delivered. Crops failed. In July, 7 months after arriving, all left. Most moved south to join 3 other tribal colonies from Russia, 2 miles west of Glendale. In January 1917 they sued their Chino Valley hosts. In July 1917, most all their boys in Arizona were arrested for refusing to register for the new draft, and sentenced for 1 year in the Prescott Courthouse basement jail.

The authors’ family histories are intertwined in this story. The father of Mike Rudometkin was born in Jerome Junction, and his grandfather worked on Watson Lake Dam. The grandfather of Andrei Conovaloff was among the 34 jailed in the Prescott Courthouse basement.

2.  130 arrive January 1916 from Mexico

On Wednesday January 12, 1916, a group of about 130 Spiritual Christians from Russia, mostly Pryguny, arrived in 14 train cars with baggage and supplies at Jerome Junction, Yavapai County, Arizona. They were a Russian form of “folk-Protestants,” non-Orthodox faith-tribes. For simplicity, the Prescott press called them “Russian colonists.” But in Russia, to be a real “Russian” one must be Orthodox. These people were not Orthodox, and some may have been of mixed ethnic and religious descent.

They left homes in or near Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, Mexico, to resettle in Little Chino Valley, now called Chino Valley, ranging 10 to 25 miles north of Prescott, about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

On January 28, 1916, they signed a contract with the new Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company (HAFC), for 3,000 acres — 4.5 square miles (approximate map), and an option for 10,000 acres (15.6 sq. mi.) to include the adjacent Lonesome Valley (now part of Chino Valley). Their land was south of Jerome Junction along today's Highway 89 in Chino Valley, extending from Center Street, where the school is today and the historic HAFC office (now the Cooper Agricultural Center), south to Outer Loop Road — covering most of what is now the Chino Valley Irrigation District. Their main village was a row of wood houses probably on Center street, east of the Highway (where the high school is today and across the street).

The plan was for these Spiritual Christians from Russia to supply fresh food to the nearby booming town of Jerome (3,000 miners) and city of Prescott (5,000 population). A farmer’s market was planned for them to use in Prescott.

These colonists were spiritually led by Vasili G. Pivovaroff, who called his followers a Brotherhood of Spiritual Christians, and had a vision to buy enough land for a huge rural colony. He believed that all Spiritual Christian Pryguny from Russia near Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, will soon follow, and more from Los Angeles and Russia. A journalist might say he found his “promised land.”

Alex N. Abramoff served as presbyter, lay minister, for the congregation of 130 during their Sunday religious meetings.

Pivovaroff did not foresee that Spiritual Christians could not by nature ever be a unified “brotherhood” due to tribal and clan divisions. At least a dozen other spiritual elder-leaders of different faiths had come from Russia, most meeting for the first time in America, each with their own visions and paths for their followers. Their descendants who did not assimilate, clashed and divided, to the present day.  

Pivovaroff’s colonization effort in Arizona was the third large plan to fail among the Spiritual Christians from Russia in America. More than half of this divided “Brotherhood” were concentrated on the eastside of Los Angeles, and the rest scattered among rural colonies along the Pacific coast up to Washington. The largest colony in the U.S. was started in 1911 about 2 miles west of Glendale, Arizona, comprising 3 adjacent villages with their own congregational tribes.

The 10,000 (?) acres north of Prescott were bought from the Santa Fe Railroad by the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, mostly investors and developers from Illinois led by Senator Watson, resold to HAFC who speculated the colonists would soon buy and farm all their land north of Prescott. Watson Lake and Dam was named after the Senator. Many Prescott businessmen had bought HAFC stock.

3.  Why Jerome Junction?

Who could have connected HAFC in central Arizona with Spiritual Christians in Mexico? Perhaps:

1. Donald Barker who brokered the loan for land in Mexico. He was a Los Angeles attorney, investor, known by banks and politicians, a partner in the law firm Flint & Barker, and a member of the L.A. Chamber of Commerce.
2. Barker’s law partner was Frank Putnam Flint, a U.S. Attorney 1897-1901, California Senator 1905-1911, and east Los Angeles County fruit-grower who may have known Peter A. Demens and/or Senator William A. Clark
3. Bixby Land Company and family who owned a large ranch in Los Angeles county, and a cattle ranch in Big Chino Valley, Arizona, with possible collaboration with
4. W. A. Clark, who bought the United Verde Copper Company in Jerome, and built a railroad from the mine and the depot town of Jerome Junction, in Chino Valley. Clark also built the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad (LA&SF). Most of the Spiritual Christian tribes from Russia lived near his train depot east of downtown Los Angeles. Near Los Angeles, Clark bought land from Bixby to grow sugar beets, and several times offered different tribes of Spiritual Christians from Russia to farm all his land.      

These 5 businessmen had contact with each other, other tycoons, and together knew about Spiritual Christian immigrants from Russia for 15 years; and were invested in Southern California and central Arizona where white farmers were needed. Leaders of the Spiritual Christians in Los Angeles presented themselves as farmers seeking a large tract of land, with puffery added by Demens. Exactly who and how Pivovaroff was contacted by HAFC is not yet known.

Jerome Junction is 18 miles west of Jerome mining town.

Map from Clason's Guide Map of Arizona, 1920.

In 1888 in Arizona, W. A. Clark bought the promising United Verde mine in Jerome and in 1894 built an access railroad from his depot town of Jerome Junction. In 1896 in California, Clark bought 8,139 acres in east rural Los Angeles County (now Lakewood, Los Alamitos, north Long Beach) from the Bixby Ranch, to farm sugar beets for his Los Alamitos Sugar Company, Anaheim. From 1901 to 1905 he built the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad (Montana to San Pedro, California sea port) with a main station in Los Angeles in the Flats(s) on 1st street, east side of the L.A. River, called the Salt Lake Station. Some street car drivers called it the “whiskers street” stop because that’s where most of the bearded immigrants from Russia lived.

From 1911 to 1915 a new ore smelter was built in Clarkdale, Arizona, to serve local mines. Now mine workers were needed to increase the United Verde production, and they needed more food.

In 1900, Demens, a retired, wealthy, well-read Russian, sympathetic to Lev N. Tolstoy, and living in Los Angeles, accompanied 3 Spiritual Christian scouts allegedly representing all Spiritual Christian Doukhobors in Canada who were being solicited by tycoons to move to California. News reported that Doukhobors decided to farm sugar beets on Clark’s land in east Los Angeles County, but their mass move from Canada to the U.S. was denied.

Also in 1900, scouts representing various tribes of non-Dukhobor Spiritual Christians arrived in Canada, but were diverted to the U.S. by Demens. For simplicity, Demens called them Molokane, for which he later apologized in a Hawaiian newspaper. During immigration beginning in 1904, they were guided to Los Angeles by Demens, then some diverted to Hawaii in 1905 to homestead farms and grow sugar cane.

While Demens was scouting Hawaii, fellow Russian aristocrat Captain C.P. de Blumenthal guided about 100 families, mostly Pryguny, to the Guadalupe Valley, near Ensenada, Mexico. The Mexico loan was provided by Donald Baker, an attorney and investor in Los Angeles whose law partner, Flint, was elected a California State Senator. Flint and Demens had fruit orchards east of Los Angeles.

In 1911 more than 100 Spiritual Christian families from Russia in California began buying farmland west of Glendale, Arizona, with credit  from R. H. Davies, if they contracted to grow sugar beets for the Southwest Sugar Company he managed in Glendale. Davies had a house in Santa Monica, California, and was the highest paid sugar executive in the U.S. at the time. He personally hosted the owner of the Los Angeles Times to the Arizona State Fair soon after the Spiritual Christians from Russia arrived. The L.A. Times had published many articles about these immigrants from Russia.

Ever since the Brotherhood of Spiritual Christians from Russia arrived in Los Angeles in 1904, they burdened social services, and many publicized efforts were attempted to move them out of the city as half of their leaders wanted.

Any or all of these tycoon families, with others, could logically have connected the Spiritual Christian Pryguny in Mexico with the new Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company (HAFC) near Jerome Junction, Arizona.

4.  Called “Russian colonists”

The Prescott press called them "Russians" and "colonists", but other Pryguny in America called this colony "Dzheromskiy" — Russian: Джеромский, Dzheromskiy — from the first word on the sign at the train depot — "Jerome Junction." Several sources and Dukh-i-zhiznik oral history incorrectly reported this colony was at Jerome, a former mining town 18 miles west of Jerome Junction. This error caused at least 2 descendants to visit Jerome AZ to see where their families lived, on the side of a mountain they reported.

The Pryguny arrived from Mexico during a record huge winter rain and snow storm which destroyed most of their new irrigation canals and much of Southern California. Within 6 months the Spiritual Christians repaired and dug 30 miles of irrigation ditch, planted 2500+ acres, built 20 new wood houses and got their own school for 38 kids.

The map shows that their school house may have been at the location of Chino Valley Unified Schools today, and their colony adjacent to and across the street from the school. In contrast, an interview with Hank Bisjak placed the colony on Outer Loop Road. (Research in-progress due to many lost records at Yavapai county Recorder’s Office and no archive for HAFC.)

5.  Vacated within a year, 2 lawsuits

Within 7 months after arriving, most relocated to their new colony west of Glendale, Arizona, next to Spiritual Christian Maksimist and 2 Prygun colonies. Some went back to Mexico or to Los Angeles. They may have taken their animals and house lumber with them which explains why no 1916 structures remained in Chino Valley.

In January 1917, 20 Dzheromskiy farmers sued the HAFC, with no resolution. Again in May 1918, 19 farmers (minus Pivovaroff) individually sued for a total of $33,288. Neighboring farmers also sued the land company for misrepresentation, breach of contract, etc. (Bisjak 1918, Graves Sept. 1921).

In July 1917, 34 Prygun boys were arrested in Glendale, Arizona, for not registering for the draft. They were transported to Prescott by train and jailed for 10 months. The local press called them "slackers", "fanatics", “Molokans” and "Holy Jumpers."

6.  Why? Where?

• Why did they come to Jerome Junction, Arizona?
• Where was their land, houses and school?
• Why did they leave so soon? Half left in 6 months.

Their story has several parts:

1. What happened in Russia that caused a few to leave the majority in Russia, and
2. What happened in North America that attracted them to Mexico.

These topics are somewhat covered in other sources.

Here we report and examine:

3. What led them from Mexico to Jerome Junction, Arizona?

From 1900 to 1920, Spiritual Christians from Russia explored and resettled in at least 5 countries and 9 states in the US. Eventually most families independently chose the more prosperous and much easier big city life among other Russian-speaking sectarians (non-Orthodox heretics), starting in the cheapest slum neighborhoods.

Pryguny mostly clustered on the Eastside of Los Angeles, while 400 miles north in San Francisco, Molokane and some Pryguny settled on Potrero Hill upon returning from Hawaii after the 1906 earthquake. Some returned to Russia. In total, less than 1% of all non-Dukhobor Spiritual Christians left Russia compared to about a third of all Dukhobortsy. Perhaps as many as 5% of the most zealous Pryguny, Maksimisty, Zionisty, and Noviy Israily left Russia. Typically the most dissident left Russia, and most dissident of those resisted integration. A 1918 survey of Spiritual Christians from Russia in Los Angeles reported 94% were varieties of Pryguny, with some Molokane, Subbotniki and others.

By their nature, Pryguny, especially the separatist factions of Maksimisty, Zionisty, and Noviy Israily could not join in one assembly. They evolved  separately in Russia, and were different faiths. Upon arrival, they probably only knew relatives or immigrants from their home or neighboring villages. As they met in Los Angeles, competing, clashing leaders hustled by various land agents moved parts of congregations out of and back to the big city.

Some leaders envisioned a single "big colony" where all would live together for a few years then return to Russia, others sought a colony for just their congregation and faith, but ironically most got jobs or started small businesses in the city where they arrived and most assimilated. Many clustered in congregations composed of families from their home village in Russia or with those of similar faith.

Colonization attempts in nearly all rural locations were not economically successful, and abandoned. Settlements were explored in Mexico (6 locations) and the US (at least 9 states). Here we focus on one of about 5 colony sites in the state of Arizona.

7.  Land Grants

After the Civil War in the United States, the country needed farmers to expand its territory, similar to Russia and Canada. Each country populated its new territory differently. Russia imported German protestants and moved peasants and Jews to New Russia. Canada gave land blocks for settlement colonies.

As the U.S. expanded west to the Pacific Ocean, incentives were offered to finance the railroads by giving developers land 20 miles wide on each side of their tracks. This vast land was sold to developers who resold to settlers. More land was given free by the government as homesteads. The Dzheromskiy farms were within the Santa Fe Railroad land grant area. Congress added incentives to promote irrigation agriculture and dams.

Given all the government incentives to provide homestead land 160 irrigated acres, or 320 dry acres, only a few Pryguny in Utah appear to have homesteaded part of their land. The majority purchased poor land with little irrigation. Railroads vigorously promoted settlement, offering potential buyers discounted fares and rebates. Prygun scouts got free excursions to see land in the U.S. and Mexico.

Though these economic opportunities were hindered by inflation during World War I, then a depression, the major factor for failures appears to be unrealistic investment expectations and assurances by the sellers. Some were "land sharks", real estate speculators, who lied to close a sale.

In the late 1800s some of the richest copper ores in the world were found in the mountains north of Prescott, Arizona, then the state capital. Nearly all mountain land was claimed for mining. (See Verde Mining District maps.) An economic boom was persistently reported in the press (Many articles below.)

The most prominent mine was operated the United Verde Copper Company (UVCC) at Jerome. The mine almost went bankrupt in 1888 but a new owner lowered costs in transportation and processing, leading a mining boom to the 1950s. UVCC moved a narrow-gauge (3-foot) small railroad to connect to the west side main track, serving Prescott. At this junction of two different sized tracks, they built a new depot town, first called Junction, then Jerome Junction (1900-1925). The mines and town prospered during WWI when the price of copper doubled in 1916-17. The town closed in 1925 when a new rail was built to Jerome from the east side of the mountain. Today the faint location of buildings and track are the only remains at the former Jerome Junction site, now called Copper Siding.

While Jerome Junction was being developed, about 2,000 Pryguny immigrated to Los Angeles from the Caucasus. The aggressive leaders who insisted all must live in a "big colony" were split on where that would be. First Hawaii was tried in 1906 by 110 people, down from 800 who signed up, and failed within a year. While two leaders were negotiating Hawaii, others were visiting Mexico and Texas. These Dzheromeskiy got directed to Mexico in 1907 where they faced economic and political problems — high taxes and a revolution.

In 1911 the University of Arizona established the Prescott Dry Farm, one of 8 sites in the state where local agriculture methods were tested and taught to farmers. 

In 1912 East coast investors seeking big projects in Arizona formed the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company (AL&IC) which, after a protest, acquired 40,000 acres of grant land. In 1915, AL&IC split off 10,000 acres near Prescott for the new Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company (HAFC) formed to dam local creeks and sell land, with and without irrigation rights.

Historian Dr. Greever reports this project was "exploitation" and soon the railroad "… refused to sell … to three different promoters… in southern Arizona, because it feared they might exploit innocent purchasers …"

In 1911, a group of Maksimisty mainly from Darachichak and Nikitino villages (Erevan governate, now Armenia) were hustled to Glendale, Arizona to grow sugar beets led by Mikhail P. Pivovaroff, cousin to V. G. Pivovatoff. Soon they convinced Pryguny from Selim and Buchanak villages (Kars oblast, now Turkey) to join them, and most of the Dzheromskiy arrived in late 1916. By 1920, the 4 adjacent colonies 2 miles west of Glendale had about 1000 people, 200 households, 4 congregations, using more than 8 sq. miles. 

8.  Dzheromskiy 1916

How these Pryguny in Mexico connected with HAFC in Arizona is not known. Early HAFC records were vandalized and stolen from the Chino Valley history collection (in 1970s? according to the Chino VAlley Historical Society). Here are some theories:

• After 1906, big groups of Prygun immigrants were not welcome in Los Angeles. They were declared “undesirable” in December 1906. Governmental agencies were diverting them to rural locations, and to Mexico. (Los Angeles Times, 12/18/1906, p.II-1) While planning to return to the U.S., on their own or by introduction, they met a land agent in Los Angeles or San Diego who was selling HAFC land.

• In Los Angeles they met Hassayampa Club members from northern Arizona who summered at the Hollenbeck Hotel (Spring & 2nd streets) where they held vacation socials. (Los Angeles Herald, 8/15/1908, p.5)
   
• They passed through Jerome Junction to work in Jerome mines. In June 1915, 30 "Polish" (Russian?) immigrants were recruited in Los Angeles to work in the Jerome mine in Arizona for wages more than 10 times paid in lumber yards. The "Russian colony" raised money, feasted and sent them off with a ceremony. It was a scam. They returned, filed charges and testified against the agent. (Los Angeles Times, 6/8/1915, p.II-2)

Land agents needed client farmers. The first customer to sign a contract with HAFC was Vasili G. Pivovaroff, the leader of Russian colonists who wanted to leave Mexico. He wanted to buy all the HAFC land for a huge Russian communal farm for thousands which he expected soon to follow, most from Mexico. Also German Brethren "Dunkards" from northern California signed up to settle their own colony. These Germans may be affiliated with those who founded the town of Glendale, Arizona.

The Dzheromeskiy families included:

* May have arrived separately.

Dzheromskiy families apparently came from different settlement areas in Mexico, some from Guadalupe, others from San Antonio and some not listed (Mohoff Appendix). Maybe the HAFC recruiter visited all the areas in Mexico looking for disgruntled families.

Oral history from John and Stella (nee: Bogdanoff) Kotoff, interviewed in the 1980s, reported that Dzheromskiy were from a village in the Russian Caucasus they called Tiukma (Novo-Mikhailovka, Dikme, Diukma, now Dikmekoyu) 8.5 miles southwest of Kars city, now Turkey.

In Russia they got temporary incentives to move to the Caucasus — free land, no taxes, no military duty — and probably sought a similar deal in North America. 

Newspaper articles and immigration documents indicate they stayed in Mexico for about 10 years, until led out by Vasili G. Pivovaroff to his promised land in North Central Arizona. They did not like the economy in Mexico; 25% to 40% import tax on farm machinery and wheat (Nov. 14, 1914); and feared the Mexican Revolution which mostly occurred 1,000 miles east of Guadalupe Valley, across the Gulf of California, but some rebel Viaistas were near Ensenada. Following the Dzheromskiy by 4 months, another group of Pryguny unsuccessfully tried to flee poverty in Mexico to San Diego (below).

The Dzheromskiy group comprised 20 to 25 families, 130 people (35-40 kids), 108 horses, 131 cattle, furniture, and crates of geese, ducks, and poultry. They arrived during the fourth most intense snow and rain storm on local record. The Pacific Coast states were flooded. Dams broke, trains stopped, roads washed out. It was miserably cold.

They camped in a huge barn, which still stands. To insulate from the cold and sleep, they built big plywood boxes from rough plywood and lumber. John Kotoff, a boy then, recalled trying to sleep shivering in a blanket, huddled close to a lantern, watching snow blow through the crooked joints void of weather stripping.

Two days after their arrival, 14 rail cars of lumber came, then 200 head of dairy cows were to follow. They were allotted 3,000 acres (4.7 sq. miles, 65% of the HAFC land), and expected 1,500 to 5,000 Russian settlers to follow soon from Mexico and occupy up to 10,000 acres. A new grammar school was built for them. A new bazaar market was to be built in Prescott to sell their food. The city and politicians needed them and reported their arrival and progress in the local newspaper — The Prescott Journal Miner — most of which was archived on the Internet beginning in 2009.

They were a local curiosity. People took special weekend motor car trips from the city to "see the Russians." One neighbor, Mrs. Bisjak, spoke Russian which helped a lot.

By March 1916, they got 20 houses and a school. By June they reportedly built 30+ miles of irrigation ditches and were ready to plant 3,300+ acres — 1,000 acres of alfalfa, 500 wheat, 500 beans, 500 corns, 500 potatoes, 300 Sudan grass, and vegetables (on only 2,500 acres?). News reports varied. They got irrigation water in June, too late they claimed in their 1917 lawsuit.

In May 1916, the Los Angeles Times reported that in Guadalupe "Russians Face Starvation in Mexico and Desire to Lease Lands Near La Jolla." 

In the Fall and Winter of 1916, the Russian colonists left Jerome Junction in groups, by train and wagon. They must have been deeply disappointed for losing their invested time and hopes. Reports below indicate they were not wanted by the Company that brought them in with fanfare. Following V. G. Pivovaroff, most relocated west of Glendale, Arizona, north of 3 other Prygun colonies, while some went back to Mexico or Los Angeles.

9.  Lawsuits

On January 18, 1917, one year after leaving Mexico, 20 Dzheromskiy sued the land company. The case appeared to have been settled out of court by examination of court records, but it was not. The next year, 19 of the same Russian farmers filed 19 individual lawsuits against HAFC for a total of $33,288 on May 15, 1918, minus Pivovaroff who led them to Arizona.

The following week, on January 28, 1917, a neighbor to some of the Russians Anton Bisjak, also sued HAFC for not providing water. His wife was the only settler in the Valley who spoke Russian and served as their translator. About 2 years after the Russians left, farmer W.W. Graves was reported on September 17, 1918, to have sued HAFC.

In January 1917 the Mexican Revolution was over, but in March the US entered World War I with a mandatory draft. Though instructed they would not be drafted and must register, the Arizona colonists did not believe their fellow Pryguny in Los Angeles, the US Government nor the Russian Embassy. All but one of the boys in Arizona (who hid) got arrested for not registering, and all 34 of those were jailed until they agreed to register 10 months later. 6 who still refused to register went to prison for 4 more years, until the war was over.

Most of the Arizona colonists moved to Los Angeles soon after 1920, when the farm economy got bad. A few returned to Mexico, including V. G. Pivovaroff who lived out his life and was buried there. Most of the descendants of Dzheromskiy families are now in Southern California.

The big business agriculture development frenzy in the Chino Valley came and went within a decade, preceded and followed by oil drilling. Nearby mining sustained the county economy. In 1918 most HAFC land and canals became the Prescott Farm Company, and in 1925 the Chino Valley Irrigation District (CVID).

In 1935, the entire 4000 acres of HAFC "promised land" was auctioned for back taxes. Land that first retailed for $100/acre was bought by local farmers for 50¢/acre.

In 1938 the original HAFC headquarters and farm was bought by the Cooper family, who donated it in 1998 to the local Future Farmers of America and high school. The barn were the Russians camped out upon arrival still stands as a historic building.

Today about 2500 acres are irrigated by CVID, a fourth of the 10,000 acres projected in the original business plans. Soil and agricultural experts never revealed that nearly all of the land is over caliche, or hard pan. A ____ irrigation report states that enough water is captured by the 2 dams to adequately irrigate only 1/3 of its acreage — about 1/12 of the original HAFC business plan. The original developers in 1912 expected about 12 times more water than they could actually deliver.

The most relevant published news about this history is listed below in chronological order. These articles and sources report the business climate, construction, economy, politics, weather, Russian colonists, and the lawsuits.

Articles and sources from 1897 to 2008 online are linked to below. Material from archived sources is summarized or transcribed in full. Headlines and keywords about the Russians are in bold type. Comments, summaries and corrections are in square brackets []. Articles about the Russians are highlighted in yellow. A few photos of the Dzheromskiy are reported to exist and will be posted when submitted. Exactly where they lived and farmed is not yet determined. If you have any information not shown here or corrections, please share, Administrator@Molokane.org.

10. News Articles

When Arizona was made a territory in 1864, its capital was established at Prescott. In 1867 it was moved Tucson and ten years later was returned to Prescott where it remained until 1889 when the 15th Territorial Legislature, meeting at Prescott, enacted legislation to permanently locate the capital in Phoenix.

Reports about Russian colonists near Jerome Junction, Chino Valley, AZ, highlighted in yellow; with context articles about the economy, weather, etc.

1915 June 8 — Job Scam: 30 Los Angeles Russians [Jews?] pay ~$29 each for jobs in Jerome AZ mine paying $4/day

1916 January 5 — Bit Of Russia At Border Line

1916 January 9 — Yavapai’s Advancement == Mining and Industrial == 1915

1916 January 11 — Russian Colony for Lonesome Valley

1916 January 12 — Spiritual Christians from Russians Arrive

1916 January 13 — Russians Come To Husband The Land

1916 January 14 — Land Awakening Has Cheerful Aspect

1916 January 15 — City News in Brief: Colony Visitor

1916 January 15 — Little Russia Goes On Yavapai Map

1916 January 18 — City News In Brief: Backed Out

1916 January 20 — Land Allotment for Russians

1916 January 21 — Russians Will Erect School for Colony

1916 January 26 — Russians Begin Building New Homes —
25 homes and barns, prayer hall, school

1916 January 28 — Formal Closing of Big Farm Land Deal

1916 February 1 — Russian Colony Arrives

1916 February 2 — Public School for Russian Colonists

1916 February 7 — Arizona Russian Colony Will Not Be Hyphenated (Texas)

1916 February 15 — Willow Creek Storage Now Assured

1916 February 16 — Willow Creek Storage Now Assured

1916 February 16 — Thinks Bean Is A Rival Of the Aztec

1916 February 16 — Larger Storage For Lake Watson

1916 February 16 — County and State News (Bisbee, AZ)

1916 February 18 — Pleased People (guests)

1916 February 25 — Russian Colonists Make the Dirt Fly

1916 March 2 — Russian Colony in Yavapai

1916 March 8 — Russian Colonists Active Cultivating Soil

1916 March 9 — Russian Students Learning English At New School

1916 March 10 — Plans Maturing On Big Land Movement

1916 March 17 — Russian Colony Energetic 
(Copper Era and Morenci Leader)

1916 March 18 — Contract Finished (houses, school built)

1916 March 21 — Irrigation Will Start Next Week

1916 March 28 — Official Proceedings Of The Common Council Of The City Of Prescott, Arizona (no city pipe water)

1916 March 31 — Russians Are Doing Fine At Colony

1916 April 1 — Russian Colony Active ….

1916 April 4 — Colony Will Be Allowed City Water

1916 May 16 — San Diego: New Settlement; Russians Face Starvation in Mexico and Desire to Lease Lands Near La Jolla

1916 May 17 — Russian colony map filed by Prescott title

1916 June 10 — Hassayampa Starts Large Irrigating

1916 June 29 — For Sale: 50 good work horses …

1916 July 18 — American Farmers For Hassayampa Co.

1916 October 24 — [Russian] Colonization Move Being Closed Up

1917 January 18 — Russians Sue Hassayampa Company

1917 February 7 — Rural Schools Commended By Official

1917 February 7 — Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. cancel map of Russian Colony Lands

1917 June 12 — Tract Litigation Now in U.S. Court

1917 June 12 — Prygun Molokans' Nutty Ceremonies Keep Prisoners Awake

1917 Oct 24  — Russians Refuse To Take Food Of Any Kind

1918 February 1 — Lonesome and Little Chino Valleys, Dry Farming in Arizona, By A.M. McOmie

1918 March 27 — Vacilli Pivovaroff vs. the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company

1918 May 16 — Slavs Demand Damages From H.A.F. Co. (19 new lawsuits, total $33,288)

1918 June 5 — Russians Dismiss Cases

1918 June 18 — [Pryguny] Molokans Still Stubborn (6 refuse to sign)

1981 August 18 — Chino water took circuitous route

1989 May 22 — Days Past: Curly grama … At 125 years old, Chino Valley growing strong

1991 April 24 — Maybe the shotgun had blanks in it (Russian House)

1991 Nov 24 — 'Chino Valley Russian Experiment' was failure

1993 — The Russian Colony of Guadalupe: [Pryguny] Molokans in Mexico (book by George Mohoff, Jack Valoff, et.al.)

1999 February 28 — The historic dimensions of Chino Valley

2001 January 7 — Days Past: Russian farmers arrive in Chino Valley

2016 July 31— Colony of Russians Arrives to Farm *UPDATED* (blog)

1895

Los Angeles Herald, page 5, March 11, 1895

Over The New Road

Graphic Description of a Journey From Prescott to Phoenix

The traveler over the S.F.P. & P. Railway from Prescott south is at once impressed with the vast amount of growing pine timber through which the road passes for the first ten miles—an almost unbroken forest of pines with occasional groves of juniper showing a comparatively inexhaustible fuel supply. At Iron Spring station on the summit of the range, between Prescott and Skull Valley, the railroad company have a side-track, where the mining timbers, logging and wood for the Congress mine is loaded upon cars for transportation to the mine. From Iron Springs summit one gets an excellent panoramic view of the southwest portion of Yavapai county on the north, reaching for miles, lie Chino Valleys, big and little, as level as a floor, and containing thousands of acres susceptible of cultivation, only awaiting the storage of the flood waters of Granite Creek and their diversion upon its vast acreage. This enterprise is entirely feasible and will some day be accomplished. ..

20 years later, Watson Lake Dam was built.

1897

Arizona Weekly Journal-Miner, page 2, October 20, 1897

A Trip to Jerome

Building and Business Activity at Jerome Junction

Scenic Grandeur of a Ride Over the U.V.&P. Railroad to the Copper City

At Jerome Junction we found business quite active … cleared the ground … will burn 2,000,000 bricks this fall. A bunk house is built for the accommodation of thirty-five men. … 40,000 bricks … daily. … hotel … excellent services. … telegram.

1898

Los Angeles Herald, page 20, August 14, 1898

At The Summer Resorts: Long Beach: 

Unprecedentedly Successful Season. Boating, Bathing and Fishing

Mr. and Mrs. Jotham Bixby, Miss Fanny Bixby and Jothnam, Jr., left for a two-months' visit to the old homestead and neighboring places in Maine last Wednesday. Harry Bixby, who has been at the beach visiting his parents, accompanied them on their way east as far as Flagstaff, Ariz., he having charge of his father's interests in that country.

1899

Prescott Weekly Courier, page 7, March 3, 1899

For Sale or To Rent

160 acres near Jerome Junction, 20 acres fenced, running water all times. Enquire at Depot House.

Deseret News (Utah), page 6, November 29, 1899

A Receiver Demanded

Threatens Trouble for the United Verde Copper Company.

[Company founded in 1993. 300,000 shares of stock worth $3,000,000. 299,000 shareholders want to dissolve the company but Clark sues to stop process.] The mine is one of the largest producers of copper in the United States.

1901

Los Angeles Herald, Sunday Magazine, page 8, April 14, 1901,

History of the United Verde

The Greatest Mine in the World  (3 photos, half-page article)

By L. R. Jerome

My cousin, William Murray, who was connected with Eugene Dewey in the mining exchange of San Francisco in the seventies, having passed through the many exciting deals that were made in the Comstock during the bonanza years from 1874 to 1876, lost his health and in 1879 was ordered by his physician to go to Arizona, for the benefit of that climate, to recuperate.

In Arizona Mr. Murray became acquainted with Mr. [Frederick A.] Trittle, who was then governor of Arizona. They together bought some mining properties at Tombstone, which was just looming into prominence. Prescott was the capital of the territory and in that town Mr. Murray had his headquarters.

Two ranchers of the Verde valley, on their way to and from Prescott, had picked up some copper float on the mountains which they gave to three prospectors, telling them at the same time about where they had found it. These prospectors discovered in the immediate neighborhood a bold cropping of copper rock.

They did considerable work on the several claims that they had staked out and were enabled to show a very fair prospect in copper and silver. These prospectors interested Mr. Murray and Governor Trittle in their find and took them to the claims. They were so well pleased with the showing that they bought these three men out for ten thousand dollars.

On the strength of the sale one of the prospectors drank himself to death, dying of delirium tremens in the Prescott jail.

Murray and Trittle did not have sufficient money to develop the property, so Murray came to New York to raise funds to work the mine, build roads and put up a smelter.

Murray first applied to my father, [his uncle] Mr. [Eugene] Jerome [cousin to Winston Churchill’s mother Jennie Jerome]. My father answered that he was a speculator, having been in Wall street at that time over thirty years; he said he would gamble in stocks, bet on a horse race and even take a chance on the turn of a card, but as to gambling in mining he knew nothing about it. and could not be persuaded to take a chance on a hole in the ground.

Failing to interest my father in the project. Murray turned his attention to my mother and my aunt, also a Mrs. Jerome, ladies who, by the way, had fortunes of their own. Being a very smooth talker and standing high in the estimation of both the ladies mentioned. he persuaded them to invest in the neighborhood of two hundred thousand dollars [$200,000].

[Eugene Jerome and others also joined, with Eugene as Secretary- Treasurer.]

With this money at his command, Murray returned to Prescott and the United Verde Copper company was formed. A wagon road was constructed from Prescott to the mine, a distance of twenty-eight [28] miles. The mountains are very bold and steep. Wages and provisions were much higher then than now and by the time the road was completed, and a thirty-ton smelter put on the ground, a big holehad been made in the two hundred thousand dollars.

Fortunately a very short time after commencing operations they uncovered a deposit of wonderfully rich silver ore, just to the right of the road and below where the Jumbo smelter now stands. Some of the ore was shipped to New York city and it set people fairly wild.

A clean-up of some eighty odd thousand dollars [$80,000] was made out of this pocket and the United Verde declared her first dividend. A little mining town sprang into existence about half a mile down the gulch from the mine and was named Jerome [after the Jerome sisters].

This town clings to the side of the mountain and you have to dig and scratch to get a level foot of ground, for where it is not up hill it is down hill.

The town, like all other mining towns has been visited repeatedly by fire and each time has been almost swept out of existence.

Having had so many lessons the inhabitants passed an ordinance permitting nothing but fire-proof buildings to be erected and now Jerome is a wellbuilt town, fairly secure from the dread fire fiend.

The town grew very fast. At present there are over a thousand [1000] men on the pay-roll and each month nearly one hundred thousand dollars [$100,000] are turned loose and most [of] it is spent right in Jerome.

The Murphys were also connected with the management in the early days of the mine. There were three brothers. Frank is now president of the Santa Fe and Arizona Central railroad [Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railroad] and largely interested in the Congress mine, one of the greatest gold producers in the United States. Oakes Murphy is the present governor of the territory and the other brother was killed — shot by a man at the mine in a quarrel, and the shooter is now serving a life sentence for the act in the penitentiary at Yuma.

The United Verde did very well for a time, but Murray, who was suffering with consumption, became worse and was ordered to go to Hermosillo, Mexico, which he did and, unfortunately, was not benefited, but after lingering along for some months, finally died there. At great expense and considerable connivance we were enabled to get the body out of Mexico and buried in the old family burying-ground at Canandagua, New York. There is a law prohibiting the transportation of a cadaver out of Mexico.

Murray's death was a great blow to the United Verde company as far as we were concerned, as the major part of the management fell to Governor Trittle. Trittle, while an exceedingly genial gentleman, was a poor business man and very visionary and extravagant.

Be it understood that at this time the United Verde was considered a copper property carrying some silver. The mine was worked for some time after Murray's death but, eventually was shut down. You will remember that in the early eighties the French copper syndicate was in existence and copper was at a very low figure.

The property was offered to the Commercial Mining company (which, in fact, is Phelps. Dodge & Co.) for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars [$250,000]. Professor Douglas, their milling expert and man of business, reported unfavorably at the figures and the sale was off.

The mine had been shut down some time when W. A. Clark of Butte, Montana. came to Arizona, looking for mining property, accompanied by his foreman. Mr. Geroux [Giroux]. Mr. Clark obtained a lease from Mr. Trittle and commenced work on the United Verde mine.

Clark and Geroux [Giroux] were both experienced miners. When they began work they found they were right on the ore chute. They covered things over, kept mum and Mr. Clark came on to New York city.

I was in Australia at the time. My mother and aunt, of course, knew nothing about the property only that they had two hundred thousand dollars tied up in the mine. They had begun to believe that the money was as good as lost Murray was dead and, as I stated before. Governor Trittle was the sole representative, Mr. Trittle died some two years ago of paresis. I have often been given to believe that the disease had made inroads even at that time.

Mr. Clark asked my mother and aunt how much money they had invested in the United Verde Copper company, and being told. Mr. Clark offered them cash for their holdings. These two ladies held out both hands, so to speak, congratulating themselves on the recovery of money they thought lost; and so passed the control of the richest mine in the world from their possession into the possession of W. A. Clark of Montana, making him the mining king of the United States.

The property in the hands of Mr. Clark was an entirely different proposition from what it was when under the management of ex-Governor Trittle.

Mr. Clark, a man of large wealth and practical experience in mining, went to work systematically. He placed Mr. Geroux in as foreman and brought a number of experienced copper miners down from his properties at Butte. Then he erected a hundred-ton smelter [above the mine].

Mr. Clark found everything at his door, the finest of timber and plenty of fluxing ore. All he had to do was to haul in coke for his smelters. As soon as the Santa Fe and Prescott and Phoenix railroad was built, a narrow gauge railroad from the mines was constructed by Mr. Clark's engineers to tap the Sania Fe, Prescott and Phoenix, doing away with hauling by team [mule-drawn wagons] and reducing to the very least cost the importation of coke and machinery and the exporting of the output of the mine.

The United Verde is what may be called a blow-out, or a chimney. It has no true defined fissure ledge in place. It is not only a copper mine but a gold and silver mine as well — a mountain of ore, so to speak. Every Arizona prospector and miner knows that the mineral is what is termed "spotted" in the territory, the foundation being mostly volcanic.

Here in California, when one is placer [blast water] mining he gets a color and follows up the trace until he is invariably led to the pay streak.

I have done some placer mining in Arizona, and there you find it, but can not trace it to the pay streak, as in California. It jumps here and there and often peters entirely.

The United Verde is a mine that can be worked very economically, as a single miner can knock down from eighty to one hundred tons of rock in one shift.

A considerable body of water was encountered in the development and a tunnel was driven into the mine to drain it.

While drifting an ore body was encountered six hundred feet in width and no side walls. One can hardly imagine the magnitude or this property. No miner is permitted to talk about what he knows. If he does he is immediately discharged. Moreover, a miner works only in one part of the mine and knows simply what is in his immediate proximity.

Gold ore has been found running up in the thousands, and large quantities that assays eight hundred dollars [$800] to the ton. This rich ore has the appearance of black soot and in certain drifts doors are placed and kept locked.

It is said that the mine last year made a profit of twelve millions of dollars [$12 M] on the output. The silver contained in the ore alone pays for the working of the mine, smelting etc.

Of late years considerable trouble has been caused by caves, as large ore bodies are extracted attended by so little of what miners call waste, that is, country or barren rock. My humble opinion is that water will be encountered in large quantities in the future and if great care is not taken some terrible accident will happen.

Twelve million dollars is the interest at six per cent on two hundred millions of dollars [$200 M] — stupendous figures.

There is but three thousand shares of the United Verde Copper company's stock and all owned by Senator W. A. Clark. If it amuses you. you may figure what the value of one share would be. [$66,667/share] It is worth more than any other stock in the world and I do not think a share could be bought.

I have often been asked if I did not at times feel a disappointment. having had the opportunity of owning such fabulous wealth. I can honestly say no. I was brought up in Wall street; worked for Old Commodore Vanderbilt, and was taught by my father to be a cheerful loser and never a boastful winner.

Of all men I know I would prefer that the United Verde should be owned by its present owner, Senator W. A. Clark is a thorough miner, a self-made man and above all else one of nature's noblemen. While I am a poor man I am not envious of the senator's good luck. He deserves it.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 1, September 18, 1901

Prescott’s New Water Works

The Ten Days' Official Test of the Plant Completed at One O’Clock on Sunday. -- The Test Proves Highly Satisfactory and the Plant has been Accepted by the City's Special Engineer.

... city’s special engineer, W. W. Follett, on behalf of the city, accepted the plant from the contractors. The machinery worked to perfection while the amount of water pumped daily exceeded the amount called for in the contract.

...

Last September the city council purchased the Baker and Banghart
ranches at Del Rio springs in the Little Chino valley, twenty miles north of Prescott, in order to obtain title to the water rights of these ranches. There are four ranches furnished with water from these springs, each ranch, by court decree, owning all the water every fourth day. The city thus has all the water for two days. During the drought last fall the combined flow from these springs amounted to 2,500,00 gallons in
twenty four hours. It is now a little more than this but under 3,000,000 gallons.

Geo. W. Sturtevant jr., of Chicago, designed for the city a pumping plant
and pipeline to deliver 500,000 gallons in 24 hours of this water in the Prescott city reservoir, and later took a contract under the name of the Phoenix Construction Co., to build the works.  

…

The pipeline is eight inches in diameter. …

——————

Engineering News, 8 June 1899, page 207.

Construction News: Water-Works 

PRESCOTT ARIZ — It is reported that Geo. W. Sturtevant Jr. has been awarded the contract at about $75,000 for constructing a system and making certain repairs to the water works.

1903

Prescott Journal Miner, 19 January 1903, page 2

Articles of Incorporation of the Chino Valley Cattle Company  

Articles of Incorporation of the Chino Valley Cattle Company, Formed Jan. 19, 1903 in Los Angeles by Jotham Bixby, George Bixby (son), W.R. Patterson, E.L. Patterson, George, H. Stewart.  Land owned by partnership of Bixby & Patterson, to trade in cattle, land, irrigation, ditches, cultivate, farming, Posted in Arizona in 1912, Nov 26, Nov 29, Dec 3 

1906

Los Angeles Herald, page 3, November 24, 1906

Arizona Miners Select President

Increase in Salary for Jerome Employees Made by Senator Clark. Beach Canyon District Active

Col. Epes Randolph is the new president of the Arizona Miners' association. .. to protect investors from mining sharks who try to ensnare capital in "wildcat" schemes. .. in Phoenix representatives were present from every county in the territory. ..  Senator William A. Clark's recent visit to his United Verde properties at Jerome was his announcement to the men that .. advance in salary of 25 cents per day, .. as long as copper remained above 18 cents per pound. The raise was made voluntarily, ..

1909

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 3, February 17, 1909

Returned Visitor Reports Bouse False Alarm

Compares Boom Town to Jerome Junction At Best

"The Bouse boomers are selling lots at exorbitant prices to parties who are led to believe that the place will be the supply point for the Swansea mines. Provided the mines prove as rich as the United Verde of Jerome, I believe and do not hesitate to state that the place will never grow into as important a town as Jerome Junction."

Arizona Journal-Miner, page ?, September 9, 1909

Headline

In 1909 [1893, 1896, 1898, 1910] the AT&SF Railroad and the Fred Harvey Company bought 3,250 acres (5.1 mi2) of land at Del Rio to produce milk and eggs for the Harvey Restaurants. They had 5 farms serving 85 hotels. The fields were also the wintering grounds for the famous Grand Canyon mules. Of ~750 tons of hay produced per year, half went to Grand Canyon park horses and mules.

"... the intention is to cultivate the first year the soil with a grain hay and later this will give way to alfalfa. As soon as the land is in shape the first consignment of dairy cattle will be placed on it, and it is probable that the feeding pens at Peach Springs will be abandoned. The Grand Canyon herds will come to Del Rio at practically the same time, these two stations being the most expensive points to maintain along the Santa Fe. Approximately inside of a year from the present time a herd of 300 Holstein cows will be on pasture at the new location."

"Another interesting matter was also mentioned by the railroad spokesmen that will please the people of this section in the plan that has been decided upon to give the Del Rio Dairy the widest channels of publicity. To the end every vessel, whether metallic, earthen or glass, will have a lithographic reproduction of the Del Rio Harvey Farm, and in addition to this display the table serving of this eating house will likewise portray the place in a natural scene."

"This movement has been decided upon from the fact that the government chemists at Washington have analyzed the waters of these springs and pronounced them the purest of any in the nation, with the possible exception of the famous Rock Springs, Wyo. product."

Arizona Place Names, by Will Croft Barnes, University of Arizona Press 1960, page 342.

The abundant water supply at Del Rio Springs caused the city of Prescott to buy the ranch after the disastrous city fire of 1900. The water was piped to Prescott. In 1910 the Santa Fe Railroad purchased the 3520 acres of Del Rio Ranch to serve as a dairy ranch for the Fred Harvey hotels and to provide winter pasture for the mules from the Grand Canyon. At one time the Santa Fe hauled water from deep wells at Del Rio to the Grand Canyon, one hundred thirty miles away. In 1956 the Santa Fe Railroad offered

Arizona cattlelog, Volume 15

Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, Jan 1, 1959

In 1893 the Santa Fe acquired the property and later leased it to Fred Harvey. Harvey developed it as a farming enterprise, ... Along with the farm animals pastured on the irrigated pastures along the road through Chino Valley, Del Rio ...

1910

Los Angeles Herald, page 11, May, 11 1910

Patent Applications Indicate Approach of Arizona Boom

The receipts for the last quarter equaled one-half of the annual receipts for the average year since General Ingalls has been in office, and yesterday was received the largest application for mining patents that has come into the office.. since its very beginning. ..  by the Arizona and Nevada Copper Mining company .. Bagdad extension .. 61 .. claims .. Eureka district of Yavapai county.

Salt Lake tribune., Page 27, May 21, 1911

You Want a Farm?  You Can Have One!

On July 1, the lands under the Hatchtown Irrigation project will be thrown open. The irrigation system is complete, is now ready and water is ready for the lands.

The State of Utah will on that day, through its State Board of Land Commissioners, place on sale seven thousand acres of irrigated land.

These lands are located in the County of Garfield in the Panguitch valley, 45 miles [south] from Marysvale. There are three classes of land under the project. The first grade sells for $35.00 per acre; second, $32.50 per acre; third grade, $30.00 per acre. You pay $5.00 per acre when you select your land, and you are restricted to 160 acres, the balance you pay in ten annual payments, the deferred payments bear 5 per cent interest.

No other state in the union makes such an offer as this. Call on or write Lloyd Sigler, colonization agent, State Board of Land Commissioners, 14 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, for particulars.

You can select your land, your farm now!

There are no restrictions as to residence. You can live on the lands or not, just as you please. There is no proving up. The land is yours to do with as you will.

You would better investigate. It means a fortune for you.

The water right is sold at actual cost, plus 5 per cent, and is perpetual, and the lands are the most fertile in the state.

Salt Lake Herald-Republican., page 10, May 22, 1910

Devises New Plan To Bring Farmers

Unique Colonization Project Being Perfected by Trust Company Manager.  ; 7,000 Acres of Fine Land ; Lectures To Tell Soil Tillers About Advantages.

PHOTO: Lloyd Sigler, Special Agent Engaged to Sell State Lands.

A colonization project that is absolutely unique will be conducted by Lloyd Sigler manager of the National Bond Trust company in the opening of the Hatchtown land and reservoir project*. [Failed in 1914, see “More”] The land is located 50 miles south of Marysvale and near Pangultch and includes 7,000 acres of land which has recently been brought under irrigation by the government. The cost of the project is about $195,000. The land will be sold to settlers under terms which will require the payment of $35 per acre for ground of the first grade; $32.50 for land of the second grade, and $30 for land of the third grade. About $30,000 will be devoted to advertising the property, the scheme being an original one with Mr. Sigler.

* The Hatchtown Reservoir was 1.25 miles south of Hatch, on the Sevier river, directly west of the Panoramic Cliffs Retreat, and east of the end of Bullberry Road. 

One phase of the advertising campaign will be the sending of lecturers to different sections of the country where it is hoped that an interest in Utah may be aroused among the farmers and those who wish to take up land under the Hatchtown project. Publicity of a novel variety, the details of which are not yet fully worked out will also be used to advertise the project and the state.

The land to be sold was taken over by the state for various purposes and instead of being granted to a company is being handled by the state land board at actual cost or as near that as possible. In this way the land can be sold much less per acre than by a private company and settlers will have all the advantages which can be found in irrigated lands sold by the large development companies. It would be impossible for any individual, it is pointed out to carry out the system of irrigation required to make the land fit for cultivation so that this feature of the project has been provided by the land board.

The cost per acre to the purchaser will include the cost of carrying out the irrigation project, the advertising and all matters connected with colonizing the locality.

The undertaking will be under the charge of Mr. Sigler, who is now arranging details for bringing new settlers to the state with the idea of infusing new blood into the farming industry here.  

———————

More

• Sawyerm, Ashley. “Settlement of Hatch”, Utah Historical Markers.
• Beers, D.W. “Failure of the Hatchtown Dam”, Ninth Biennial Report of the State Engineer to the Governor of Utah, 1913-1914, 1915, pp. 33-40.
• Timmins, William M. “The Failure of the Hatchtown Dam, 1914” [text], Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, Number 3, 1968 [full article], pp, 263-273.

Los Angeles Herald, page 3, June 5, 1910  

(Library of Congress version)

Fine Homestead Land Open To Settlement

More Than 600,000 Acres in Yavapai and Maricopa Counties, Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz., June 4.— August 7 next 606,607 acres of land, much of which is rated as fertile farm land as can be found in any part of Arizona, will be thrown open to settlement in Maricopa and Yavapai counties, and thirty days later will be open to entry. Information received from Washington is that Secretary of Interior Ballinger has designed this immense tract of land for disposition, under the enlarged homestead act.

From Register Parker and Receiver Arnold of the Phoenix land office information was obtained which indicates that in restoring this large area several hundred thousand acres of farm land under cultivation will be added to the total in Arizona in the next few years.

Beginning near the upper end of the Big Chino valley in Yavapai county, the restored lands lie along the Verde river and down [including Little Chino Valley] into Maricopa county as far south as Frog Tanks [now Lake Pleasant]. In 1901 the land was withdrawn by the government to be included by the Prescott forest reserve, as most of it lies between the two halves of that reserve, which are jointed together in the Prescott section.

Originally the withdrawal is said to have been made at the request of cattlemen, who sought by this means to keep the sheep owners off several thousand acres of fine grazing land. Register Parker stated that in the restored area are several hundred thousand acres of land that are as good for agricultural proposes as any in Arizona. He stated that hardly a day passes at the office that does not bring an applicant for homestead entry from inside the district that has just been restored.

(Library of Congress version)

Huge Desert Acreage Filings For Irrigation

42,000 of the 83,000 Tract Sold to a Los Angeles Company

PHOENIX, Ariz., June 4.— There has never been a time in the history of Arizona when the immediate reclamation of the arid lands of the territory was as promising as it is at the present moment.

...

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 4, June 22, 1910

Public Records

Instruments Filed as Reported by The Prescott Title Co.

June  11, 1910

C. Hodges and L. Benjamin file certificates of co-partnership as "New Wood Yard of L. Benjamin and C. Hodges."

In February-March 1916, Cooke & Benjamin build houses and school for colonists from Russia. 

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 3, August 23, 1910

Large Cucumber is Grown on Dry Farm

Measures Sixteen Inches Long and Over Nine Wide

Jerome Junction Settlers Declare War on Prairie Dogs

Corn … looks pretty good … green beans, cucumbers, chickens, … fence posts are in demand … the liveliest railroad point in Northern Arizona … Taylor has plenty of good water in his well … Stock looking well, grass green and growing and everybody satisfied that the Junction neighborhood is due for solid and substantially growth. …

The Morning Leader, page 7, September 28, 1910

Earthquakes In Arizona

Territory of Fifty Square Miles of State are Depopulated

[From Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon evacuated due to earthquakes and rumblings since Saturday.]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 3, December 11, 1910

New York Colony Planned For Yavapai

Howard Hornell Favors Junction and Agua Fria Lands

Believes Water Can Be Easily Developed By Churn Drills

Appreciating the wonderful possibilities of the land adjacent to Jerome Junction, on the west, and along the Upper Agua Fria, contiguous to Yanger Station, on the P.&.E railroad, Edward Hornell of Utica, N.Y., who arrived Friday, after several days of an inspection of these sections, states that it is probable that it will be colonized by people from his state. He made a hasty examination of the country, and being a practical farmer, expressed himself as impressed with its fertility and believed that an abundance of water can be developed at a nominal cost. His plan is to bore with a churn drill and the land to be selected for that determination is in the lower elevations of the valley. He prefers the Yaeger section, stating it is more desirable for exploring for a water supply.

Mr Hornell also states that in the eastern states there is a decidedly keen interest for investment in the Western farming lands, one of the reasons being that milder winters are desired by many.

He was a visitor to the Territorial Fair, and is attracted to this section from the Yavapai exhibitions in agricultural and horticultural lines. He will leave for Southern Arizona in a few days, and from here will return home. He intends to return early next year, and form his favorable impression of the Lonesome Valley region, it is probable he will become identified with it.

1911

Los Angeles Times, page VI10, February 19, 1911

Phoenix, The Beautiful Capital City Of Arizona

Lying in the Heart of the Fertile Salt River Valley-Phenomenal Growth and Prosperity-New

IT IS a long stretch from Denver to Los Angeles, or from El Paso to Los Angeles, and in this vast domain comprising one-eighth of the United States, there is need of a city centrally located on transportation lines and as a distributing point. The Arizona orange, Brown in an dry climate, that troll can be bought and held … The real estate market is feeling the impulse of these events and buyers …

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 2, May 2, 1911

Inspiring report On Dry Farming

Dr. V.T. Cooke Declares Yavapai Land Can be Made as Profitable as Those of the State of Wyoming

…official report to the Chamber of Commerce … Dr. Cooke .. director for dry farming for the state of Wyoming … properly preparing his land and using seed raised under similar conditions … Granite Siding, in Lonesome Valley … can be made to raise profitable crops … Jerome Junction … visited Murchler's dry farm … profitable crops are well exemplified here. … Dry Farmers at the meeting at Jerome Junction evinced considerable intelligence … I investigated a section of Lonesome Valley, proposed to be reclaimed … most important undertaking. … George A. Thayer and Major W. L. Hargrove, the  promoters of this project, are exploiting it for their private profit … I see no reason why the following crops cannot be successfully grown … Winter wheat, winter rye, spring barley, oats and wheat, emmer, commonly called spletz; alfalfa and alfalfa seed, stock beets, potatoes, field peas, corn, sorghums, Milo maize, Kaffir corn, etc. … the whole range of deciduous fruits …  I urge the use of seed raised by natural precipitation.

Wikipedia, May 9, 1911

First Battle of Tijuana

Tijuana was captured, held by rebel forces as a haven for recruiting American volunteers from California. Most of the 100 residents of Tijuana evacuated …. This left a company of 220 Magonistas against 200 federal Mexican Army troops to contend for the port town. The civilians who fled went north and alarmed the authorities in California so a force of United States cavalry was ordered to the border, …

The Discredited Revolution: The Magonista Capture of Tijuana in 1911

The Journal of San Diego History, Fall 1980, V.26, N.4

Capture of Tijuana

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 5, May 10, 1911 

New Industry Promoted By Valley

H. G. Coykendall, from Prescott, is in Mesa and has consulted with the business men and alfalfa growers with a view of establishing a mill in Mesa for the purpose of working alfalfa into feed for stock, says the Phoenix Republican. It is proposed to incorporate a company with a capital stock of $50,000, $15,000 of which is to be paid into one of the local banks to be held until the mill is ready to begin operations. Local capital will be interested to the extent of holding the controlling interest here a plan that has worked most satisfactorily in the case of the Mesa banks, the Mesa Dairy and Ice company and other institutions. The capacity of the mill will be 100 tones daily. The alfalfa will not be ground, but cut or chopped into pieces not exceeding a half inch in size, and mixed with sterilized molasses, a bi-product of the Glendale and other sugar factories. Failing a sufficiency from these sources, the company will depend upon sorghum, which can be grown in any quantity in this section.

The plant will be operated by steam. The reason for this is that it is necessary to have steam to heat and sterilize the molasses. Were electricity used, Mr. Coykendall says, a separate plant with steam power would be necessary, and the two would cost practically as much to operate as to have one large steam plant.

The promoters believe that there will be no trouble in disposing of all product in excess of home consumption to eastern stock owners. The railroad companies have assured Mr. Coykendall of satisfactory co-operation in handling the output. He expects to secure thousands of head of range cattle which will be brought to Mesa to be fattened for the market. The farmer will benefit by having a home market for all the alfalfa he can grow; the mill will eliminate the necessity of pasturing stock, in itself a big item, as hundreds of tons of alfalfa are destroyed every year by pasturing; and the land can be farmed the year around, thus increasing the output.

The  enterprising citizens of Mesa are taking the matter up and it is almost a certainty that there will be no trouble in raising the necessary funds.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, May 27, 1911

Prescott Awaits With Open Arms The Visiting Host From Sister City

Spirit of Fraternalism Inspired by The Chamber of Commerce is Bearing A Rich Fruitage

… no city of 6,000 in the Union has prospered as Prescott has and is doing. … outlook … is dazzling … finest … climate … blessed … water clear … per capita wealth of Prescott is higher than that of any city in the United States … mineral wealth … Agriculture … promises to be the co-chief industry with mining. … To the man who will bring tried principles to the management of his homestead or "desert" farm, a fortune will come as surely as the sun shines.

     The Arizona Land and Irrigation company, a corporation of Indianians, has bought or stripped 35,000 acres of land adjacent to Prescott, and proposes storing the waters of Granite, Lynx and Willow creeks by means of a huge dam. … within two years the southern ranches of Lonesome Valley will blossom as the rose. …

     God was good when he planned Prescott, and Yavapai county, …

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 7, May 31, 1911

  City News ... In Brief : Leaves for Coast.

Mrs. J. Paul passed through the city yesterday from Jerome Junction, en route to Los Angeles for the summer, on business and pleasure. She was joined at Wickenburg by her niece, Miss Clara O'Brien. During her absence, John Brannen, her brother, is master of ceremonies at the popular hotel.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, June 16, 1911

Fifty Thousand Acres Of Land Taken Up

Influx of Homeseekers Into Yavapai County

Abundant Water Struck In New Well On The Tucker Place

50,000 acres (76 sq.mi.) homesteaded in past year, mostly in the Lonesome Valley. O.H. Tucker has 106 feet (per minute) of water from his 348 foot deep well near Granite Siding. He and Larry Little each homesteaded 160 acres. 

Santa Fe Employes' Magazine, page 96, July 1911

Construction Notes

To cover the cost of constructing a pumping station at Del Rio, Ariz., an appropriation of approximately $22,000 has been made.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, July 16, 1911

Yavapai To Have Experimental Farm

New Station Will be Started Before End of Present Month Within A Few Miles of This City

[Local arid land was inspected in April by Dr. V.T. Cooke, Dry Farming Congress, Colorado Springs, for 10 days. He reported "the soils of Lonesome … valley … susceptible to the raising of merchantable crops of alfalfa, other fodders and cereal crops, by scientific farming. In May, Professor McOrmie, of the Arizona University [UofA] … stayed a few days, coming to the same conclusions. " The new experimental station to launch in July. Estimated 2-year budget was $4,000. Railroad gave $2000, half. Local business gave $1100, $900 less than needed. Arizona Land and Irrigation Company only contributed $100, though they are the major benefactor of the experimental results. This may mean they did not think further agricultural research was worth it. Location map, references.]

Santa Fe Employes' Magazine, page 80, August 1911

Construction Notes

Dairy buildings costing approximately $21,000 will be constructed at Del Rio, Cal., for the use of Fred Harvey.

Los Angeles Times, page I-15, August 15, 1911

San Diego: Russians In Bitter Feud.

Mexico: Two leaders, each representing different faction ... ordered threshing machines early this year...which got switched in delivery ($25 difference in cost) ... Mose Rudametkin, vs. Mike Rogoff (ordered arrested by Governor Vega). 1000 acres of wheat lost.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 1, 1911

Deal Is Closed For Monarch Group

Indianapolis Company Buys Cherry Creek Property

Purchasing Concern Will Start Operations At Once

[Indianapolis Gold Mining company representative V.A. Smith buys Monarch group of mines.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 7, September 1, 1911

Fraser Delivers Dry Farming Lecture

[Chamber of Commerce secretary Fraser tells chamber of his trip to Nebraska and the potential dry farming nearby in nearby Skull and Fergusen valleys.]

1911 September 2 , Friday —

Colonists from Russian Arrive in Glendale

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 7, September 2, 1911

Russian Colony Expected In Glendale

PHOENIX, Ariz., Sept. 1.— Over fifty Russian families will arrive at Glendale tomorrow morning from Los Angeles. In the party are more than 200 former subjects of the Czar, who have decided to make their homes in the Salt River valley.

These are the Russians whose leaders visited the valley a short time ago and made arrangements, through the office of Greene & Griffin, to purchase two and a half sections of land lying south of Glendale and west, of Alhambra, owned by the Southwestern Sugar and Land company. The land they have bought is as good as any in the valley for general farming purposes. It is the intention of the Russians to establish a town of their own about two miles west of Alhambra. There they will have their own general store, bakery and other establishments commonly found in the ordinary Russian village. Their homes will be in the [type] found in the ordinary Russian village. Their homes will be in the village. which will be in the center of their farming land.

Elaborate preparations are being made to receive the Russians upon their arrival in Glendale. They are traveling from Los Angeles on a special train, conducted by A. A. Betts of the S.F.P.& P. Betts made a trip to Los Angeles some weeks ago, after the Russians had made the deal for their land, and arranged for the transportation of the Muscovites* to the Salt River valley. He returned Saturday to see his plans carried into effect. [* Muscovites are residents of Moscow. These Russians immigrated from Kars and Erevan oblasts, in the Russian-occupied Caucasus.]

When the special arrives at the sugar-beet town the Russians will be invited to take breakfast. A feast will he spread for them in the open air. Greene & Griffin and the sugar company will stand the expense.

Immediately after the breakfast the colonists will be taken to their land, where tents have been set up for their temporary accommodation. Within a short time the Russians will have built homes of their own.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 7, September 2, 1911

Lightning Kills Popular Preacher

Rev. Fred Allen Called Suddenly To His Reward With Bible in Hand Preparing For Sermon

While entering his tent at Jerome Junction yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, during a rainstorm, Rev. Fred Allen was instantly killed by a bolt of lightning. … close to the public school house.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 6, September 5, 1911

Great Race For Casa Grande Lands

[14 German families buy 3000 acres in Casa Grande valley — Heidal, Kellum, Ryland, Elred. Tucsonians got 800 acres, of 50,000 acres in Casa Grande Water Users Association. Owners pay $50/acre for San Carlos irrigation project to serve up to a million acres. ]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 6, 1911

Yavapai Leads In Luscious Fruit

Peaches, Pears, Apples and Plums From Many Orchards on Exhibit At Chamber of Commerce

[Fruit and photos collected for Dry Farm congress from Big Bug district (10 mi SE), Ferguson valley (SW)]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, September 8, 1911

Indians To Meet Secretary Of Interior

[1000 Sacton reservation natives promised water at Casa Grande years ago, but San Carlos dam not built.  Pima natives at Gila River reservation held a meeting to protest injustices to give their land away before they get water. Government wants to give each native family 5-10 acres with water, but Indian Rights Association opposed. ]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 5, September 8, 1911

Opportunities Of Yavapai Very Inviting

[Visiting Nebraska Superior Court Judge Kinkaid, former Senator, compliments potential irrigated farmland in county.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 9, 1911

Cane Found with Johnson-Grass Plumes

Specimen on Exhibition At Chamber Of Commerce

Herbage-Tasseled Sorghum Grows On Willow Creek Farm

Judge Moore presented the Chamber of Commerce yesterday with two bunches of cane, seven and one-half feet high. … one the ranch of F.H. Brock, … four miles north of this city. 

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 14, 1911

Declares War On Piebald Rodents

Attorney Morrison Busy Solving Delicate Problem

Temporarily Abandons Law Practice To Rid Place Of Rats

[Gift of 3 pair of pet white rats escaped, bred with local rats, infested property of attorney Robt. E. Morrison.]

Land Locators Very Active

[5x160 + 40 = 840 acres homesteaded this week.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, September 15, 1911

Prolific Crops On Banning Creek

Walter Atkin, about 2 miles south of this city … buckwheat … 150 bushels of potatoes … both without irrigation.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 6, September 19, 1911

Phoenix Bids For Irrigation Congress

[1911 congress in Chicago, IL Dec 5-9. Phoenix + 7 cities apply for 1912.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 5, September 21, 1911 

Another Colony Of Russian Coming

A second colony of 700 Russians from the southern part of the great Muscovite empire, but who have been in California for the past few years, will soon be located in the Salt River valley. The exact location has not yet been decided upon, but it will be somewhere in the Glendale neighborhood. Following the land of the other Russians who are already established in that part of the valley, these 700 families will settle on contiguous tracts and will have their own churches and other institutions. They will not have their own stores, however, as it is their intention to do their trading in Phoenix, says the Phoenix Republican.

The arrangements for the coming of these most desirable citizens is already well under way. For the past two days J. Kerzkopf has been in Phoenix looking over the ground and making preliminary arrangements. Yesterday he was called to Los Angeles by a telegram, but he will be back within a short time to conclude negotiations for the large tract of land which the colonists will require. In his absence the work will be looked after by A.C. King.

It is said by Mr. King that within four months the colony will have been established here. The colonists will engage largely in beet raising, a form of agriculture with which they are perfectly familiar. They will also experiment in the growing of cotton.

It is a known fact that no sturdier more honest or more substantial class of citizens have ever come to this section of Arizona than the people of southern Russia, and the fact that another colony of 100 families — meaning from 3000 to 3500 people — has decided to settle here will be the best industrial news this valley has learned in many a day.

Another Dam Contract Let

[C.D. Rynearson of Kirkland valley is building a 12 ft high, 160 ft long dam, in Peeples Valley for George, Fred and Ed Genung to irrigate several hundred acres.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 22, 1911

Investigation Of Script Lands Finished

[John Duke and other protested that Arizona Land and Irrigation company was illegally trading Moqui Base land for 14,000 acres of inferior scrip land north of Prescott.  Official investigation for 2 days by F.C. Dezendorf, US Land Office, San Francisco, with W. F. Taliafero, assistant in land department of Santa Fe Pacific railroad.]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 5, September 24, 1911

Find Climate "Too Melting"

Three Russians passed through the city yesterday en route to their native land, after a residence of two years on the coast, and a few months in the Salt River valley. When asked the reason for leaving this country, the younger one, about 21 years old, stated that the climate of Arizona was "too melting," and hereafter he would live in the Caucasus mountain among his kinsman, where the climate was more congenial especially in the summer time.

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 1, September 26, 1911

Taft Predicts Back To Farm Movement

Favors Conservation Of Agricultural Lands Of Nation

Says Education Will end Solution for High Cost Of Living

[Addressed the National Conservation congress in Missouri and at 11 towns in Kansas]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 26, 1911

Big Crops In Skull Valley

James Davis, of Ferguson valley, who has attained an enviable reputation as a dry farmer, was in the city yesterday, bringing to market over a ton of hogs, which he raised during the season. In addition, he reports the largest crops in beans, corn and maize ever produced on his place, all of which have been cultivated strictly on the principles of dry farming. He came from Oregon two years ago and in reclaiming the land he owns, which was idle for over a quarter of a century, has stimulated other in that region and as a result this method of scientifically cultivating the soil is now proving remunerative. The coming year he proposes to double his production and will have over 300 acres under cultivation.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 8, September 26, 1911

City News .. In Brief: Some Yavapai Hogs

J.S. Russell of Skull Valley yesterday sold a ton of hogs to Stephens & Hoover. These hogs are corn-fed and raised by the dry farming process. They are so superior to the hogs fattened upon alfalfa or acorns than a trial will convince them of their quality. These hogs will be slaughtered by Stephens & Hoover at the end of this week and consumers should test the merits of Yavapai hogs over Salt River valley hogs.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 1, September 28, 1911

Teeming Crops Shape Career Of Nation

M'Gee Advocates Fertilizing With Brains So as to Increase Production Both Per Acre and Per Worker

[3rd annual conservation congress, Kansas city, speakers William Jennings Bryan about conservation; Secretary of Interior Fisher about coal mine monopolies in west; W.J. McGee Bureau of Soils, Ag Dept, about education]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, September 29, 1911

Dry Farm Exhibit Is Being Formed

Collection of Yavapai County Products To be Sent to International Congress At Colorado Springs

[Chamber of Commerce Secretary Fraser collecting exhibit products. 17 states and 15 countries in 1000 ft2 exhibit at International Dry Farm congress, Oct 16. Walter Atkin (potatoes), D.M. Wynkoop (wheat, corn, beans, pumpkins) ]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 4, October 6, 1911

Exhibit Of Yavapai County Shipped To Colorado Springs

McOmie and Frazer Are Selected By the Chamber Of Commerce to Attend The Dry Farm Congress

[Large map of southwest showing Prescott and Yavapai county, Santa Fe RR photos, minerals, ores, many dry farm products ]

Los Angeles Times, page I-13, October 10, 1911

Much Interest In Dry Farming

Yavapai Will Send Delegates to Congress…

 PRESCOTT (Ariz.) Oct. 8.—Yavapai county is to be represented this week at the Sixth International Dry Farming Congress in Colorado Springs by Prof. A. Monteith McOmie of the University of Arizona; R.N. Fredericks… Arizona. Yavapai Will Send Delegates to Congress … be represented this week at the Sixth International Dry Farming Congress in Colorado Springs …

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 7, October 11, 1911

Yavapai Planning Splendid Exhibit

Arizona to Have Credible Display At Sixth International Dry Farming Congress

(Taken from Arizona Range News, Wilcox, Cochise county, Oct 6, 1911) — Congress on Oct 16-20.  Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah lead in science of dry farming. Prof. A.M. McOmie, of the experimental station at Tucson..

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 4, October 15, 1911

Fraser Boosting In Colorado Springs

From Colorado Springs Herald-Telegraph: "The Big and Little Chino valleys alone contain nearly 250,000 acres, most of which are well adapted for dry farming, and the crops raised there this year were almost uniformly good."  [2 tons of exhibit. To put Yavapai on map as having 400,000 acres of undeveloped dry farm land.]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 1, October 17, 1911

Yavapai Is Awarded Twenty-Three Prizes, by Malcomn A. Fraser

Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct 16 — Yavapai farmers awarded Thoma Brock, D.M. Wynkoop, Sam Boblott, Walter Atkin, James Davis … McOmie is one of judges … best congress in history of world … Canada took half of the exhibit space … money well spent on publicity …

Los Angeles Times, page I-13, October 17, 1911

To Store Water For Orchards

Land Company Acquires the Wynkoop Ranch; Santa Fe Makes Canyon More Attractive; Secretary of War Inspects Southwestern Ports.

PRESCOTT (Ariz.) Oct. 15.—The Wynkoop ranch on Willow Creek is to be acquired at once, under an option of $20,000, taken several months ago, by the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company.

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 4, October 18, 1911

Buildings Being Put On Site Of Dam

[Arizona Land and Irrigation company preparing construction work site for 20 men. Plan to clean under brush and blast big boulders for cofferdams. F.B. Walker, chief engineer from Chicago. US government to consider title of 32,000 acres, of which 14,000 are protested. Decision in 2 weeks. ]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 1, October 20, 1911

Arizonans Are Honored In Colorado Springs

Fredricks, Fraser And McOmie Named On Committees

Dry Farming Congress To Meet in Prescott In 1913, by Malcom A. Fraser

The Prescott Courier, page 3, October 21, 1911

Wynkoop Ranch To Be Reservoir Site

Preliminary Operation on Largest Irrigation Enterprise Ever Started In Northern Arizona Under Way

[AL&IC made final payment of $20,000 for 900 acre D.M. Wynkoop ranch, originally owned by L.A. Stevens and Fred G. Brecht. Company owns 32,000 acres, surveyed and platted, covering 20 miles north of dam site, including 14,000 acres in Lonesome Valley.  Canal surveyed to be built within the Fort Whipple Military reservation. President James E. Watson. General Manager George A. Thayer. Chief Engineer F.B. Walker, Chicago.]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 4, October 24, 1911

Exhibit Attracts Experts Of World

Greatest Authorities on Dry Farming In Europe and Australia Coming To See Fertile Yavapai Lands, by Malcom A. Fraser

[Beans and peaches were  chief attractions at Yavapai booth 20x24 feet. 100 people/ hour/ 5 days. 2000 brochures gone 2nd day, needed 10,000. Coming to Prescott soon are representatives from Hungary, Australia, and Dr. W.E. Taylor of Moline IL, to speak to Chamber of Commerce on Oct 27 about dry farming soils.

** NOTE 2 AL&IC stockholders are from IL, March 7, 1912]

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 7, October 25, 1911

Power And Plowing Discussed By Expert

Colorado Springs, Colo, Oct 23 — L.W. Ellis, traction expert of La Porte, Ind, … 600 million tons of soil in half section (320 acre dry farm homestead) need to be turned every 2 years. It takes 4-5 years to train a work horse. A 30-horse power tractor can be built in 3-5 hours. It took 5 years to sell the first 300 gas tractors. Now they sell at 7000/year. Can plow 100 acres in 10-hour day.

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 8, October 25, 1911

Indiana Investor Charmed With Yavapai

Hon. A. J. Venniman … democratic politician … Speck Mining company … trustee of bondholders … Arizona under statehood … one of the most prosperous division of the nation…

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 5, October 26, 1911

United States Needs Agricultural Help

President of Soil Fertility League Says Wheat Average is Less Than Half That of Western Europe

Colorado Springs, Colo, Oct 25 — Howard H. Gross, president of National Soil Fertility league, Chicago, discussed methods of getting the farmer to adopt better agricultural methods at the Sixth International Dry Farming congress Saturday. … "No country on earth stands so much in need of agricultural help as does ours… new European agriculture … trained demonstrators to the actual farm homes. … The United States experimental stations and the agricultural colleges are getting two and three times as large a yield .. as the average, simply because their methods are better. The information sent out … is … technical… Very few, if any, of the farmers can understand then, and the bulletins are seldom read and very seldom followed. … the total expense of thus doubling the yield would be one cent per acre.

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 5, October 27, 1911

Climate And Fertile Soils Of Yavapai Are Unexcelled

Declares Prominent Expert Before An Enthusiastic Meeting of The Chamber of Commerce

The lecture last night at the Chamber of Commerce by Dr. W.E. Taylor, a soil culture expert … recommend farmers seeking soils at once fertile and reasonable in price to come to Yavapai county and purchase or enter upon them. … will speak to farmers and students on next trip in February 1912. … the demand for fruit lands and which will produce peaches, apples and pears such as he and Prof. McOmie exhibited, was so great that it was impossible to secure one-fifth of the names and addresses offered … 5000 pieces of literature distributed … land experts from Texas and Oklahoma to visit in a few days to inspect Lonesome and Big Chino valleys. The meeting was quite the most enthusiastic in the history of the Chamber.

Arizona Journal-Miner, page 5, October 31, 1911

Work On Water Storage Dam Started

At the site of the big water storage dam of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company … wagon road finished yesterday … several buildings … Within the next month it is believed the greatest land reclamation project ever initiated in Northern Arizona will be fairly under way and rushed to completion as fast as men and money can accomplish it.

Arizona Republican, Counties Section, page 8, November 6, 1911

Yavapai County --- The Mile High County

A large percentage of its agricultural lands are susceptible to dry-farming, the average precipitation for the past ten years having been 17.6 inches.

The apples, pears, plums, peaches, grapes and small fruits of this county are without rival in the United States as to their flavor, size, texture and appearance. Our fruits have taken prizes at the St. Louis Universal Exposition, 1904, and at the Arizona Fair at Phoenix every year since its inauguration. At the International Dry Farm Congress, Colorado Springs, October, 1911, Yavapai county took first prizes and gold awards in nearly every class entered.

At present, the markets in Prescott, Jerome, Humboldt, Ash Fork and other towns and mining camps depend largely upon California for their supply of cereal, fodder and fruits. It will require several decades, at least, allowing for the growth of orchards and increase in population which is inevitable to exhaust these markets by means of local production and an adequate and profitable market awaits orchardists all over the United States and in the capitals of Europe in the future.

Although the history of dry-farming in this county covers a period of barely ten years, this department of agricultural industry is being developed very rapidly. At the Dry Farming Congress at Colorado Springs, just closed, twenty-four prizes were taken with a very small exhibit collected and financed by the, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, in which thirty entries were made in all. At this exposition, sixteen gold awards, four silver and four third prizes were made.

White-dent corn raised by Tom Brock, seven miles north of Prescott took the blue ribbon for the world. Yellow dent corn received the silver award. This was produced by S. S. Reed in Williamson Valley. Much surprise was expressed at the perfection and heavy yield of the seven varieties of corn exhibited, all of which was raised by purely dry-farming methods in Yavapai county.

Mexican pink beans, bayous, white navies and other beans shown readily captured blue ribbons at Colorado Springs and pumpkins, cashans and root crops received special notice.

As a result of the impetus given dry-farming in Yavapai county by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, since its inauguration early in 1911, over 50,000 acres of government land have been filed upon and the entries are coming in rapidly. There are over 150,000 acres of excellent land available at this writing.

Therefore, for the capitalist, opportunities for profitable investment do not exceed ours anywhere, whether in farm or orchard lands, stock-raising on the development of our rich mineral area. In the city of Prescott today there is room for enterprising monied men to build up the city. Especially is this true with regard to the construction of houses for rent the year round to people from other parts of the country who are coming to us yearly in increasing numbers for the benefit of our incomparable mountain climate. In this city, out-door life is possible the year round and blankets are requisite every night of the 365.

... antelope can be seen daily along the immense reaches of the Chino and Lonesome valleys, near Prescott. ... Dove and quail .. wild turkeys ... ducks ... In short, Yavapai county is the sportsman's paradise. 

Weekly Journal-Miner, November 22, 1911, Page 5

United Verde is Buying Valley Lands

(From Thursday's Daily) .

The United Verde Copper company has purchased the John and Fisler J. Morris and the A. J. Humbert farming lands in Upper Verde valley, the consideration was not given publicity in the deeds filed for record yesterday. About 240 acres are taken over, which with previous sales closed in that section makes the total acreage over 2000, acquired by this company in the past week. All lands are highly cultivated and are considered the most desirable in the valley for farming purposes. Other deals are said to be pending.

The Prescott Courier, page 2, December 2, 1911

Local And General

It is stated that the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company will put up its own cement mill and manufacture the cement for its dam work from the material so abundant in this section. Their expert has found the material just right for making excellent cement.

1912

Bisbee Daily Review,  page 2, column 3, January 2, 1912,

Round About The State: Development Bureau Information

In Chino and Lonesome Valleys, adjacent to Prescott, over 6,000 acres of land have been homesteaded during the past ninety days.

Coconino Sun, January 05, 1912, Page 7

[Cattle brand chart, col. 1, bottom]

Chino Valley Cattle Co.,

E.L. Patterson, Mgr., Ash Fork, Arizona.

[See: Incorporation: November 26, 1912.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, January 19, 1912

Reservoir Work Will Soon Be Inaugurated

Sam Boblett, general foreman of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company… Wagon roads are being built and the ground cleared of underbrush … Quite a force is employed … contest filed before the Land Office on title to certain lands.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, January 31, 1912

Arizona's Friends In The Public Eye

Col. E.P. Thayer, president of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company, was first assistant sergeant-at-arms at the 1908 Republican National Convention, and will be sergeant-at-arms at 1912 Convention. James E. Watson was a US Representative (1894-1908), Republican House "whip", ran for governor in 1908 (lost), and became a Senator (1916-1933).

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 4, February 28, 1912

Irrigation Project Wins Land Contest

Water Storage Proposition Can now Proceed With Construction Of Reservoirs and Ditches

Ruling on the Desert Land Act by US Department of Interior. John Duke, T.M. Elder and Charles Bowers protested against the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company exchanging Moqui Base scrip getting title to 14,000 acres.

————————

"Arizona Indian Lieu Rights", Chapter VIII in

Arid Domain: The Santa Fe Railway and Its Western Land Grant,

by William S. Greever (1954, 1979), pages 89-102.

[University of Idaho, Professor of History and Department Head Emeritus (Head, Department of History, 1956-82); B.A., 1938, Pomona; M.A., 1940, Ph.D., 1949, Harvard. Emeritus since 1982. ]

page 93 :" In 1897, the failed Atlantic and Pacific Railway …(was taken over)… by the Santa Fe Pacific Railway … (which) peddled a relatively small amount of Moqui scrip directly to those using it. The largest of these transactions was 14,240 acres to Senator James E. Watson of Indiana and associates. They built, merely as an exploitation, a small irrigation project a few miles northwest of Prescott. The Santa Fe Pacific refused to sell lieu rights to three different promoters… in southern Arizona, because it feared they might exploit innocent purchasers unacquainted with the great difficulties of farming in a desert."

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 7, 1912

Prominent People Studying Project

Splendid Irrigation Enterprise May Soon Commence the Construction Of Willow Creek Dam

Arizona Land and Irrigation Company investors at St. Michael hotel, "… prominent stockholders from the east …men of prominence in the financial world, manufacturing industries and leading jurists …inspection of their interests … 32,000 acres", most with wives.

• Colonel E.P. Thayer, Indianapolis, Indiana, "father of the project"
• Senator James E. Watson, president, Terre Haute, Indiana
• B.F. Swain, Shelbyville, Indiana, vice president
• T.G. Beggs, Terre Haute, Indiana
• Judge W.H. Henley, Indianapolis, Indiana,
• Judge Ward H. Watson, Charlestown, Indiana
• Bert McBride,  Indianapolis, Indiana
• R.P. Van Camp, Van Camp Packing Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
• R.J. Finkelsten, Terre Haute, Indiana
• C.C. Sencer, Chicago, Illinois
• Edward W. Zaeger, Chicago, Illinois
• J.H. Carr, Rushville, Indiana
• Samuel Gray, former postmaster, Terre Haute, Indiana

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 8, 1912

Visitors Pleased With Proposition

Irrigation People Find Land and All Conditions Far Superior To Expectations

The visiting bondholders of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company concluded their observations yesterday, … this laudable reclamation project.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, March 24, 1912

Work Begun On Big Storage Project

Surveying Crews Placed In the Field To Map Lands

… 50 men are surveying 40,000 acres owned by Arizona Land and Irrigation Company. F.B. Walker, chief engineer, is in charge of the 2-month project.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, April 10, 1912

Land Company Surveying Its Holdings

About Two Months To Be Required to Make Complete Maps

… Arizona Land and Irrigation Company … Assistant Engineer[s] Joe Linney … F.M. Sloan … C.F. Urbutt … Chief Engineer Fred B. Walker. … company office is now located in Union block.

Land Deal Consummated

M.L. Buckley reported yesterday that he disposed of 320 acres of land situated in Lonesome valley to to Geo. A. Thayer of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company, which is on the route of the projected pipe line service to be constructed later. The consideration was not given publicity.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, April 6, 1912

To Kill Gophers And Prairie Dogs

Methods Outlined for Destruction Of Rodents Troublesome to The Agriculturalists

Stanley E. Piper, chemist and biologist for the United States Department of Agriculture, who spent a week in Prescott recently, during which time he saw nearly all the farmers in this district and advised them as to the best known methods for the destruction of prairie dogs, gophers and other foes of the husbandman, had written for the Chamber of Commerce the following data which will interest every ranch man in the county:  

Methods for Poisoning Prairie Dogs and Gophers.

…

Copies of the formulas here recommended may be obtained by application to M. A. Fraser, secretary Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

Yavapai County, Arizona: Its Resources and Opportunities
Published by the Immigration Commissioner of Yavapai County
Prescott, Arizona, May, 1912, 37 pages.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 5, May 2, 1912

City News …In Brief: Surveyors Return.

John Carr, Carl Gibbs, A.E. Huls, engineers of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company, returned to the city yesterday from the Lonesome Valley country concluding their field duties. 

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 17 1912

Local Irrigation Company Financed

At a special meeting called by the directors of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, at Indianapolis, a few weeks ago, unanimous action was taken to issue bonds for the sum of $1,000,000 to carry out the plans of the Lonesome Valley enterprise, north of this city. The Security Trust Company of Indiana … trustee. … 32,000 acres … $70,000, in clearing up land titles, preliminary field work, and various other matters … construction … include Willow Creek as the main impounding reservoir, Lynx Creek for emergency storage, and the diversion dam at Fort Whipple. … filing of the trust deed in this city … yesterday.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, May 18, 1912

Mapping Lands To Begin Today

F.M. Sloan, of the engineer corps of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company will finish … dam site on Granite Creek … Lynx Creek … about sixty days will be required …

Los Angeles Times, page I-15, May 23, 1912

Vast Project Is Undertaken

Bonds Placed for Irrigation Scheme Near Prescott

PRESCOTT (Ariz.) May 21.—A bond issue of $1,000,000 has been placed with the Security Trust Company of Indianapolis by the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, which has started upon the reclamation and …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, June 25, 1912

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, July 2, 1912

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, July 3, 1912

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, July 4, 1912

Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Arizona Land And Irrigation Company

[Special stockholders meeting on May 8, held in Prescott ruled: total stock value shall be $3,250,000 — 30,000 common shares and 2,500 preferred shares each worth $100. Preferred stock annual dividend 7% paid on January 1 each year, and in full on January 1918, or afterward plus 5%. Preferred stock is worth $150 per share if used to buy company land.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, July 4, 1912

Notice For Publication

Department of the Interior, U.S. Land Office at Phoenix, Arizona, June 11, 1912. Notice is hereby given that Fredrick R. Stees, of Junction, Arizona, who on April 11. 1906, made homestead entry No. 03415, for W1/2 NE1/4, E1/2 NW1/4, Section 34, Township 17 N., Range 2 W., G & S R Meridian, has filed notice of intention to make Final Five Year Proof, to establish claim to the land above described, before J.M.W. Moore, U.S. Commissioner, at Prescott, Arizona, on the 17th day of July, 1912. Claimant names as witnesses: William W. Rhodes, William B. Storm, Charles C. Johnson, Frank S. Baldwin, all of Junction, Arizona. [Junction was renamed Jerome Junction, then Chino Valley]

Frank H. Parker, Register.   First publication June 14.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, August 16, 1912

Water From One Storm Sufficient

Downpour of Wednesday Would Have Filled Dam Planned by Arizona [Land and] Irrigation Company.

... observations were made near Fort Whipple by Chief Engineer Walker and Superintendent Thayer of the Arizona Land and Irrigation company ... Willow creek dam, if built, would have been filled ... unable to accommodate the downfall of this one storm.  ... calculations ... to fill the main storage reservoir at least 3 times  ...  

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, August 16, 1912

To Make Bridge Storm-Proof At Once

The narrow escape of the bridge of the S.F.P.P railway on Wednesday that spans Granite creek ... plans now formulated to divert the flow to the main channel ... accomplished ... A concrete wing of sufficient height will have been laid upstream to protect the abutment and the roadbed from any possible damage in the future.  The damaged structure is now cribbed up and trains are passing on schedule time again.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, August 29, 1912

Consistent And Conservative Must Be Policy Of Arizona

Capital Will Seek Investment Elsewhere If it is to be Taxed Out Of Existence.

Beware of Wild Reform Movement Is Advice if One of Party of Noted Visitors to Prescott

Wealthy guests of Judge E.W. Wells: H.R. Harriman (Seattle - attorney, politics), C.W. French (San Diego - railroads, sugar), Judge T.R. Waters (New York), George Walker and C.W. Denicke (Chicago). Tour of Lonesome Valley and 40,000 acre Arizona Land And Irrigation Company site by manager George A. Thayer.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, August 30, 1912

"Put Men To Work In 30 Days And I Will Withdraw Protests"

John Duke Makes Offer to Arizona Land and Irrigation Company in Answer to Col. Thayer's Statement.

Says He Does Not Want to Stand In The Way of Any Project That Will Benefit Community.

"… if that company will put at least sixty men to work within sixty days." … in the presence of Judge Wells …

Los Angeles Times, page 13, September 2, 1912

Supervisors Rebel

Trouble Over Assessments

PRESCOTT (Ariz.) Aug. 31.—Rank rebellion has arisen in Yavapai county against the newly-established State government of Arizona, for the County Supervisors have refused to obey the mandate of the Arizona…

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, October 2, 1912

Work Begins On Irrigation Project

Engineers Take Field and Begin Construction of Tunnel; Burton's Statement

Arizona Land and Irrigation Company … 1,600 foot tunnel from Granite Creek to Lonesome Valley … great project … building dams …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, November 2, 1912

Watson Mentioned For Vice-President

… as the running mate with President Taft. … president of Arizona Land and Irrigation Company … frequent visitor … past two years … one of the original promoters of this gigantic land reclamation undertaking … thinking seriously of making Arizona his home.  

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, November 6, 1912

Duke Loses Case In Land Office

Arizona Land and Irrigation Company Now Has Clear Field to Begin Construction

[Homesteader Duke lost case protesting the damming of Willow Creek to irrigate Lonesome Valley in Sections 12 and 13, Tract 14N, Range 2W.]

Prescott Journal Miner, Nov 26 (Nov 29, Dec 3), 1912, page 7

Articles of Incorporation of the Chino Valley Cattle Company

Formed Jan. 19, 1903 in Los Angeles by Jotham Bixby, George Bixby (son), W.R. Patterson, E.L. Patterson, George, H.

Stewart.  Land owned by partnership of Bixby & Patterson, to trade in cattle, land, irrigation, ditches, cultivate, farming, … Jotham is father of Fanny, George is her brother. Fanny is mentioned in Young's Pilgrims of Russian-town (page 156, footnote 1) as one who helped the Russian sectarians assimilate in Los Angeles.

[See: Cattle brand, January 05, 1912.]  [Check relationship to Senator W. E. Patterson, 13th District ]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, December 18, 1912

Colonel Thayer Is Again On The Job

Col. E.P. Thayer, of Indianapolis, Col. John A. Laird and M.L. Holman, of St. Louis … with the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, arrived … investigation of their interests. … Other stockholders are to arrived later, some of whom were here earlier in the year.  

1913

Evening standard., Page 9, January 3, 1913

Irrigation In Emery County 

Another important irrigation project has been organized in Salt Lake. The Buckhorn Land company, with c. W. Nibley as president is formed to conserve the waters of Huntington river in the northern part of Emery county and irrigate Buckhorn flat, consisting of 15,000 acres of some of the richest land in Utah. A dam will be constructed and canals dug to divert the stream, a large portion of which is going to waste. The Ruckhorn Land company is purely a constructing concern When the improvements are made the farms will be sold about a year from now by the National Savings & Trust company, a local concern Which is interested in several similar enterprises throughout the state and with which the Buckhorn company is affiliated. The project will be conducted under the Carey act.

Besides Bishop Nibley the officer of the land company are Lorenzo N. Stohl, vice president; Preston Nibley, son of the president, secretary. John C. Cutler, treasurer. Lloyd Sigler is general manager.

"We are not ready to give complete detail of the project." said Secretary Nibley yesterday. "We will soon be busy, however, and irrigate one of the oldest fertile parts of Utah. The Buckhorn flat is on the east slope of the Wasatch range. It lies in a somewhat circular valley. Nearby are

old cliff dwellings. It is estimated that the free soil is 500 feet deep.”

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, February 25, 1913

John Duke Agian Loses Land Suit

Title to Water Storage Site on Willow Creek Given to Arizona Land And Irrigation Company

[In 1910, Colonel E.P. Thayer, founder of AL&IC, began a local water storage and land reclamation project, spending $95,000 by 1913.  In 1911, Chino Valley farmer Duke objected to AL&IC buying 18,000 acres by trading Moqui Base script (Indian land grant acres) and lost, appealed (hearing in Prescott September 1912) and lost again. In 1912, AL&IC bought the D.M. Wynkoop ranch on Willow Creek for $20,000.  AL&IC also was clear to purchase an additional 14,000 acres of railroad grant land in the Chino Valley.]

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, May 24, 1913

View Lands That Company Is To Reclaim

Ex-Senator Burton Is With Party Here From The East

Geo. A Thayer, of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, … joined by former United States Senator J.R. Burton, of Kansas, H.L. Hollister, of Chicago, and I.D. Perrine, of Twin Falls, Idaho. … on a trip of observation … all prominently known in financial circles.

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, May 31, 1913

Irrigation Project Will Be Launched

Local Citizens Leave Tonight for Idaho To Inspect Colonization Work by Men Who Will Upbuild Yavapai.

[Ex-Senator Burton gave 15-minure pep-talk to the Prescott Chamber of Commerce board of directors last night to help him investigate the successful irrigation project at Twin Falls, Idaho.  The Board voted for members Fredricks, Hope and Judge Wells to go with Burton to inspect the development work of Hollister and Perrine in building a dam and colonizing the valley with 35,000 people in 7 years.  Hollister and Perrine may do the same for AL&IC Arizona Land & Irrigation Company.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, June 5, 1913

Building of New Driveway is to Begin Today

To Construct an Inner Loop to the Jerome Junction Road.

[Prescott Auto Club builds 22-mile road.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, June 12, 1913

Irrigation Plans To Come Up Tonight

Officials Of Indiana Company To Speak At Chamber

Ex-congressman James Watson, president of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company … Ex-Senator J.R. Burton … Kansas; Engineer R.S. Cookinham, … Wells, contractor … Finkelstein and Porter, directors, …. stopped at Larry Little's dry farm at Granite, where corn and potatoes are sprouting. … study soil conditions … Watson … will unfold its plans … G.O.P.'s best best for the presidential nomination in 1916. … come early.

Prescott Journal Miner, pages 1,3, June 13, 1913

Streams Will Flow In Lonesome Valley

Glowing report about last night's Chamber of Commerce meeting announced yesterday. Former congressmen and investors were convinced that Prescott can duplicate the land development success of Twin Falls, Idaho, by hiring the same engineers,  developers and engineers ..

Harry L. Hollister, and Ira Burton Perrine

[Beginning in 1893 Perrine convinced private financiers to build a dam on the Snake River with irrigation canals in the Magic Valley, finished in the 1900 with founding of the Twin Falls Land and Water Company , and Milner Dam in 1905, irrigating 262,000 acres (409 mi2) of desert.  Twin Falls was founded in 1904 by Perrine who served as a bank president and owned a hotel. Today Twin Falls Canal Company has 4000 users on 202,691 acres]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, June 13, 1913

Sheriff is Only Man That Had Any Nerve

Responds to Call From Jerome Junction And Rescues Train.

[First hold up in town reported: 3 train robbers with guns and knives stopped an ore train. Everyone in a panic. Sheriff arrived to find 3 friendly hobos locked in boxcar. 2 were arrested and released. They had no weapon and the train had no valuables.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, June 18, 1913

City News ….In Brief: Inspection Trip

Miss Margaret Shew … from Anderson, Indiana, … on a trip of observation. Her brother-in-law is one of the original stockholders … makes Prescott her summer home …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, June 22, 1913

Acquires Full Acreage

Egbert Dutcher made application yesterday before Commissioner Moore for an additional forty acres to be added to his homestead entry in Lonesome Valley, giving him the maximum under the law of 160 acres. He is desirous to secure the full acreage since it is practically assured that the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company will carry out their gigantic water storage project on Willow Creek, which enhances the valuation of his holdings, and insures irrigation for the future.

Organization of water Users' Associations, July 1913

By United States Bureau of Reclamation

PRELIMINARY STEPS

1. The preliminary steps for the organization of a water users association under any project should be taken by a committee of who are prominent in the vicinity and who have the confidence of those residing under the project. It is advisable that such committee be appointed by a general mass meeting of those in the development of the project.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS

...

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, August 19, 1913

Burton Says The Work Begins In September

Start Will Then Be Made On The Reclamation Project Of The Arizona Land and Irrigation Company

Senator Burton said …  one of the most perfect irrigation systems in the entire west should be located here. … I visited eight of the arid states of the west and … believe the best one can be built here. …  progressing very favorably.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, August 23, 1913

Wrong Idea Is Conveyed

… proposal at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce … Senator Burton said that if twenty-five citizens subscribed for forty acres each, or 1,000 acres  … not a local payment be collected until payments on such other subscriptions …

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 1, September 11, 1913

Storage Dams Contract Is Awarded

Maney Brothers Will Construct Them For The Arizona Land And Irrigation Co.

"It is a great county and made so by the work accomplished under the Carey Act*. … driving force … Mr. Perrine solely … [compares Prescott area with Twin Falls, Idaho development] 

     * See Dr. Bowen's discussion "Four [4] new pieces of Federal legislation paved the way".

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 3, September 17, 1913

Committee Is Ready With Its Report

Will Suggest Revised Contract To The Arizona Land And Irrigation Company

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 2, September 21, 1913

Important Step Taken In Big Project

…W.A. Drake, president of the Chamber of Commerce, appointed a committee … contract … protection to … local investors … offered to ex-Senator Burton … necessitated by the ultimatum of the Arizona Land and Irritation Company that local people invest in 1,000 acres of 32,000 acres … west of Prescott.  

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, September 21, 1913

Start Is Made On Irrigation Project

Field Camp Established And The Work Of Allotting Lands Is Under Headway

Chief engineer RS Cookinham of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company has established his first field camp … subdividing .. first 5,000 acres … forty acres each … yesterday. … five miles north of dam … Ed Johnson in charge of the engineering … FM Murphy … appointed by President Drake of the Chamber of Commerce …

Los Angeles Times, page II-11, October 10, 1913

Industrial Progress: Shipping—Copper.

Let Contract to Bore Tunnel

Arizona Irrigation Scheme to Be Pushed Through; Town Clerk of Williams Is Charged With Shortage; Light Flow of Oil Struck in Camp Verde Well.

PRESCOTT (Ariz.) Oct. 6.—A contract has been let for the first great work of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, in the boring of a 1600-foot tunnel from Granite Creek through hills that now bar the way… A contract has been let for the first great work of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, in the boring of a 1600-foot tunnel from Granite Creek through …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, October 12, 1913

40-Acre Tract Is Bought By Cement Man

L.C. Morton, … agent of the Southwestern Portland Cement Company of El Paso, Texas … formerly with the reclamation service of the government … attractiveness of the Lonesome valley section … his company was awarded the big cement contract by Maney Brothers [to build dam] … fertility of soil … quality of fruit …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, October 13, 1913

Large Contract For Cement Awarded

Southwestern Portland Cement Co. To Furnish 60,000 Barrels For Local Project

… biggest deal ever in Arizona for this commodity …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 7, November 15, 1913

Coming To Reside.

… Captain O.M. Carter, with the Arizona Land And Irrigation Company … [moving from] … Boise, Idaho, …as consulting engineer …

Bisbee Daily Review, page 5, December 24, 1913                

Execution Is Learned Of

Brother-in-law of Parley McRea in Chihuahua Shot by Rebel Bandits on Failure to Pay Money Demand

[William Sever, Mormon colony Chihuahua, was executed last week by members of Maximo Castillo's rebel band because be did not have money to pay a loan demanded by Castillo's followers. Sevey is a brother-in-law of Constable Parley McRae of Bisbee. Many Mormons in Mexico are mistreated by rebels.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, December 18, 1913

Come In Special Car To View The Work

Easterners Interested in Reclamation Project Inspection Big Undertaking

… a party of wealthy and prominently known business men … carefully inspected … soil … dam … guests at Yavapai Club … welcome by … Robert E. Morrison [attorney for HAFC] … party is … Captain O.M. Carter, the consulting engineer, … Duke Ranch, where … irrigation … was … proven … John McFall … wealthy farmer, manufacturer and banker. L.L. Turner … successful and wealthy manufacturer of glassware.  John L. Smith … steel manufacturer [all of of Terre Haute, Ind.] … Enos Porter, of Shelbyville, Ind., a manufacturer of furniture … J.R. Finkelstein of the Greensburg, Ind., iron works … journey to the Salt River Valley … visit the Roosevelt dam.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, December 24, 1913

Oregon Man Here To Inspect Land

S.R. Wilkins, of the Capital City Nurse[r]y of Salem, Ore. … to remain indefinitely. … ascertain soil conditions … much pleased … wonderful fruit-growing possibilities of the soils …

1914

Arizona’s Worst Disaster : The Hassayampa Story, 1886–2009

Jim Liggett, 2009

January 1, 1914 —

The Carey Act became effective in Arizona and

Eleanor Van Beuren Wittmann filed for 17,500 acres of land near

Morristown.

El Paso Morning Times (Texas), page 7, 8 April 1914

Amendment OF The Carey Act Urged

Hayden of Arizona Introduces Measure in House to Eliminate Present Defects

Believes It Will Restore Confidence in Private Projects and Enable States to Interest Private Capital

Washington D.C, April 7. — Carl Hayden. of Arizona, has introduced a bill (H. R. 15218) to revise and amend the Carey Act.

The original act was passed in 1894, and has been amended in a number of particulars since that time, but. owing to the failure of a number of the Carey Act reclamation projects, there has been a growing demand for a general revision of this important branch of the national irrigation law.

The chief obstacle in the way at present is a general lack of confidence on account of the past failures resulting in inability to secure financial backing.

The settlers under a number of the projects have suffered great losses on account of  the delay in construction the irrigation  works, so that it is necessary  that confidence be restored in the  minds of prospective home seekers on the arid lands of the West.

More Strict Supervision.

The Hayden bill provides for a more strict supervision both on behalf of the State and the United States with respect to the feasibility of proposed irrigation projects, thus protecting both the investor and the settler. The bill reduces the area that may be acquired by any one person from 160 to 80 acres, and requires actual residence on the land for two years and the cultivation of one-half of the irrigable area of the entry before patent can issue. The settler is further protected by a provision which prohibits the sale or entry of land until water is available for its irrigation and the time of payment is extended from 10 to 15 years.

Conference at Denver

At the suggestion of the secretary of the interior an irrigation conference will be held at Denver beginning April 9th. It is expected that the governors of all the public land states will be in attendance, together with representation of the irrigation interests of the entire West.

The revision and amendment of the Carey act will be one of the principal question considered at this conference and Mr. Hayden has introduced his bill at this time in order that a definite proposition for remedial legislation might be considered by the conference.

Different From Reclamation Act.

The difference between the reclamation law and the Carey Act is that under the first named law the money to construct the irrigation works is furnished by the United States through the reclamation fund, while under the Carey Act the public lands are donated to the States and  the irrigation works are constructed under the supervision of the State from the proceeds of bonds secured by a lien on the irrigation lands.

The bill by Senator Smith, of Arizona, to extend the time of payment on the government reclamation projects from 10 to 20 years, which has passed the Senate, would furnish relief to the settlers residing on the 2 million acres irrigated from the projects constructed under the reclamation law.

Makes for Reclamation of Desert.

The passage of the Hayden bill is necessary in order to complete the revision of the federal laws relating to irrigation and will make it possible to irrigate large areas of land that are now in a desert condition. The reclamation fund is exhausted so that it is necessary to provide a means whereby private capital will be encouraged to enter into irrigation enterprise.

A companion bill to Senator Smith's bill has been introduced by Representative Smith of Texas, and is now on th ehouse calendar

—————

Added for Prescott Journal Miner version below printed April 29:

The Department of the Interior has declined to make a report on the bills introduced by Senator Smith and Congressman Hayden opening the Colorado River Indian reservation to settlement under the terms and conditions of the Carey Act, for the reason that the present Carey law is in such a chaotic condition that it is feared that the project could not be properly financed.

If the Carey Act can be amended so as to make it workable, the Secretary of the Interior will undoubtedly report favorably on the bills opening this reservation to settlement. There are over one hundred thousand acres of excellent land near Parker on this reservation, enough land to furnish homes for at least fifteen thousand people, and to add twenty million dollars to the taxable wealth of Arizona. There are a number of other irrigation projects in Arizona that could be constructed under the Carey Act so that it is of great importance that this law be revised in the near future.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, April 17, 1914

Santa Fe Officials View Land Project

Colonization Department will Hereafter Devote More Attention to This Part of the World

Colonization Agent Seagraves and Advertising Manager Reed of the general offices of the Santa Fe at Chicago and Captain O. M. Carter who has under charge agricultural development on lands owned by the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, were present at the meeting of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce last night.

Mr. Seagraves said that so far, the Santa Fe colonization office had given scant attention to Yavapai county, for the obvious reason that agricultural development had not yet progressed to a proper stage here. After a trip yesterday, in the cars of Messrs. Morris and Fredericks* to the Agricultural Experiment Station and the lands of the A.L.& I. Co., he stated that hereafter, his office will do something toward starting settlers with sufficient means for successful farming for the uplands of Yavapai.

* Opened the Experimental Station, then turned it over to Mcomie.

He pointed out that too many inexperienced persons had sought profit in farming on the semi-arid lands of the Southwest. In many cases, they had spent all their substance in the land, leaving nothing for development. What this country needs is trained farmers of sufficient means* to carry them until crops can be raised and he promised to extend the help of his office toward this end, from now on.

* A.L.& I. Co. sold land to HAFC which does not follow Seagraves' advice by sponsoring poor inexperienced Russians.

Captain Carter spoke briefly regarding his plans. He could not speak for the A.L. & I. Co., but had advised the members of that company to develop the lands under their project to a point at which buyers might proceed with the raising of such crops as experts under their employ shall designate. In this manner, the land will be made profitable from the very start. He advocates the farming of irrigated and dry-land by the same farmer, on these lands.

Repeat:

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 4, April 22, 1914

Santa Fe Officials View Land Project

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 4, April 29, 1914

Irrigation Plan Is Changed By Hayden Bill

State Takes The Land And Constructs Irrigation Works For The Settlers

Hon. Carl Hayden. of Arizona, has introduced a bill (H. R. 15218) to revise and amend the Carey Act. The original act was passed in 1894, and has been amended in a number of particulars since that time, but. owing to the failure of a number of the Carey Act reclamation projects, there has been a growing demand for a general revision of this important branch of the national irrigation law. The chief obstacle in the way at present is a general lack of confidence on account of the past failures resulting in inability to secure financial backing. The settlers under a number of the projects have suffered great losses on account of  the delay in construction the irrigation  works, so that it is necessary  that confidence be restored in the  minds of prospective home seekers on the arid lands of the West.

The Hayden bill provides for a more strict supervision both on behalf of the State and the United States with respect to the feasibility of proposed irrigation projects, thus protecting both the investor and the settler. The bill reduces the area that may be acquired by any one person from 160 to 80 acres; and requires actual residence on the land for two years and the cultivation of one-half of the irrigable area of the entry before patent can issue. The settler is further protected by a provision which prohibits the sale or entry of land until water is available for its irrigation.

The difference between the reclamation law and the Carey Act is that under the first named law the money to construct the irrigation works is furnished by the United States through the reclamation fund, while  under the Carey Act the public lands are donated to the States and  the irrigation works are constructed under the supervision of the State from the proceeds of bonds secured by a lien on the irrigation lands.

The bill by Senator Smith, of Arizona, to extend the time of payment on the Government reclamation projects from ten to twenty years, which has passed the Senate, will furnish relief to the settlers residing on the two million acres irrigated from the projects constructed under the reclamation law.

The passage of the Hayden bill is necessary in order to complete the revision of the federal laws relating to irrigation and will make it possible to irrigate large areas of land that are now in a desert condition. The reclamation fund is exhausted so that it is necessary to provide a means whereby private capital will be encouraged to enter into irrigation enterprise.

The Department of the Interior has declined to make a report on the bills introduced by Senator Smith and Congressman Hayden opening the Colorado river Indian reservation to settlement under the terms and conditions of the Carey Act, for the reason that the present Carey law is in such a chaotic condition that it is feared that the project could not be properly financed.

If the Carey Act can be amended so as to make it workable, the Secretary of the Interior will undoubtedly report favorably on the bills opening this reservation to settlement. There are over one hundred thousand acres of excellent land near Parker on this reservation, enough land to furnish homes for at least fifteen thousand people, and to add twenty million dollars to the taxable wealth of Arizona. There are a number of other irrigation projects in Arizona that could be constructed under the Carey Act so that it is of great importance that this law be revised in the near future.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, May 14, 1914

Modern Rifles in Hands of Mexicans

Jerome Junction Affair reveals Interesting Situation Existing There

[3 drunk workers fired a dozen shots, then arrested. No one was hurt.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, May 23, 1914

Officers Clean Up Jerome Junction

Sweep Down on Troublesome Burg And Make Five Arrests Another "War"

[5 arrested … murder over poker game .. stolen goods … selling liquor to a 10-year old … taken to Prescott jail …]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 8, June 25, 1914

Vital Question of Water is Solved

Big Supply Developed Near Jerome Junction on Arid Lands by Drilling

[246 well 3.5 miles west of Jerome Junction on C.E. Burton farm.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, July 9, 1914

Publicity Men Get Ready For Dry Congress

Resources of Arizona Are to be Exploited at Wichita, Kansas in October

The International Dry Farming Congress … World Exhibition … Professor McOrmie … stirring up considerable interest … advantages of Yavapai county … Nine publicity men in Arizona … the greatest of all farming exhibits ever held in the world. … Salt River Valley oranges … ostriches … cotton … grains and sorghums … the most interesting plan … interested farmers  to come to Arizona in a special train.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, August 16, 1914

Contractors Sue the Irrigation Company

Maney Brothers and Company Ask Damages Amounting to $35,110.31

[Arizona Land and Irrigation Company (AL&IC) owns land, engineer R.S. Cookinham. Maney Brothers (MB) to build dams, canals, tunnels for $193,000; I.B. Perrine president. Work started 1 Oct. 1913, ends 1 July 1914, $153K to be paid in 4 installments, plus $40K in land (400 acres at $100/acre). AL&IC failed to pay, work stopped 28 May 1914. MB had $38,600 bond.]

Los Angeles Times, page I7, August 24, 1914

Irrigation Plan Goes By Board

Arizona Land Corporation Sued for Large Sums; Water Company Partnership Faces Dissolution;

PRESCOTT (Ariz.) Aug. 21.— The plans of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company appear to have gone by the board. A couple of years ago much was expected of the corporation toward the upbuilding of this locality, for it had large plans for the…

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, September 1, 1914

Land Authority Concludes His Duties

Inspects Damsite And Lands Of Local Undertaking, And Will Report Favorably

F.W. Horn, … authority on land reclamation … high class irrigation engineers … will endorse the big project …

Los Angeles Times, page I1,  November 23, 1914

Russians Protest Mexican Tariff

Declare Export Tax On Wheat Destroys Their Margin Of Profit

Complaining that they secure but a scant margin of profit from their season's labor, members of the Russian colony at Guadalupe, Lower California, ... According to the Russians, Baltazar Aviles, the Villa Governor .. $10 gold a ton on all wheat shipped from Ensenada ... the 1914 wheat crop ... best for more than ten years....

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 5, December 16, 1914

Ready To Rush Work On The Big Project

(From Friday's Daily.)

"The huge rock crusher of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company started to grind yesterday, the first shipment of four carloads of cement arrived at the siding during the day, and tomorrow night the fourteen miles of fence will be laid in Lonesome valley," said R. S. Cookinham, the chief engineer.

Other matters of interest pertaining to this laudable undertaking were also given publicity, the further planting of seed will be discontinued as the season is too far advanced, but plowing the full quota of nearly 7,000 acres will go ahead, to get the soil in condition for early spring. In other departments a vast amount of land work is being mapped out, in the digging of the main canal, and the laterals, leading therefrom to the first unit of land to be developed.

Mr. Cookinham further stated:

"The object is to rush the work at the dam in an effort to conserve all possible water of the winter storms. It is his belief that actual construction will begin early next week, and when work starts arrangements have been perfected that no delays whatever will take place, except in the case of extremely cold weather, or deep snows. The rock crusher now running is a massive piece of metal, and is the largest in operation in the state, having a capacity of over 200 cubic yards per day. The number of men employed at the present time in preliminary work, is over 50, but when in full swing it is estimated over 200 will be required. The building of a new highway through the lands, to replace the fenced in county road, also starts in a few days.”

Finding aid to the Shea Copper Company Records, 1916-1937 

MS.200

In December 1914, the United Verde Extension hit an extraordinarily rich copper deposit.  … As many as 75 new mining companies formed and filed claims on the land surrounding Jerome, …

Jerome, Arizona : United Verde Extension

Wikipedia

In 1914, an exploration drift cut bonanza copper ore in "Rawhide Jimmy" Douglas's long-shot gamble to find the downfaulted extension of the great United Verde orebody. The United Verde Extension (or UVX) became a spectacularly profitable mine: during 1916 alone, the mine produced $10 million worth of copper, silver and gold, of which $7.4 million was profit.[3] The UVX paid $55 million in dividends during its life (1915–1938), and made Jimmy Douglas a very wealthy man.

Douglas's theory was wrong: in later geological studies, the UVX turned out to be a completely separate orebody. It was never a part of the United Verde.

United Verde Copper Mine and Smelter.

Photo by Areldson Studio, 1915

Archive Northern Arizona University

1914,  1916

1915

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3, January 6, 1915

Rushing Work On The Granite Creek Storage 

(From Wednesday's Daily.)

Owing to high water in Granite creek, actual dam construction was not started until yesterday by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. The immense volume of water to be handled, necessitated provision to be made against any possible trouble in the future from this source.

With this department adjusted, other important matters pertaining to the developing of the lands are to be taken up for active consideration early next week, upon the arrival from Chicago of W. H. Rosecrans, accompanied by H. G. Wells. The latter two with Chief Engineer R. S. Cookinham are to consider a general plan of future action, and will discuss the question as to what extent construction is to go ahead on work other than the main storage, in which will be included the diversion dam to be built on Granite creek, about one mile below the main storage. The building a one-half mile long flume, the digging of a ten mile ditch to irrigate west side lands, and a system of lateral ditches' with structures are to be considered.

Cookinham stated yesterday that the coming of favorable weather was agreeable, and with five days more of a continuance, the work on the dam would have progressed sufficiently to permit of no further trouble, if the creek carried the biggest flow ever known.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 4, January 26, 1915

Sanatorium May Be Located Here  (From Thursday's Daily.)

Many members of the Moose lodge in Prescott believe that the building of the Granite Creek dam by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company means the location of the Moose tuberculosis sanitarium at Prescott.$1.5 million in construction work alone....men at the head of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company are high up in the circles of the Moose order and that they had made the proposition some months ago, before the re-organization of the old Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, to donate lands ...1500 to 2000 acres needed

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, January 26, 1915

Half Completed Is Granite Creek Dam

Date Is Set For Delivery To Company About Feb. 20, If The Weather Permits

Chief Cookinham of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., stated yesterday the water storage dam on Granite creek had reached a height of forty feet above the surface of the stream, or had been fully one-half completed.

Yesterday was the first had a partial suspension of construction was made necessary, owing to the storm, …

Keen interest is manifested by H. G. Wells to expedite the work, to avoid floods that are anticipated during the coming month or in March at the latest.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 5, 1915

No More Delays In Building Big Dam

Object Lesson From High Water Calls For Change Of Site For All Machinery

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 12, 1915

Another Storm Sweeps This Section

Most Every Known Variety Precipitation on Program; Snow Heavy in the Mountains.

70 men stopped work on Granite creek dam. Earlier 100 were employed.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 12, 1915

Prescott Farm Is Proved Useful

It Demonstrates Just What Can Be Raised With Profit Hereabouts By Farmers

~100 varieties of crops were tested. "From a desert in 1911, to a veritable garden in 1915 … progress of the Arizona Experiment Station's farm … scientific farm methods … the intelligent farmer can grow and average of seven tons of corn for ensliage per acre, … cane, … hay … rye … Beans … commercial crop …  pit silo, concrete-lined …" 30-ft deep, 8-ft diameter cost $60, 35-ton capacity.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, February 13, 1915

Plans Change In Building Big Dam

Second Big Flood Causes Company To Build New and Abandon Old Plant.

… Those at the dam Thursday evening reported … water rose to three feet above the opening. …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, February 17, 1915

Decide to Work On Big Dam At Night.

Change Of Construction Plans Due To Loss Of Time By the Heavy Floods.

Hassayampa Alfalfa Farm Company to completion as rapidly as possible, … was still carrying away the accumulated flood waters of last Thursday's storm … Chief Engineer Cookinham

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, February 24, 1915

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, February 25, 1915

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, February 26, 1915

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, February 28, 1915

Articles Of Incorporation Of Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company

[In 1918 HAFC sold out to Prescott Farms Company. 

The 52-acre HAFC sales office and farm was bought by Kenneth and Lavonne Cooper in ___. In 1997 Coopers donated it to the Chino Valley future Farmers of America (FFA) of Chino Valley High School. The FFA partnered with the University of Arizona Department of Agriculture Education, Arizona Farm Bureau, Arizona Cattle Growers, and the Charlotte Hall Museum to create the Cooper Agricultural Center. CAC is now is a K-12 agriculture school with aquaculture, a 32-acre farm, 12-acre forestry arboretum (for all 80 native forestry plants in Arizona), greenhouse, and museum.]

Montana Hotel fire, (2 photos)

Jerome, Arizona, February 28, 1915

Sharlot Hall Museum archives

Jerome, born from fire.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, March 11, 1915

Nearing The End In Building Big Dam

Will Be Ready To Harness The Waters Of Granite Creek Before April 1

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, March 23, 1915

Boom Begins For Farming Lands

… in the past few months over 1,000 acres had bee filed upon in various locations … each of 160 acres … 

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, March 25, 1915

Closing The Gap In Building Big Dam

In Less than One Week More the Granite Creek Waters Will Be Harnessed

… completed … April 1 …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 27, 1915

To Christen Big Dam

Quite A Large Delegation Due To Arrive Next Thursday to Inspect Holdings

Advices were received from Indianapolis yesterday by local officials of the Alfalfa Farms Co. and the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company that a large delegation of stockholders of both would arrive in Prescott … to christen their big undertaking on Granite creek and to make observations of land in Lonesome Valley. … second storage dam on Willow creek … Included in the party will be James E. Watson, John Barbazette, W.M. Smith, Jacob Finkelstein, Col. E.P. Thayer, Enos Porter, and others of Indiana… the completion of the biggest land development project in Central and Northern Arizona, as well as the greatest inland lake therein.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, April 2, 1915

Prosperous Era Faces Sheep Business

Wool and Mutton Prices Highest in History with Fine Winter Thrown In

C. E. Burton … Jerome Junction … 300,000 head of sheep sheared nearby at

Congress Junction, Hot Springs Junction and Beardsley … wool worth $2.50/head … animal worth $6/head in the East … 500,000 sheep going to north Arizona for summer pasture.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, April 4, 1915

Granite Creek Bottled Up At Last

Big Water Storage is Completed and Monday the Gates Will Be Closed

"… The huge dam of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company had the last concrete poured yesterday, … sufficient … to develop the 5,000 acre tract set aside as the first unit of the 32,000 acres owned."

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 1, April 6, 1915

Indianans Come On Important Mission

Will Participate In Dedicating Their Big Dam And Outline Large Land Work.

… large land holding in Lonesome Valley of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. .. four of the principal stockholders in John Barbazette, the president, Jacob Finkelstein, Fred Smith and R.A. Rosencrans, all of Indiana. .. left the train at Jerome Junction yesterday … in auto.

… Dam … measures … 600 miners’ inches … digging over 15 miles of canals and laterals .. second .. dam on Willow creek ..

.. Finkelstein … the wheel horse … “ … inception nearly 4 years ago … reclaiming the barren waste,”

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 1, April 7, 1915

Indianans Come On Important Mission

Will Participate In Dedicating Their Big Dam And Outline Large Land Work.

(From Tuesdays Daily, April 6)

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, April 8, 1915

Second Storage For Willow Creek

Successful Conservation Of Flood Waters By First Dam Warrants Movement

… the Arizona Land and Irrigation Co. … a second dam is to be constructed this summer on Willow creek.  … Hassayampa alfalfa Farms Co. … contracts for canal digging and laterals to divert water to … Lonesome valley … over 5,000 acres, the first unit to be developed of the 32,000 acres owned.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, April 8, 1915

Dam Dedication Takes Place 2 O'clock

Exercises to be Followed by Barbecue; Drop Your Business and Attend

[4-ton gates closed to catch water. Extra train cars scheduled. Program of dignitaries — 2 preachers, judge, Senator Ashurst, … — "real barbecue" free.]

Dam Celebration Causes Court To Adjourn

Wheels of Justice Will Cease to Grind for Half-day

To assist in making the opening of the Granite Creek project a memorable occasion, Judge Smith has proclaimed a legal half holiday of the Superior Court, and the board of supervisors is expected to grant a half-holiday to the rest of the county employees today. …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, April 9, 1915

Dam Dedication Is Great Success

People of Prescott in Great Numbers Attend Celebration Which Marks Completion of Project

The dedication of the Granite Creek dam … exceeded … expectations … nearly all the most prominent citizens … gates closed at 11[am] … not 2[pm] … lake forming … barbeque furnished by … Maney Brothers … builder of the dam … 1,2000 visitors … important meeting at the Chamber of Commerce last night … report … tomorrow. Messrs. Barbazette, Finklestein and Smith … stockholders … W.H. Rosecrans … engineer … Residential Engineer R.S. Cookinham and Attorney R.F. Morrison.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, April 10, 1915

Ask People Of Prescott To Re-Subscribe For Land

Now That Dam Is Completed Expression of Faith In The Projects Is Desired

7000 acres to be watered by Granite Creek dam. R.S. Cookinham, resident engineer. 1000 acres alfalfa to be planted this summer. Chamber of Commerce meeting Finkelstein, Smith, Barbazette, Rosecrans (Chicago engineer) attended. Purpose to raise more money for dam. In 1913 local investors bought shares of 400 acres. Indiana investors spent $250,000 to develop irrigated land.

Goes After Stock

Pete Diskin left Thursday night for Nelson, to bring all mules owned by the Aubrey Investment Co., to this city at once, this firm receiving a contract to dig he main canal and laterals for irrigating the 5,000-acre tract of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. With the dam completed on Granite creek this undertaking will center energetic work hereafter to their Lonesome valley holdings, with the object of beginning development early this summer on a very extensive plan.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, April 11, 1915

Farm Sales Co. Files Articles

Farm Sales Company … by eastern men who are organizers of the new venture. … offices in Chicago and Prescott dealing in both farms and general real estate…

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, April 11, 1915

City News In Brief, On Business.

… Western Metal Manufacturing Company of El Paso, has arrived and will supply hardware material to be used by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co in land developing and canal digging.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, April 17, 1915

Begins To Look Like Real Lake

Steady Flow of Granite Creek Surprises Many As It Is Conserved By Big Dam

[5000 total acres, 3000 acres to be developed this summer.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, April 24, 1915

Lake Watson Is On The Map At Last

Granite Creek Dam is Deep Enough to Float Largest Ship and is Growing

 16-foot row boat launched to inspect dam. Water is flowing to farmers. "Prescott will have a lake front resort to attract tourists this summer, … among the boulders and dells [dalles] nature created …"

dalles : the rapids of a river running between the walls of a canyon or gorge. Also, dells.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 4, April 25, 1915

Unusual Scene Is Attracting Interest

Lake Watson at Door of Prescott Suddenly Leaps into Favor as a Resort Center

… Stocking the water with bass … motor boat, if a concession can be obtained from the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. … duck hunting … tourists …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, April 30, 1915

Lake Watson Is Beginning To Expand

High Water Mark Today To Reach 40 Feet; Camp Wells Building Being Torn Down.

[Storms on April 28-29 fill lake with capacity of 87 feet. Old work buildings are salvaged. Lonesome Valley developed with 1400 acres rye, and more being plowed. No irrigation needed until June. Lonesome Valley appears to be the first area for crops before the canals were extended.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 4, 1915

Big Fruit Ranch Faces Total Loss

[A 50-year old orchards which provided some of the best fruit grown in the southwest completely froze Friday. Entire crop lost for first time. Planted by late A.S. Clough, owned now by Bianconi and Duke.]

Last Week's Storm hold The Record

… since the 1860's. It was the opinion of all that the precipitation was the heaviest ever known and the storm of longer duration…

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, May 5, 1915

First Dam Water Deed Is Filed

… water rights in the Granite creek dam project, filed yesterday by W.J. Henley,  …  between the Arizona Land & Irrigation Company and William J. Henley, of Indianapolis, Ind., the latter purchasing an eternal right to use one acre foot of water for 40 acres in the Lonesome Valley per annum …  75 cents per acre …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, May 5, 1915

Verde Orchards Sustain Big Losses

Last Week's Freeze Is Said To Have Heavily Damaged Principal Growers

Grows Rapidly Does Lake Watson

Elevation Of Water Last night Has Reached 62 Feet And Big Inflow Continues

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 7, 1915

"Slopped" Over Did Granite Creek

Yesterday Afternoon Water Had Invaded City Ranch For Over 500 Yards

… elevation of Lake Watson yesterday was approximated at 65 feet, a gain of 3 feet in the past 24 hours. …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 8, 1915

Second Storage For Willow Creek

Successful Conservation Of Flood Waters By First Dam Warrants Movement

[AL&IC to build 2nd dam on Willow creek this summer, 1 mile away, to hold more irrigation water. HAFC contracting for canal and ditches on 5,000 acres in Lonesome Valley of 32,000 acres owned. "… it is believed 15,000 acres or more land can be reclaimed."]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 9, 1915

Large Contract To Develop Lands

Success Of Storage At Granite Creek Dam Is To Be Followed By Building Water Ways

Maney Brothers Construction Co., which built the big Granite creek dam of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., has been awarded the contract for canal, lateral and other waterways for the Lonesome valley lands. … announcement  …  by H.G. Wells, the general manager, who arrived from Boise, Idaho … water storage has exceeded their anticipations … under consideration is a third dam on Lynx creek, the water of which will be diverted to Granite creek …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, May 11, 1915

Lake Watson Is Scene Of Big Gathering

Hundreds Go To New Water Resort On Sunday And View The Novel Scene

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, May 20, 1915

Crying Need Of State Is For Farmers

Get The Here And There Will Be No Occasion To Boost Farming Resources

The agricultural extension service of the University of Arizona … criticizes the press … for boosting the agricultural resources … : "… the best advertising … is successful farmers. … making a profit … the mistakes which are made annually by the farmers of Arizona … over $1,500,000 … newspapers … might … prevent this loss … The Agricultural Extension Service of the U. of A. College of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture are constantly sending out timely article on practical farm matters … which thousands of our farmers want … editors … non-use of this material … readers not interested … some seem to wish to get paid … public service maintained by taxes …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, May 22, 1915

Canal Contract Work Starts At Once

Maney Brothers Assemble Outfit For Big Irrigation Project In Lonesome Valley

… 5,000 acres will be reclaimed this fall …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, May 25, 1915

First Rye Crop Wonderful Success

Experimental Testing Of Soil By Local Land Company Shows Bountiful Yield

[Experimental dry farming at HAFC yields 3 foot high rye. ]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 26, 1915

Plenty Of Water To Irrigate Lands

Engineer Rosencranz Sees Lake Watson For First Time; Elated Over Big Storage

… Lake Watson is one of the fascinating sheets of inland water in the country, and from a scenic standpoint has no equal.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, June 2, 1915

Soil Condition Prove A Big Surprise

Rye Crop Of Local Land Company Is Being Harvested And Yield Is Heavy

… first crop of rye by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company in Lonesome valley … by the Aubrey Investment Co which has the contract. About 1,500 acres … over 3,000 tons. Eight machines … wonderfully fertile soil conditions … without any irrigation … other tract of 4,000 acres … irrigation provided from Lake Watson …  main canal and laterals … this fall. …

Will Hydraulic Lynx Creek Placers

Machinery Coming For Novel Method To Recover Auriferous Gold Values

… water secured from various sources … good returns

Los Angeles Times, page II-2, June 8, 1915

$4 a Day.

Pay Cash for Fabled Jobs.

Thirty Russian [Jewish?] Poles go to Arizona, Come Back.

Man Charged with Swindling Laborers with Promises of Much Easy Labor at High Wages—He Blames Another—Santa Fe Gets "Stung" on Return Trip.

Thomas F. Mack, dark and suave, said he knew about some work down in Arizona, good work in the mines, returning $4 a day. He spread the news among members of the foreign colony, and four hours later, the path to his office carried much of the appearance of a flight from [Jewish?] Poland.

They asked and they received. Mr. Mack had work for them, in Jerome, fine jobs, $4 a day and light work. The enthusiasm was great. But there was that detail about getting there. Mr. Mack demanded each person give him $28.65. That was for carfare, to be returned of course when the men reached the mines and reported for work, according to their complaint to the City Prosecutor yesterday.

They gave up their money, and the getting of it was a magnificent example of community finance. The Russian colony gave a grand ball and all night fiesta in honor of the good fortune that had come. The farewell was almost a ceremony, and all went, some thirty of them in the first installment.

They arrived in Jerome, and found none to receive them. They went to the mine, and were told not to obstruct the entrance to the office. When they inquired for the jobs awaiting them, they were told that all loose jobs were run to cover by a horde of waiting men out of work.

Officers of the Santa Fe railroad heard of the plight. The people of Jerome had to feed the job hunters, house them, and it looked as though the town would have to adopt them until the railroad agreed to return them to Los Angeles without cost.

As soon as they arrived here, they hastened to the City Prosecutor's office and swore to a complaint charging Mr. Mack, who had shrunk greatly in their appraisal of him, with obtaining money under false pretenses.

When Mack was arrested, he said J. Ross Clark, the railroad and mining magnate, had asked him to recruit the labor. Mr. Clark said yesterday he was informed of no such arrangement. So Mr. Mack will face trial, and the Russians who took the disastrous trip, hung around Central Police Station all day in their eagerness to testify against Mack.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, July 17, 1915

Getting Ready To Turn Water In Ditches

Work Almost Completed Under Irrigation Project, And Acreage Is for Sale

"The Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce holds an option upon 400 acres of land, under the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company Project. … requested them to get back of this project financially, as well as morally." Terms: $100 per acre with 1.5 acre/feet of water per year. After 75% of the land and irrigation rights are sold, "… a new company will be organized to take over the entire irrigation system. … The subscription list and map will be on file in the office of the Chamber of Commerce …"

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 2, July 21, 1915

Getting Ready To Turn Water In Ditches

(From Saturday's Daily.)

The Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce holds an option upon 400 acres of land, under the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company project. Previous to this, the chamber had circulated two subscription lists among the citizens of Yavapai county requesting them to get back of this project financially, as well as morally. The company has completed the contraction of the Granite Creek dam and is now working to connect the ditches. It is understood between the Chamber of Commerce and the company that the land to be selected must be taken in a block tract and that it is unimproved land. The selection is to be made from Sections 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 35 and the West ½ of the N. W. ¼ and the West ½ of the S. W. ¼ of Section 23, in Township 16, N. Range 2, W. Some time ago, a committee was appointed by the Chamber of Commerce to investigate and report as to the obligations to be assumed by a purchase of lands, under this irrigation project. Following is their report in full:

"1. PURCHASE PRICE AND TERMS OF PAYMENT: The purchase price is $100 per acre, including a perpetual water right for one and one-half acre feet per acre, per annum. The terms of payment are: 40 within ten days after receipt of notice in writing from the irrigation company that water is available in its canals for use on the lands; 30 within four months after the first payment; 30 within four months after the second payment; Upon payment of the total purchase price, the purchaser will receive from the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company a warranty deed, conveying title to the land, free and clear of all incumbrances; a strip of land 20 feet wide adjoining and on each side of the townsite, section and quarter-section lines, being subject to right of way for roads, railroads, canals, aqueducts, water mains, gas mains, electric light and power lines, and for drainage ditches, flumes, etc.

"The purchaser will also receive from the farms company a deed for a perpetual water right for one and one-half acre feet per acre, per annum, subject to the same terms and conditions as have been imposed up on the farms company by the irrigation company. That is to say, the deed from the farms company to the purchaser of its lands will be in effect a pro tanto assignment of its contract with the irrigation company. In other words, the purchaser is really making a contract with the irrigation company, but getting title to his land and water rights from the farms company.

2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The purchaser will pay, on or before April first of each year, a fixed annual charge of seventy-five cents per acre for maintenance. In addition to this fixed charge, he will pay a further annual maintenance charge, not to exceed the following: For first half acre foot of water .20; for second, half acre foot of water.30; making a total of .50 for the first acre foot of water. For all water used in excess of one acre foot per acre, the rate will be seventy-five cents per acre foot. This additional maintenance charge is to be paid on or before October first, next succeeding each irrigation season. In the event the above payments are not made when due, the purchaser is required to pay a penalty of ten per cent of the amount due, in addition to paying interest thereon at the rate of six per cent per annum.

3. MEASUREMENT AND POINT OF DIVISION: The water is to be brought by the irrigation company to within one-half mile or less of the highest point of each legal subdivision of 40 acres, susceptible of irrigation by gravity. At this point, the water will be measured through a device installed, by the company and paid for in advance by the purchaser, and more [from] this point the purchaser will convey the water to his land through his own ditches.

4. NOTICE OF WATER REQUIRED. The purchaser is required to notify the company in writing, on or before April first of each year, of the following: 1. The number of acres which he intends to irrigate; 2. the kinds of crops to be raised, and 3. the amount of water per acre desired during the season. Unless this notice is furnished, the right to the water is waived, and the company may withhold all water from the purchaser.

5. CONSTRUCTION OF SERVICE DITCHES: Each purchaser must locate, construct, and maintain his own service ditches, providing capacity for unavoidable waste.

6. ORGANIZATION OF NEW COMPANY:" Within one year after the irrigation company shall have received an amount equal to 75% of the total amount due from the sale of its lands and water rights (which provision I presume is intended to mean, when 75% of its lands and water rights are sold and paid for), a new company will be organized to take over the entire irrigation system. Each owner of land under the irrigation system will receive one share of stock for each acre irrigated; provided, that stock will not be issued for any land not paid for. The new corporation will thereafter own and manage the irrigation system for the benefit of the stockholders, subject to their direction and control as in any other corporation. The present irrigation company and the farms company will become stockholders in the new corporation, being also entitled to one share of stock for each acre of land owned and irrigated by such companies.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a person purchasing, say, 40 acres of land from the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, or from the Arizona Land & Irrigation Company, will be obligating himself as follows:

1. To pay $1600 within ten days after receipt of notice in writing that water is available.

2. To pay $1200 within four months after first payment;

3. To pay $1200 within four months after second payment;

4. To pay, on or before April first of each year, a maintenance charge of $30.00

5. To pay, on or before October first of each year, $8.00 for the first half acre foot used on his 40 acres; $12.00 for the second half acre foot used on his land, and seventy-five cents per acre foot for all additional water.

6. To locate, construct, and maintain his own service ditches, and to pay for the meter or measuring device installed by the company for measuring the water.

7. After the organization of the new company, to pay his proportion of the expenses of the corporation, and of the maintenance and upkeep of the irrigation system. This expense would be apportioned among the stockholders according to the number of shares owned by each of them.

The subscription list and map will be on file in the office of the Chamber of Commerce and an opportunity given the citizens of Yavapai county, who can consistently, to subscribe for acreage under this project.

Note: HAFC had no buyers and withdrew the offer 6 weeks later, on September 8. It would make sense for them to find less sophisticated people to buy into the project. About 5 months later the Spiritual Christians arrive from Mexico to buy the entire valley.

Los Angeles Times, page I-4, August 1, 1915

Happenings on the Pacific Slope.

ARIZONA CROPS FLOURISHING; Great Irrigation Reservoir Full to Overflowing; Big Wheat Yield is Expected on Gila Valley Farms; Storms do Much Damage in Yavapai County.

PHOENIX (Ariz.) July 31.— Never were Arizona's agricultural interests in more flourishing condition than they are today. Arizona has many more farmers, and much more land in cultivation that she had a year ago. … on Gila Valley Farms Storms do Much Damage in Yavapai County … Arizona has many more farmers and much more land in cultivation that she had a year ago …

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 5, August 4, 1915

Plans Matured For Big Land Developing (From Wednesday's Daily.)

The arrival in Prescott during the week of President James E. Watson, of the Arizona Land and Irrigation Co., and his associate stockholder, Jacob R. Finkelstcin, may be termed as the entering wedge of crystalizing the greatest land movement known in Central and Northern Arizona, in early plans formulated being carried out on an extensive scale of developing. Water storage at Lake Watson has dispelled all doubts of the sufficiency for irrigating, and as decided upon that unit set aside originally will be further increased and an elaborate plan of farming is to go ahead.

First Crop a Success.

The initial crop of rye sown last fall has been harvested, and in quality and quantity has proven a revelation on a dry farm principle, and without an ounce of storage water from Lake Watson being utilized. Accordingly, as Mr. Watson stated yesterday, the Arizona Land and Irrigation Co. is to take a hand in the farm business, since the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. has made a splendid success. He said: "We will set aside a tract of 1.000 acres to be developed to various crops, in which Sudan grass will be specialized. This acreage will not conflict with that of the Hassayampa holdings, but will be selected from a certain division of 40,000 acres owned by the parent company. Of water resources of this shed, the situation at the lake is indeed gratifying, but it is none less than what I anticipated from former visits and after ascertaining rainfall conditions from accurate weather reports available. We will utilize this storage in developing crops as decided upon."

Another Company Enters.

Mr. Watson also imparted the important information that the Hoosier Land Company had been organized would enter that field, and begin immediately the developing of 1,000 acres to corn, wheat and potatoes principally, and water would be derived from Lake Watson.

Individual Move.

Mr. Finkelstein. one of the first shareholders of the parent company, and an ardent supporter of this big land movement from its inception, stated yesterday his trip has that significance that he will arrange to begin

reclamation of his individual holdings of 640 acres, in which winter wheat growing will be made a specialty. He, also, is elated with the wonderful fertility of the soil as demonstrated with the first dry crop of rye grown, and which is an absolute argument in favor of intensive farming and with water abundant from Lake Watson insures success in any other line of crop growing that . may be decided Upon.

Acreage Enlarged.

The Hassayampa syndicate has decided to enlarge its area of cultivation

from 1,500 to 2,500 acres. A strip of 1.000 additional acres is to be set aside to alfalfa, and it is probable that early in the spring a general line of experimental crop growing will be vigorously carried on. The Italian prune is to be introduced, while the apple, peach and pear will be cultivated.

Additional Storage.

Mr. Watson stated that many material matters were under consideration by all holding companies, centering toward plans being carried out for storage in the near future, with the object of harnessing every stream in this watershed. Willow creek will receive attention early in the coming year. Mint Wash is to be dammed and Lynx creek will be the last to receive consideration.

"This project," declared Watson. "appeals to me today as an absolute success, 'and from the standpoint of it just entering the practical stage, there is no other condition now to face us, but to carry out the plans and pave the way for one of the biggest successes in land undertakings in the Southwest. The climate is unexcelled, the soil is the most fertile in the nation, and water is available for large developing."

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, August 31, 1915

Banner Alfalfa Ranch In Arid Region

Local Land Company Sets Aside 1,000-Acre Tract To Test Fertility OF The Soil

[HAFC planted 1000 acres of alfalfa, fenced in another 1000 acres, and is finishing the main irrigation canal and lateral ditches. By Fall, 2500 acres should be cultivated. Irrigation by September. Aubrey Investment Company has 38 animals pulling plows. Farmer Larry Little has 400 acres and tractor. Plans remain to test farm 5000 acres. Lake Watson has water. Impressed owners coming for inspection.]

[Larry Little: Feb 25, 1916 ; Dec 15, 29, 1916]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, September 2, 1915

Plenty Of Land Is Left For Settlers

Public Domain Still Consists Of Quarter Billion Acres; Arizona Has Some [13.2%]

By Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1. — more than 11,200,000 acres [2%] of public land were eliminated from the public domain during the fiscal year. The annual report of Commissioner Talman of the General Land Office, will show that there remains 279,544,404 acres open in public land States, and in addition approximately 300,000,000 acres in Alaska. California has 20,635,923 acres [7.4%], Arizona has 36,810,327 acres [13.2%], and New Mexico has 27,788,357 acres [9.9%].

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 4, September 8, 1915

Withdraw Subscription List.

The Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, in a letter to the chamber, officially withdrew its offer to sell to citizens of Prescott 400 acres of land at $100 per acre. It is stated that nobody has taken advantage of the proposition.

——————

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 6, September 8, 1915

To Help Farmers Of North Their Aim

(From Saturday's Daily.)

The wonderful agricultural resources in Northern Arizona are much less undeveloped than those of Southern Arizona. The University of Arizona Agricultural Extension Service is maturing plans whereby the farmers of Northern Arizona will receive better service than ever before. Prof. Stanley F. Morse, superintendent of the Agricultural Extension Service and State leader, U. S. Department of Agriculture, will make an extended trip through Yavapai, Navajo, Coconino and Apache counties during the present month.

In Navajo and Apache counties he will endeavor to raise funds for putting in a farm advisor. Funds for this purpose have already been allotted by the U. S. Department of agriculture, the University of Arizona and the Santa Fe Railroad Company, but the counties must appropriate at least 30 per cent of the total funds before a farm advisor will be stationed there. Professor Morse's work in Yavapai and Coconino counties will be to assist the farmers in organizing associations for social, educational and commercial purposes There are now 36 local farmers' organizations in Arizona.

Professor G. W. Barnes, livestock specialist of the Agricultural Extension Service, will accompany Professor Morse from Holbrook to Flagstaff to assist farmers with their livestock problems. Professor Barnes will select certain farmers as co-operating farm demonstrators to carry on demonstrations for profitable methods of handling range bulls, hogs and sheep under his personal direction. The date for the local meeting has been fixed for the afternoon of Tuesday, September 14.

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 2, September 15, 1915

"Farm Doctor" Is The Latest Invention;

Navajo And Apache To Have One And Yavapai And Coconino Might Try For One.

(From Tuesday's Daily)

That Navajo and Apache counties are to have a county farm advisor is a certainty, according to Superintendent Stanley F. Morse, of the University of Arizona Agricultural Extension Service, who arrived in Prescott from the north yesterday afternoon.

Morse has been in the two counties lining up the people in regard to the establishing of such a position and discovering how it would be backed by the farmers themselves. He declared that they are all behind the movement, which was started by the university to give the northern part of the State more attention, and will support it readily.

It is the object of the university to give the farmers in the northern counties as much service and help as those in the southern counties are getting and as a result of the Apache and Navajo people taking action they are to have a personal representative of the university on the ground and at call throughout the year. He will be both an expert in dry and irrigation farming and is to teach the farmers the methods that pay and bring in the profits. The county "farm doctor" will be of great benefit to the farmer and will further the real development of the State.

To finance the work of the "farm doctor" about $3,000 per year is needed, and of this the counties pay 30 per cent while the other part is given towards the work by the United States department of agriculture, the University and the Santa Fe railroad.

The farmer, through taxation in this manner, pays a small sum each year to have the "farm doctor" at his call to answer problems that he is in doubt about or tell him what to plant and how to plant and care for it.

It is believed that Yavapai and Coconino counties could obtain a "farm doctor" on the same basis if the proper action was taken by the farmers of these two counties. The proper action would be to get the university men started in this section by petition. For the benefit of those who are fighting with the dry farming proposition in Yavapai, Superintendent Morse will be on hand at the St. Michael hotel or the Chamber of Commerce today and will willingly confer with the agricultural men on any farming questions that they are seeking information about. The farmer will have a splendid opportunity today until the afternoon train for the south, when Morse returns to the university.

Superintendent Morse declared that the University of Arizona will have competent judges at the Northern Arizona Fair to judge the agricultural and livestock exhibits.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, September 18, 1915

Great Surprise For All Dry Farmers

… Dry Farming Congress to be held in Denver beginning September 26. … F.W. Bunge, personal representative of J.F. Greenwalt, advertising manager of the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company, was an arrival in Prescott yesterday … stating … he will see that all of the farmers [attending in Denver] get in on the big secret.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, October 3, 1915

Decide To Build Second Water Storage

Hassayampa Company Officials Coming To Let Contract For Dam On Willow Creek

… after the arrival in Prescott about October 15, of several of the principal shareholders, this movement is expected to be closed up. … to reclaim the first unit of 5,000 acres [Lonesome Valley]. An additional area will be under the Willow creek dam, of approximately 3,000 acres [Russian colony] … The Hoosier Land Company, a subsidiary organization to the Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, is reported to be interested in this last dam movement, …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, October 3, 1915

Big Ditch Work Is Nearing The End

Main Canal Of Hassayampa Co. Will Soon Be Ready For Lake Watson Flow.

The 11-mile long main canal of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, leading out of Granite creek below Lake Watson, will be completed today, and is ready to receive water for developing the 5,000 acre tract set aside for irrigating. This waterway has been under construction for over four months by Mancy Brothers, and is the last link in the project for the raising of crops on a large scale. The laterals are also ready to receive the flow, and a system of intensive farming is now under headway. The main canal has a six-foot bottom with a carrying capacity of 4,400 miner's inches of water. The next important move of the company will probably be determined after the arrival next week of several of the principal shareholders from Terre Haute, Ind., when the taking up of the construction of a second water storage dam on Willow creek will received final and probably, favorable action. The success of water storage is akin to the success now being made in land developing and the big farm in Lonesome valley is beginning to cause surprise and admiration.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, October 13, 1915

Developing To Start

Second Big Dam On Willow Creek Assured; Fertile Soil Fully Demonstrated

(From Tuesday's Daily)

W. H. Rosecrans, consulting engineer ot the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, stated yesterday that construction of a second water storage dam on Willow creek had been approved and would be under headway before December. This structure will be of the same dimensions as that of Granite creek, and its purpose is to conserve all waters of both sheds and to unite the two storage supplies for a reclamation undertaking to cover the holdings of the three companies interested, embracing an area of over 20,000 acres of land.

Mr. Rosecrans also imparted the important information that the initial successes made in experimental farming of certain crops precludes any possibility of failure with the water available. He also stated that abundant water for irrigating the first unit of 4,000 acres from Lake Watson is ready without taking into consideration what future storms may provide. He is enthusiastic over what has been accomplished to date under a system of dry farming, and this will be intensified later when water is utilized during the months required for maturing crops, by irrigation. He said:

"This proposition is an unqualified success, and is made so by the exceptionally high fertility of the soil, which has been fully demonstrated by the large crops grown. The three holding companies, the Arizona, the Hassayampa, and the Hoosier, now propose to go ahead, working in conjunction, and every foot possible of that rich land is to be developed. I am surprised to see what has been so practically proven without irrigation, and the present inspection has been a very agreeable one. Just wait and see what the future will most assuredly bring in this gigantic farm movement. It will prove a revelation to all."

Mr. Rosecrans left yesterday for Tucson, to he absent until Thursday, when it is expected many stockholders will arrive from Terre Haute, Indiana, for a general consultation on important matters pertaining to their business plans for the future.

——————

Public Records

Instruments Filed as Recorded by The Prescott Title Co.

Oct. 5, 1915.

...

Santa Fe Pacific Railway Company to Enos Porter, trustee, W. deed, $2, 562.84, west half section 3, section 9, west half section 15, 16N. 2W.

Santa Fe Pacific Railway Company to Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, W. deed, section 3, 15N., 2W., and section 33, 16N., 2W.

...

John Massing and wife to Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, deed, 60-foot right-of-way for ditch across southeast quarter section 24, 15N., 2W.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, October 14, 1915

Turn Down Dry Farm Road Proposal

Board Of Supervisors Say It Would Not Be Practical To Construct It In Rocks

[Though it would shorten the trip from Prescott by more than a mile, the county supervisors will fund a road from Prescott, through the Granite Dells to the Dry Farm. Mancy Brothers and Company submitted estimates of $3,100 for the road and $400 to connect it to the highway.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, October 18, 1915

Big Developing Of Farm Lands Under Way

Hassayampa  Company Holding Very Active And Vast Acreage Is Being Cultivated

Reviewing condition of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, W.P. Bridgood, the secretary, who is in charge of developing plans, while in the city yesterday from Lonesome valley state a general movement was now under way to carry out the plans formulated in bringing into a state of cultivation the entire tract of 5,000 acres.

Planted to alfalfa recently were 4,000 acres, which is growing and making headway for a crop this fall. To winter wheat 320 acres have been sown, and 100 acres have been set aside for Sudan grass. Another rye crop is to be cultivated, from the splendid success made last spring. The plowing of another 1,000 acres is going ahead, and winter wheat probably will be the crop. Water for irrigation is now abundant for the entire acreage from storage in Lake Watson. The individual holdings of J.K. Finkelstein, of 640 acres, are being developed also to winter wheat, and 350 acres have been planted recently. Mr. Bridgood stated also that next spring will see every acre productive and is epidemic among farmers in this section, Sudan grass will receive attention. The main irrigating canal out of Granite creek will be completed and turned over to the company next week, while the laterals to conduct the flow to the lands under cultivation, will likewise be ready at that time.

Lake Watson continues to retain its normal height, and the subterranean inflow is heavier than the frequent opening of gates to supply those below the dam. He is well pleased with the situation and anticipates some bid surprises next season in crop growth.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, October 30, 1915

Baptizing Big Irrigating Canal

The gates of Lake Watson were opened on Thursday [28] afternoon and for the first time the big canal of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company carried a large volume of water from beginning to end, a distance of over 13 miles. 

This waterway was completed earlier in the week and turned over to the company and after it is made adaptable for its uses in the future will be connected up with the extensive system of laterals on lands to e irrigated. this will begin during the latter part of November, to develop the first crop of winter grains.

The land department of this undertaking is assuming more activity than ever, and over 3,000 acres are set aside to various yields. Lake Watson continues at an elevation of nearly seventy feet, and has a supply of water to carry out the full development plans originally outlined.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, November 3, 1915

Irrigation Company's Ranch Lease Canceled

Council Declares Agreement to Take Care of City Sewage Has Not Been Complied With.

The Arizona Land & Irrigation Company yesterday lost its 99-year lease to the "City Ranch." … because of its failure to place septic tanks or other apparatus on the ranch to care for the city sewage. … sewage tank of an average length of 193 feet and 200 feet wide … to three and a half feet of water. … [Health officers of city, county and state concur] … a public nuisance and detrimental to the public health. … [23 October 1913] George A. Thayer was the nominal lessee, which was recorded in Book 4 of Leases, at page 461 …   Yavapai County. … on December 23, 1913, George A. Thayer assigned said lease to the Arizona Land & Irrigation Company, and it is now the record holder … recorded in Book 4 of Leases, at pages 461 and 466 …

Los Angeles Times, page II-4, November 3, 1915

Upset Of An Anti-Alien Arizona Law

The Supreme Court of the United States has decided that a European, or an Asiatic, or a Pan-American who has been accorded the right by the United States to come into this country, has thereby conferred upon him the right to earn an honest … Some commentators on this Arizona case while it was pending pressed their … At common law an alien could not take real estate either by or purchase. …

The New York Times, November 14, 1915

Indict Indiana Contractor

Friend of "Uncle Joe" Cannon Accused of Bribing Town Trustee.

Terre Haute, Ind., … Jacob R. Finkelstien, chum of "Uncle Joe" Cannon and James E. Watson, and his Greenburg Iron Company were indicted today on a charge of having bribed Thomas Furgeson, a township Trustee, in the sale of road material to the township. …

Finklestien first came into National notice when he carried a live goose to the White House for President Taft. He and Mr. Watson and other Indianapolis politicians are interested in a $500,000 investment in public lands in the Southwest.

Some years ago Finklestien was … charges with the wholesale bribery of road officials …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, November 21, 1915

Big Land Owners Inspect Interests

John Barbazette, president of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., and Fred J. Smith, a large stockholder were arrivals yesterday morning from Terre Haute, Ind., to remain for a few days on an inspection trip. The completion of the main irrigating canal, the lateral waterway on the lands being finished, and large developing plans for the future, bring them here. They  are very much please with their holdings, and the progress made in raising certain crops without irrigation has proved a revelation. Later other very important matters affecting their large land holding are to be taken up. Both have been frequent visitors to Prescott in recent years.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, November 23, 1915

Indiana People Pleased With Holdings

Hassayampa COmpany Investors Speak Of Undertaking As A Big Land Success

"At no time in the history of our project are we so well pleased as during the present trip to make a detailed inspection of every acre under development, and furthermore the plan from now on is to rush reclamation until the large holding are made fruitful," said John Barbazette, the president of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., and Fred J. Smith, a director, as they were departing from Prescott yesterday on the return trip to Terre Haute, Indiana.

Mr. Barbazette also stated there were many large movements under way affecting the future of the acreage owned, since it has been established that soil condition are fertile beyond expectations in growing alfalfa, winter wheat and rye as experimental crops. This has been the third trip of the above investors, during the past year, and Mr. Barbazette said: "It was by far the most gratifying."

Speaking of dam building on Willow creek, he said: "This storage was planned to begin during December, but a temporary delay will take place. All efforts of the company are to be centralized from now on until spring in the land department, until the full 10,000 acres are in a state of development. The second storage service will then be inaugurated and be ready in time for the summer rainy season."

Another matter spoken of was that it is computed Lake Watson has sufficient water impounded to develop the full 10,000 acres of land, if not more. No supply will be drawn there from until late in the spring, as all crops at present are making rapid growth. Concluding, Mr. Barbazette said: "Next summer there will be something refreshing for the eye to see in the biggest ranch in the Southwest under one ownership, and that in a section where conditions were arid before our company entered."

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, December 19, 1915

Big Colonization Of Farm Lands To Begin

Prof. M'Omie Resigns From State University To Manage For Hassayampa Company

Prof. A.M. McOmie, for many years agricultural expert for the Arizona State University, has tendered his resignation and on January 1, assumes management of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., near this city, by which an elaborate colonizing movement is to be inaugurated.

Prof. McOmie is in Prescott, and yesterday confirmed reports to this effect as having been closed by his acceptance of the position. He also stated arrangements had been definitely closed by which the first unit of about 3,00 acres of land would be developed, during the first year, and which tract would be occupied and placed in a state of high cultivation. The entire tract of 10,000 acres is to be reclaimed, and it is quite probable two additional water storage dams, one on Lynx creek and the other on Willow creek, will receive early consideration, so that the plan of large land development can be carried out with an abundance of water assured for irrigation.

The selection of Prof. McOmie for this important work is due to his unquestioned rating as a skilled and practical authority on farms and farming, in which field throughout the State in recent years at different experimental stations his work conclusively proved the right man for the place had been secured.

Indiana Capital Coming To You

Colonel E.P. Thayer and Walter Kessler of Indianapolis, Indiana, have returned to Prescott after a preliminary reconnaissance of a water power project for Burro creek, as well as making investigation of certain mineral properties, with both of which proposition they are evidently well pleased. They left yesterday for Oatman, but are to return to this city during the week.

Colonel Thayer will be remembered as one of the original stockholders of the Arizona Land & Irrigation Company, and has concluded to make this county a future base of operations in mines and mining. Mr. Kessler is professionally known throughout the West as a mining engineer of high rating, and is quite enthusiastically impressed over his first visit to the Yavapai field. He, also, may decide to locate here. It is expected that material developments will soon follow in the beginning of initial work in water storage as well as mine operations.

1916

The Santa Fe magazine: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company, Vol. 10, No. 2, January 1916, pages 39-41.

Yavapai County to Have Wave of Prosperity in 1916.

 By G. M. Sparkes, Secretary, Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce, Prescott, Arizona.

Six miles north of Prescott the Arizona Land & Irrigation Company has completed the Granite Creek Dam, which has been under construction over two years. This dam is 87 feet high and from 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 miles long. This dam impounds the water of Granite Creek and will irrigate approximately six thousand acres. Professor A. M. McOmie, for many years agricultural expert for the University of Arizona, is in charge of the affairs of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, whose land is to be irrigated from the dam. The first unit of three thousand acres of this land will be developed during 1916 and the colonization of these lands is well under way. At the state fair recently closed Yavapai County was awarded the grand silver trophy cup for the best, largest and most comprehensive exhibit of agricultural and horticultural products shown by any county in Arizona.

With its climate and with the principal industries—mining, stock raising and farming—showing such steady growth, Yavapai County is assured a very prosperous year during 1916.

Ad: Yavapai County and Prescott: Arizona's Wonderland!

Los Angeles Times, page IV122, January 1, 1916

Arizona's Strong Faith in a Prosperous Future.

STABILITY.

THROUGHOUT Arizona is a feeling of strong confidence in the future, sustained by a knowledge of the wealth of the new State in mines, agricultural lands, forests and grazing ground. The general unsettled business conditions of… To give added se against, the farmers are preparing to build another dam … a number of gold mills are working in various camps within Yavapai county. …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 1, 1916

Storm Causes Loss of $50,000 in Flagstaff

New Majesty Theatre, Ready For Opening, And Many Other Buildings Collapsed Under Weight Of Snow.

Storm Is Greatest Town Ever Experienced

Depth of 32 Inches of Snow on The Plaza Establishes Record For This Section of Arizona

(since city founded in 1878)…

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 8, 1916

Competent Engineer Awarded Big Work        

The road building .. $300,000 .. W.H. Rosecrans Engineering Co, of Chicago .. directed .. big dam on Granite Creek of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. .. canals, bridges, flumes, siphons and roadways for 30,000 acres of land [47 mi2] .. in Lonesome Valley .. two additional water storage .. for the Hassayampa Company, .. Lynx creek .. Willow creek .. construction later in the year.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, January 12, 1916

Public Records

Instruments Filed as Recorded by The Prescott Title Co. 

January 5, 1916.

Arizona Land and Irrigation Co. to Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. Secs. 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 35 and W½ of NW¼, and W½ of SW¼, Sec. 23, 16N., 2W, and water. 

MAP

Los Angeles Times, page II-7, January 5, 1916

Bit Of Russia At Border Line.

Caravan Of Emigrants Moving Out Of Mexico;

Erstwhile Subjects of Czar, with Many Horses, Dogs and Cats, Held Back by Officials.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 4.—A colony of Russian emigrants camped on the border at Tia Juana with all their household goods, cattle, horses, dogs and cats, aroused the curiosity of visitors today. The Russians are members of a colony that has been living about ten years in the Guadalupe Valley, a little north of Ensenada, Lower California, and are on their way to settle a new colony at Jerome Junction, Ariz.

At the camp are 150* men, women and children, 130 horses and numerous dogs and cats. Immigration officers were kept busy all day and tonight had not finished examining the queer-looking folks.

The Russians have had many vicissitudes the past year, and at times have nearly starved to death, they say. Others of the Guadalupe colony will follow when these first have gotten settled.

Owing to the condition of the horses, they were not allowed to pass over the border today.

* On Jan 13, below, 130 arrived at Jerome Junction, Arizona.

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 3, January 6, 1916

Rushing Work On The Granite Creek Storage 

(From Wednesday's Daily.)

Owing to high water in Granite creek, actual dam construction was not started until yesterday by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. The immense volume of water to be handled, necessitated provision to be made against any possible trouble in the future from this source.

With this department adjusted, other important matters pertaining to the developing of the lands arc to be taken up for active consideration early next week, upon the arrival from Chicago of W. H. Rosecrans accompanied by H. G. Wells. The latter two with Chief Engineer R. S. Cookinham are to consider a general plan of future action, and will discuss the question as to what extent construction is to go ahead on work other than the main storage, in which will be included the diversion dam to be built on Granite creek, about one mile below the main storage. The building a one-half mile long flume, the digging of a ten mile ditch to irrigate west side lands, and a system of lateral ditches with structures are to be considered.

Cookinham stated yesterday that the coming of favorable weather was agreeable, and with five days more of a continuance, the work on the dam would have progressed sufficiently to permit of no further trouble, if the creek carried the biggest flow ever known.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 7, 1916

Lake Watson Is Solid Sheet Of Ice

Festive Doings Today of the Skater Will Be Arizona's First Enjoyment of Sport.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 8, 1916

Prices of Food Highest In 37 Years

 … due to the war

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 8, 1916

Competent Engineer Awarded Big Work

… W. H. Rosecrans Engineering Co., of Chicago … directed the engineering work of the big dam on Granite creek of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., … a system of canals, bridges, flumes, siphons and roadways for 30,000 acres … in Lonesome valley … submitted plans for two additional water storage centers … on Lynx creek and … Willow creek, both … approved …

[photo from Blog: Walking Prescott: The old flume — then & now, April 24, 2010.] 

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 9, 1916

Yavapai’s Advancement == Mining and Industrial == 1915

Awakening Presaged Prosperity For 1916

Many Dormant Properties Revived And A Large Number Of Pass From Development To Producing Stage

By Orick Jackson

[Mining cases summarized  … ] Other Lines

Another evidence of industrial supremacy in Yavapai County during 1915 was the construction of the large water storage dam of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, on Granite creek, within four miles of Prescott, with which is linked a land reclamation undertaking that embraces over 30,000 acres stretching through Lonesome Valley [now Prescott Valley]. The conservation of water is adequate for developing the first unit of 5,000 acres, and two additional storages are to be built during the present year. The virtue of this proposition is so evident, that the sale of a tract of over 5,000 acres for over $550,000 had been consummated, in which a colonization movement of 1,000 souls [from Russia?] is to enter and take possession of the land forthwith. Dry farming experiments have been attempted with fruitful results, and without an ounce of water being drawn from the storage center …. Cattle, sheep, wool … [See: Prescott Dry Farm, University of Arizona Experimental Agricultural Station, map, photos, links]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 11, 1916

Russian Colony for Lonesome Valley

Hassayampa Company Closes Big Land Deal And First Alien Contingent Arrives The 12th

Hassayampa Company closes big land deal and first alien contingency arrives the 12th. The colonization movement for the large domain for the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. has materialized, and on Wednesday morning at 6 o’clock a special train of 14 cars will arrive at Jerome Junction with a total of 111 Russians, as the vanguard of an industrial army which ultimately will reach to several thousand.

This nucleus of home builders is leaving Guadalupe, Mexico, and will enter the United States via San Diego. They are in charge of Wasiley Pivovaroff, as chief, and all are thoroughly trained in agricultural pursuits. They are bringing 108 head of horses, 151 cattle, household utensils and other wares.

The first move will be to erect buildings and begin developing the land set aside embracing over 5,000 acres. A Greek church [they are folk-Protestants, heretic sectarians, not Orthodox] also is to be constructed as well as a public school house, there being over forty children to receive an education. These Russians are said to be industrious as well as thoroughly skilled in farming, and will have the advantage of skillful training through Prof. A. M. McOrmie, late of the agricultural department of the University of Arizona, who will be in charge of reclamation. The tract of land embraced in this huge deal embraces over 10,000 acres, which is to be set aside solely for this alien colonization movement.

The formal transfer will take place on the ground during Wednesday, in which will participate John Barbazette, president of the selling party, Jacob Finkelstein, and John Porter all of Terre Haute, Indiana, who arrived in Prescott yesterday. The purchasers will be represented by Mr. Pivovaroff.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 6, January 12, 1916

Public Records

Instruments Filed as Recorded by The Prescott Title Co. 

January 5, 1916.

Arizona Land and Irrigation Co. to Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. Secs. 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 35 and W½ of NW¼, and W½ of SW¼, Sec. 23, 16N., 2W, and water. 

MAP

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 13, 1916

Russians Come To Husband The Land

First Move Materializes For Big Colonization In Lonesome Valley Section

Yesterday afternoon at about 4 o’clock the special Santa Fe train of 14 cars arrived at Jerome Junction with the first contingent of 130 Russian colonists who are to occupy lands in Lonesome Valley purchased from the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company.

As soon as a settlement is effected other contingents are to arrive and in the aggregate there will be over 1,500 people in this colonization movement. All are from Lower California, Mexico. The change is due to an undesirable situation which has arisen since the frequency of revolutions in recent years in that country. Many of the Russians are highly educated, and among them are several who are fully conversant with the customs as well as the language of the Americans, they are welcoming the release from in existence of alarm to that of security with expressions of very much satisfaction. All are thoroughly trained in agriculture as well are they industrious. The enter this field under happy conditions in building up an agricultural future having over 2,500 acres under development of Winter wheat, alfalfa, Sandia grapes, rye, and other yields, all of which have passed the experimental stage and being cared by dry farming. Water from Lake Watson will be at their disposal for irrigating when the proper season arrives and in abundance also.

Another Colony Coming

It was learned yesterday afternoon from one of the officials at the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. that a colony of 40 Dunker families, composing over 200 souls, would arrive and take possession of a tract of several hundred acres, early this Summer, and final arrangements were therefore being closed up. They are coming from the Sacramento valley, Calif. They are to be located apart from the Russians.

Lively Doings

With the arrival of the Russian colony yesterday quite lively scenes were noticeable in preparing to accommodate the new settlers. Goods and wares, building material and livestock were being unloaded with an interest that showed an earnest desire of these Russians to get immediately to build homes and prepare for the future. They will be taken in the next few days to the lands set aside where Prof. McOrmie will direct them in an agricultural career for which responsible duty he is thoroughly equipped after many years of service with the Arizona University Extension.

El Paso Morning Times, page 3, January 13, 1916

Russians in Arizona

Special to the Morning Times

Prescott, Ariz., Jan 12 — A contingent of 111 Russian colonists for the Lonesome valley arrived at Jerome junction early this morning on a special train of 14 cars from San Diego. The Russians, who recently left Guadalupe, MExico, brought with them 103 head of horses, 151 cattle and all their worldly goods, and will at once begin the development of over 5,000 acres to be purchased from Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms company.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 13, 1916

Second Storage Dam is Now Assured

Hassayampa Land Developing Movement To Go Ahead By Building On Willow Creek.

Ten-thousand acres owned … Willow creek dam 7,500 acre feet capacity… 2 watersheds….

Rain,  January 14, 1916  

San Diego and Arizona Railway: The Impossible Railroad
By Ph.D., Reena Deutsch, 2011, Chapter 1, pages 38+

In the winter of 1915—1916, following years of drought, rainmaker Charles Mallory Hatfield (1875—1958) was hired by the city of San Diego to produce rain. Boy, did he! On January 14, 1916, it started to rain. Gently at first, but by the 16th, it became a torrent and continued another two days. Over 12 inches accumulated at Morena Dam, the very spot where Hatfield set up his rainmaking equipment. Some bridges washed out, cattle drowned, wires fell, and roads were blocked. The downpour was unremitting for two more days until finally letting up. Remarkably, damage to SD&A was minimal. Another storm arrived with a vengeance on January 24. It was widespread and intense with ferocious gusts of wind. The Sweetwater Dam was breached with a 90-foot gap on January 30, 1916, shown in this photograph taken that day. Trees and houses were carried away, but little damage to the SD&A [San Diego & Arizona Railroad] mainline occurred from its overspill. (PSRMA-FR.)

The 1916 storm total exceeded 35 inches of rain at Morena Dam. Ironically, Spreckels formerly owned that dam until sold to the city to subsidize construction of his railroad. The ground was saturated. Torrents of runoff from mountains and hills flowed into streams that swelled and spilled over their banks. On January 27, the earth-and-rock-fill 134-foot-high Lower Otay Dam collapsed, releasing 13 billion gallons of water introduced by a wave 40—100 feet high that swept downstream. It took 2% hours for the reservoir to empty, leaving behind a devastating trail of gravel, mud, rock, and debris. Rain continued to pour onto the waterlogged ground. The SD&A suffered major damage! These two images of destruction at Tijuana River’s 1st crossing reflect scenes frequently mirrored along the unfinished line. (PSRMA.)

Flood-damaged 2nd crossing of the Tijuana River shows remaining tower piers. Countless fills washed out, equipment ruined, work camps decimated, and steel trestles flushed. More than one-quarter of SD&A’s tracks were washed away! Engine No. 50 derailed, tipped over, and became buried in mud for a month. Up to 20 people died, many were left homeless. (PSRMA.)

Twisted and gnarled bits of the Tijuana River 2nd crossing bridge rear up in a tangled mess downstream in this post-flood photograph. Despite the “Impossible Railroad” reputation, when asked what should happen next, Spreckels was quoted as simply saying “Put it back. ” In 1928, Rodriguez Dam was constructed nearby for water conservation and flood control. (PSRMA.)

Charles Hatfield, mixing rain-making chemicals in this posed photograph, was never paid. Most accounts attribute this to the city’s desire to avoid assuming liability. Reports later surfaced that Hatfield changed his name to Benson and practiced drawing his gun quickly. Hatfield was the inspiration for Burt Lancaster’s 1956 film The Rainmaker. He died in 1958. (MEHS.)

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 14, 1916

Land Awakening Has Cheerful Aspect

Hassayampa Colonization Movement Will Prove Beneficial To Prescott

Statements by those interested in the bid colonization movement initiated by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company are weighted with local interest of very much importance, when carried out on plans outlined, insofar as affecting certain lines of trade in this section.

In addition to continuing the original plan in developing a large acreage to had and grains of different varieties, produce raising with that of engaging in the dairy business, the rearing of poultry and livestock, will be factors to receive earnest and immediate attention.

Outlined is a plan to establish a produce mart in Prescott, where sales may be made direct from the form to consumer, in which will be conducted a very extensive line of business dealings on a basis of regular service being strictly maintained.

The Russian colonists who have arrived number many who are skilled in dairying as well as poultry raising, and kindred pursuits, and are equipped with graded milch [sic: milk] cows and the nucleus with which to conduct their business in other lines.

The expected prosperity in this filed in mining, will have a stimulating effect on promoting industrial activity in the new land movement, which will redound to the benefit of the local undertaking, as well as its patrons.

The coming of the Dunkers [Old German Baptist Brethren, could be associated with Glendale founders] this Summer, with that of other units of the Russians, and the ultimate reclamation of over 10,000 acres of fertile land, will have the effect of strengthening the backbone of the county’s resources, as well as will the many receive direct benefits there from in shattering a principle that has prevailed for years in sending away for that which can be produced at home. “The industrial millennium is coming”, said a recent arrival from the East yesterday.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, January 15, 1916

City News in Brief: Colony Visitor

A.V. Crisp, who had been in charge of transportation of the Russian colony out of Mexico, for the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company project, was in the city yesterday on a brief business trip. He returns to Jerome Junction today, to assist in field distribution, when [then] he returns to Mexico to conduct other contingents to this section.

Little Russia Goes On Yavapai Map

Many Prescott people have visited Jerome Junction during the past days to witness the initial steps in the big colonization movement and to acquaint themselves with the habits and customs of the first contingent of Russians now on the ground.  The scene is interesting from the evident happy mood of these people, as well as their activity in preparing for the future in reclaiming that large domain of agricultural land. The snow capped country they regard as desirable, and one Russian stated it begins to look as if they are home again. All of the families brought along many crates filled with ducks, geese and poultry, besides household articles. All have been placed in buildings at Jerome Junction and on the ground for the present.

Fourteen carloads of lumber arrived yesterday, with which to begin construction of permanent homes. Prof. A.M. McOrmie is in direct charge of these industrious people, and later will begin a very extensive line of instruction in land developing. At the head of the colonization movement is Mr. Pivovoff [sic: Pivovaroff].

The Pittsburgh Press, page 7, Jan 16, 1916

Ad: Why You Should Buy Copper Stock Now

[187% return on investment] Mining is safer than any other business. … very heart of the richest copper fields in the world, Jerome, Arizona.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 18, 1916

California Streams are Overflowing Banks

Continuous Rain Since Saturday

Street Car and Railroad Traffic is Demoralized and Accidents are Reported as Numerous

Nearly every stream in Southern California is flooded … The storm extended to Arizona where washouts and flood conditions are reported. … Railroad service between Phoenix and Ray was discontinued and the train service between Yuma and Los Angeles was halted for several hours.

Bisbee Daily Journal, page 6, January 18, 1916

County and State News

PRESCOTT — Several other large contingents of Russian colonists from Lower California [Baja, Mexico] will arrive to join the settlement now being formed at Jerome Junction, according to A. V. Crisp, transportation manager for the project. Over 130 Russians have already arrived at the settlement and are quartered in the empty buildings of the deserted town of Jerome Junction until houses can be erected for them. Lumber and other materials are now on the ground, and it is expected that the erection of the buildings will begin as soon as the weather permits.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 18, 1916

As Copper Soars So Are Miners Benefited

Sliding Scale Of United Verde Sends Wages Up For Third Time To 75 Cents Per Shift

Hotel Arrivals

… A.S. McComie [McOmie], Phoenix …

Water Storage Anticipation Come True

Lake Watson Slops Over Yesterday When Six Feet Of Water Passes Over Dam.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 18, 1916

Freak Elements Again Shift Around

Warm Rains Batter Snow Covered Mountains And County Is Deluged

Storm a surprise…traffic affected …

Filling Lake Watson

Considerable local interest was shown in Lake Watson that will receive the direct benefit of the immense flow of Granite Creek. It is stated that by Wednesday night this storage will be filled to its capacity and last night had reached to within 12 feet of the spillway.

Willow creek, where it empties into Granite creek, below Lake Watson, is said to have carried on Monday afternoon its largest body of water known at any season of the year. … Phoenix is a sea of mud…

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, January 18, 1916

City News In Brief: Backed Out

An endeavor to cross Granite creek yesterday afternoon on horseback near Fort Whipple by Steve Braddack proved futile and he took the back track to the city. He was returning to the Russian colony settlement near Jerome Junction. He stated that his horse refused to enter the stream and could not be persuaded under the whip to move ahead.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), January 19, 1916, page 4

Little Russia Goes On Yavapai Map [column 5]

(From Saturday's Daily)

Russians Come To Husband The Land [column 2]

(From Thursday's Daily)

Second Storage Dam Is Assured [column 1]

(From Thursday's Daily)

History of Maricopa County Flooding,

The Flood Control District of Maricopa County

Jan. 19-22: Intense rain and melting mountain snow produces large river flows in central Arizona. There are four fatalities and $300,000 in damage. The Salt and Verde rivers experience severe flooding, with water flowing over the spillways of Roosevelt Dam.

————

Major Floods and Droughts in Arizona

Paulson, R.W., Chase, E.B., Roberts, R.S., and Moody, D.W., Compilers,

National Water Summary 1988-89-- Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, 591 p.

Flood: Jan. 19- 22, 1916

Central Highlands : Intense rain on melting snow produced large flows in central Arizona. Deaths, 4; damage, $300,000.

————

Arizona’s Worst Disaster : The Hassayampa Story, 1886–2009

Jim Liggett, 2009

Page 92 : Figure 6-1. The flood of 1916 destroyed the bridge across the river at Wickenburg.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 19, 1916

Southern California is Grip of Devastating Storm

Lives Lost, Traffic Demoralized And Immense Amount of Damage Done To Property By Streams Which Overflow Their Banks; Weather Observer Says Climatic Outbreak Is Coming This Way; Roosevelt Dam Full

Pomona College flooded… damage is over one million dollars.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 19, 1916

Water Storage Anticipations Come True

Lake Watson Slops Over Yesterday When 6 Feet Of Water Passes Over Dam

"… if two storage dams had been constructed on Granite creek alone, … water sufficient for developing 15,000 of land would have been available."

To Try Booze Suit At Jerome Junction

"… suit against Justice of the Peace … and Constable .. for the recovery of booze and $100 damages …"

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 19, 1916

Unusual Doings Result From Big Storm

West Prescott Has A Large Cascade; Property Losses Occur; Lake In City Created

… lake of over 500 yards long and at places 300 feet wide … to a depth of over 12 feet …Verde river … to a depth of 20 feet … normal depth of five feet … Fossil creek … swollen to 15 feet … normal … 3 feet … Marion Welsh arrived from the city ranch during the afternoon and reported that Granite creek had cut a new channel through the east end of that tract, washing away over fifty feet of soil.

The Situation in Phoenix … "Rain was prevalent all over the valley … predominant … About the only safe transportation was a saddle horse and even they were liable to fall down."

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 4, January 12, 1916

Russians Come To Husband The Land

(From Thursday's Daily) [Jan. 13]

Second Storage Dam is Assured

(From Thursday's Daily) [Jan. 13]

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 6, January 19, 1916

City News In Brief:  

To Indiana

W. P. Bidgood, for the past three years secretary of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., left last night for Indianapolis, Ind., his home, to remain, having finished his duties in this section.

Colony Visitor.

A. V. Crisp, who had charge of transportation of the Russian colony out of Mexico, for the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., project, was in the city yesterday on a brief business trip. He returns to Jerome Junction today, to assist in field distribution, when [then] he returns to Mexico to conduct other contingents to this section.  
[Repeat from Thursday, Jan. 13]

Ogden Standard, January 20, 1916, page 6

State Sells Land in Sanpete County

[Last 800 acres sold at government auction, some members of the bankrupt Jewish colony bought tracts: Benjamin Brown, S. Lieberman, B. Palley, and A. Shein. for $11 to $17/acre + water rights at $35/acre. 3,000 acres already defaulted.] 
See Utah: Jewish Agricultural Colony Association

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 20, 1916

[Typo in date. Jan. 20, 1917 issue mistakenly printed as year "1916." Actual Jan. 20, 1916 issue found only on microfilm.]

Relief In Sight For Flooded Section

Clearing Weather In Southern California

Damage From Storm is Estimated At Over Two Million Dollars; Railroads And Highways In Bad Shape.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 20, 1916

[Typo in date. Jan. 20, 1917 issue mistakenly printed as year "1916." Actual Jan. 20, 1916 issue found only on microfilm.]

Land Allotment for Russians

Prof. A.M. McOrmie, in charge of land development of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, and who will instruct the contingent of Russians in the American method of farming was in the city yesterday from Jerome Junction, and stated the allotting of land will begin today.

The action signalized reclamation as starting forthwith, these aliens on the ground stating that they are very anxious to begin work immediately, and treat the inclement weather as of secondary consideration only. Construction of buildings on the different parcels set aside will be under headway as soon as weather conditions permit a train load of lumber being available. The colonists are very much pleased with the outlook.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 21, 1916

Signs Of Storm Being Rapidly Effaced

Conditions In Southern California Becoming Normal; Rail Service is Restored

The Colorado River Rises Seven Feet

Stalled Trains Are Beginning To Move

Four Drowned By Overflow Of The Gila

Lower Part of Winkleman is Inundated; More Than Hundred are Homeless

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 21, 1916

Heavy Washout At Santa Fe Main Line

All Trains East Are Annulled; Communication To Coast Is Reestablished

River Leaves Banks; Farms Are Damaged

Verde River at Cottonwood, Travel to Jerome Stopped

Agua Fria River at Highest Elevation

Willow Creek at High Water Mark

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, January 21, 1916

Russians Will Erect School for Colony

Expect To Ask County To Furnish Teacher For Between 35 And Forty Children

With between thirty-five and forty Russian children of school age among the colony which recently located on the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company land below Lake Watson, a new county school will probably be established, according to Justice of the Peace McLane who returned from Jerome Junction yesterday.

McLane declared that the new comers are very desirous of having their children trained in an American school with an American teacher. The justice stated that while he was at the Junction, County Superintendent of schools W. Curtis Miller was talking the matter over with the leaders of the colony. He understands that the Russians are willing to erect a school house immediately and that all they will ask of the county will be the furnishing of a teacher. What plans Miller may have made are not known, but he is expected to return from the north this afternoon.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 23, 1916

Yuma City And Valley Are Under Four Feet Of Water

Breaking of the Government Levee Causes the Colorado River to Spread Over a Large Area; Town is in Darkness as Gas and Electric Plants Are Flooded; Mayor Dies of Heart Failure When Disaster Occurs. 

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 23, 1916

Fort Whipple Road Is Badly Damaged

Arrivals by team and horseback Friday reported the wagon road at Fort Whipple as in a dangerous condition, due to Granite creek flood waters washing away the banks at several places, reducing the width of the grader to only ten feet between the wire fence and the water surface. Loaded teams will find it difficult to make the trip with safety, and one outfit for Lynx creek turned and came back to the city yesterday. The only remedy is in removing the line of the fence farther to the east, but permission must be obtained from the War department, at Washington.

Troy Northern Budget, page 1, January 23, 1916

Yuma Valley Flooded As Big Levees Break

Many Buildings Washed Away or Badly Damaged—Mayor of the City Dies As Result of Excitement

[4 feet of water on main street. Many buildings damaged, destroyed. Residents flee. No electricity, gas, drinking water. Livestock die.]

Los Angeles Times, page I-1, January 23, 1916

Hundreds Homeless In The Arizona City.

Whole of the Business and Residence Sections Under Water; Martial Law Declared to Prevent Looting—Money Loss Incalculable—Mayor Succumbs While Directing Work of Rescue—Immediate Appeal to Congress may be Made for Assistance to Repair Damage Done. Hundreds Homeless. In the Path of the Flood.

YUMA, Jan. 22.—From 250 to 300 families are homeless, 160 houses are floating down the Colorado River, the town is in darkness and void of water supply, martial law has been declared…

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), January 26, 1916, page 2

Freighters Using Old County Road

(From Tuesday’ Daily. [Issue not online])

The State highway out of this city to the south is reported to be impassable to loaded teams, and the old county roadway is again in use, as far as Groom creek. The latter is said to be washed to bedrock, while the former is packed with a capping of decomposed granite and has been badly cut up by heavy traffic, since the storms of December. Those who traveled over the State road on horseback reported that it will require several weeks of good weather to again place that highway in fair condition for freighting. The country to the south of prescott still carries a heavy depth of snow, and general conditions are said to be unsatisfactory for mining.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 26, 1916

Destructive Storm Swept Verde Valley

For the first time, known in history … many buildings collapsed from the heavy weight of the snow … farm lands were flooded and fertile soil under a state of cultivation washed away. … the storm was without a parallel in the memory of the oldest settlers.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3, January 26, 1916

Water Storage Measurement Is Surprise

(From Friday’s Daily)  Jan 21

Those who may be interested in ascertaining the extent of the heavy volume of water carried by Granite creek, since the December storms started, and up to Thursday, will be surprised to learn from R. S. Cookinham, chief engineer of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., what his observations made of Lake Watson storage conclusively demonstrate.

He stated yesterday that had there been three dams of the capacity of the above each of 10,000-acre feet, all would have been filled and overflowing from the Granite creek source alone, while on Willow creek, it would have required two more dams of like capacity of Lake Watson to have conserved the flow from that drainage division.

Water continued to flow through the Lake Watson spillway yesterday afternoon to a depth of three feet, and with the inflow not receding to any perceptible extent, Lake Watson today is carrying its maximum depth of over 83 feet, and will be kept at that elevation that the colonization movement may be carried out in developing lands as outlined. Mr. Cookinham also stated that had the original storage plans of the company been carried out, in building the dam to a height of 102 feet, the track of the S. F., P. & P. at certain points on the water front would have been submerged to a depth of 20 feet. The present storage of Lake Watson may at some future time reach this high elevation, that will require a new grade to be built for the railroad to a higher line, when water will be backed into Fort Whipple along Granite creek.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3, January 26, 1916

Big Damage To Salt River Project

Phoenix, Jan 21— Material damage to the Salt river project as a result of the flood in Salt and Verde rivers is confined to three localities, … At the head of the Grand canal, there are breaks in the riverward bank, extending over an area of more than a mile. ..

The Southern canal bank … about a hundred yards of the canal bank had been damaged

Queen creek flooded … road to Roosevelt damaged … Fish creek bridge damaged … many roads too muddy for cars.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3, January 26, 1916

Russians Will Erect School For Colony 

(From Friday’s Daily)  Jan 21

With between 35 and 40 Russian children of school age among the colony which recently located on the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company land below Lake Watson, a new county school will probably be established, according to Justice of the Peace McLane who returned from Jerome Junction yesterday.

McLane declared that the newcomers are very desirous of having their children trained in an American school with an American teacher. The justice stated that while he was at the Junction, County Superintendent of Schools W. Curtis Miller was talking the matter over with the leaders of the colony. He understands that the Russians are willing to erect a school house immediately and that all they will ask of the county will be the furnishing of a teacher. What plans Miller may have made are not known, but he is expected to return from the north this afternoon.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 6, January 26, 1916

Russians Begin Building New Homes

Lonesome Valley Passes From Scene Of Desolation As New Homebuilders Begin.

(From Tuesday's Daily. Jan 25 [not online])

Active construction of 25 farm homes in Lonesome valley started yesterday with a vim that would indicate quite a large community as assured for the future, in which the Russian colony figures as home builders on a permanent basis. With these buildings there are to be 25 barns, a public school house, and a church for these people to worship in, which will be of the Greek Prygun denomination. Each home will be of four rooms, and all structures are to be built of the best material.

Each habitation will set in a tract of 20 acres and every family will select from the 3,C00-acre allotment from 80 to 120 acres. All homes, accordingly, will be widely separated, but all colonists will be centralized into a community of interests and work in conjunction under one directing source. The coming of favorable weather to permit of developing plans to be carried out is joyously welcomed by these frugal and industrious people, which was exemplified yesterday fay the earnestness with which all started in to pave the way for their future welfare.

Prof. A. M. McOmie, who has charge of farming lands for these people, stated yesterday that active farming will begin in a short time and the happy mood of these aliens would indicate a big success as assured. All are enthusiastic over soil conditions, and are very much contented in reaching a section where they will be permitted to pursue their vocation with freedom and without the severe burdens as were imposed on them while in Mexico.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, January 27, 1916

Big Precipitation In The Bradshaws

[Bradshaw mountains around Chino Valley got 12" precipitation.]

… even trails are difficult to travel.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 28, 1916

Formal Closing of Big Farm Land Deal

Sale Of 3,000 Acres To Russian Colonists Is Ratified In Prescott Yesterday

Five Russians, all principals to the colonization of lands near Jerome Junction, were arrivals in the city yesterday afternoon to formally close the deal with the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, for a tract of 3,000 [4.5 sq. miles] acres, which they are now occupying.

Mr. Pivovaroff, head of this movement, in speaking for his associates, stated yesterday that they were all very much pleased with the future outlook of their holdings, and as soon as weather conditions would warrant, energetic land developing would be inaugurated, and carried out on a broad plan. Owing to the storm a temporary delay has prevailed in construction of houses. A majority of these aliens speak English and all are very much please over leaving Mexico, where many had been for over ten years.

The shipping in of a large herd of fine dairy cattle from San Diego County starting in a short time, from which all families will be given their quota.

From a physical standpoint these Russians are of a very hardy race and they view the present snow storm as but a climatic incident of little concern, when contrasted with that of their homeland, Russia. Prof. A.M. McOrmie, their instructor in land development, is representing them in the final land transaction.

John Kotoff, who was little boy in the colony, said they built plywood boxes to sleep in during this snowstorm, heated all night with kerosene lanterns. John remembers shivering, wrapped in a blanket, watching snowflakes blow through the spaces between the boards which were warped and constructed quickly with few nails. He wished they used more nails. John and Stella lived on 5th Street, east of Lorena, and helped create the relocated Dzheromskiy village map 2 miles west of Glendale, Arizona.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 28, 1916

Furious Storms Again Envelops The Country

Third Downpour In One Month Threatens To Be Damaging; Is Heaviest Of Series

Since Dec 28, transportation has stopped … The Hassayampa is carrying a heavy flow …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, January 29, 1916

Rocky Mountain Region Now In Grip Of Big Storm

Serious Damage By Floods To The SFP&P

Four bridges gone, washouts …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, January 29, 1916

Entirely Wiped Out Is Whipple Road

… travel through this section came to a standstill … road has been obliterated.

Yavapai Magazine; February, 1916. Pg. 5 col. 1

On January 12, fourteen railroad cars carrying over 100 Russian colonists and their possessions arrived at Jerome Junction, southeast of present day Chino Valley. They brought with them 151 cattle, 103 horses, chickens, geese and all their household furniture and goods.

"With very little delay, the men set to work on the construction of 25 farm homes. Each family will have from 20 to 120 acres.  The colony will own a track of 3000 acres that will be worked under the direction and advice of Prof. A. M. McOmie, who for many years was connected with the state university."

The Santa Fe Magazine, February 1916, pages 44-45

How Fame Has Been Won for the Harvey Service by Devotion to a Business Principle

LOCAL BUYING

Wherever possible Fred Harvey buys certain supplies locally, as, for instance, butter, eggs, fruit and vegetables. In fact, each Harvey manager is somewhat of a purchasing agent for the balance of the system. If the Rocky Fords are in season and the price is low in La Junta, the manager there so informs the other and even away out at Del Rio, Ariz., a large dairy and poultry farm is operated. ...

But in order to insure a sufficient supply of the best poultry and dairy products, a dairy and poultry farm is maintained at Newton, Kan., a dairy at La Junta, Colo., another at Las Vegas, N. M., and yet another at Temple, Tex.,

[Photo Caption] AT THE HARVEY DAIRY NEAR DEL RIO, ARIZ. Absolute cleanliness is insisted upon in every branch of the Fred Harvey organization. The most modern approved methods and appliances always are installed. Note the track down the center of the shed, with the push-car loaded with milk cans at the farther end. The milk has just been drawn by means of electric machines, which are thoroughly sterilized before using.

[Same dairy barn photographed in 1997.]

Fred Harvey Collection : Traveling the Rails in Grand Style.

Photographs and Supplemental Materials of the Fred Harvey Hotels, 1896-1945.

Del Rio Farms, Arizona. [22 images.]

Yavapai Magazine, February 1916, page        5

Russian Colony Arrives

Lonesome Valley is one of the busiest part of Yavapai county. In the latter part of January there came a train load of 150 Russian colonists. They brought with them cattle, horses, chickens and household furniture. It required 14 cars to transport them and their belongings.

With very little delay, the men set to work on the construction of 25 farm homes. Each family will have from 20 to 120 acres. A church and school house will be built as soon as possible. The colony will own a tract of 3,000 acres that will be worked under the direction and advice of Prof. A. M. McOmie, who for many years was connected with the State University.

It is reported that colony of Dunker families will come shortly from the Sacramento Valley in California.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 2, February 2, 1916

Public School for Russian Colonists

The Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company has awarded the contract to L. Benjamin* of this day for construction a new public school house for use of the Russian colonists who arrived recently and are now in possession of land in the Lonesome Valley. The site selected for this institution is situated three and one-half miles to the north east of Jerome Junction** and the building will accommodate about 40 pupils, there being that number ready to be enrolled. English only will be taught, and the school will open during March.

 * Cook & Benjamin, contracting carpenter of the S. F. P. & P. railroad, built homes, school, other things. Since HAFC built the school, his contract may not be recorded with the Chino Valley School District.

** 3.5 miles NE of Jerome Junction is in the foothills, but 3.5 miles SE is the HAFC headquarters. Typo? Was the HAFC built school placed across the street from their office, on the location of the school district office today?

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 1, col 1, February 2, 1916

Desolation Marks The Path Of Recent Storm

Marines Guarding Flooded District

Chamber Of Commerce Committee In Charge Of Relief Work Issues An Appeal For Sum Of $100,000.

San Diego, Jan. 31— … looting in Otay valley … wreckage and debris in San Diego bay has impaired the water system… pipe line break clogged the conduits and shut off the supply from the Moreno and Upper Otay reservoirs. … rebuilding of the Lower Otay dam, … $100,000 needed … schools in the affected district will be closed a month … food shortage … The Sante Fe reported it will take three weeks to repair its line to Los Angeles owing to several bridges having been washed out. … practically every ranch in the San Diego valley between Foster and Lakeside, twenty miles northeast of here was swept clean by the waters which rushed through the valley Thursday. … similar conditions at El Monte, …

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 1, February 6, 1916

Captain Carter Acquires Immense Holdings Of Arizona Land And Irrigation Company In The Chino And Lonesome Valleys

Big Tract Already Is Sold To An Illinois Syndicate

Big Steam Tractors Are Now Enroute

2,000 Acres To Be Put Under Cultivation

The entire holdings of the Arizona Land & Irrigation Company, the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company, the Jacob F. Finkelstein and others, amounting to some 31,000 acres of fine agricultural lands, situated in the Little Chino and Lonesome valleys between Prescott and Jerome Junction, were recently sold to O. M. Carter, a consulting engineer of Chicago.

For years past very little has been done toward developing this great body of fertile land. Last year some 2,500 acres were placed under cultivation, and the yields were so great that many farmers practically paid for their lands from the proceeds of the first year's crops. Matters are now in shape for a much larger development, which will be of the greatest value to this vicinity.

Mr. Carter arrived in town from Chicago Sunday, and took possession of the entire tract of land yesterday, and at once took steps to develop and place the land under irrigated cultivation.  

He has set aside 8,000 acres of the choicest land adjoining the holdings of the Chino Mutual Water Users' Association, (which set a record of performance last season), to be placed under cultivation during the coming season.

Additional storage for the water required for irrigating these 8,000 acres of land will be created in the Granite Creek reservoir by raising the existing dam, or in Willow creek by constructing a dam there, or by both methods.

Already 3,240 acres of this 8,000 acre tract have been sold by Mr. Carter to a group of wealthy farmers, from Monticello and Bemen, Illinois, headed by H. E. Shaw, who is president of the State Bank of Bement.

With Mr. Shaw are associated Mr. Kratz. Mr. Moore, and others, and these gentlemen have already incorporated the Prescott Farms Company, with a capital of $350,000. They have bought big tractors and other farm machinery, which are already on their way here, and they hope to have at least 2,000 acres of their land under cultivation this year.

Inasmuch as these new owners are agriculturists of experience, the Little Chino farmers, who grew such wonderful crops last season, will have to look to their laurels for in coming year

Negotiations are well under way by Mr. Carter for the sale of another tract of the same size to be owned and operated by a group of experienced farmers from the corn belt of Illinois, and when the entire 8,000, acres are under cultivation, it will give a total of about 11,000 acres under irrigated cultivation in that locality, including the acreage already under cultivation by the farmers at Little Chino.

If the record of production set last year by the Little Chino farmers is kept up, this should mean an annual net income from this land of between $500,000 and $750,000 and it is added thereto the revenue to be derived from the balance of the tract, will reach much larger figures.

It is understood that in addition to developing the large tract of irrigated land, the new owners intend to  develop a large livestock ranch in Lonesome valley, the excellent work of Mr. Bates of the agricultural department of the State University having shown what can be done toward raising forage crops without irrigation, so the new venture contains nothing of novel or experimental.

The building of the dam in Willow creek will flood the tract of land, known as the Wynkoop ranch, operated under a lease by Messrs Dolly and Ruffner, but the loss of that tract of land will bring an acreage many times as great, so the net return will be great, even with the loss of that tract of land.

Mr. Carter has hired W. M. Graves of Little Chino in local charge of the 31,000 acres of which he took possession yesterday morning, and Mr. Graves wall soon begin farming operations covering the 8,000-acre tract named, and when this has been done the acreage will be increased as rapidly as may be needed.

El Paso Herald, TX, page 5, February 7, 1916

Arizona Russian Colony Will Not Be Hyphenated

Prescott Ariz., Feb 7 -- The Russian farmers who recently settled in Lonesome valley are not going to be hyphenated Americans. A contract has been let for construction of a schoolhouse that will accommodate 40 pupils and the Russians have asked that an American teacher, with no knowledge of the Russ language, be assigned to the district. The school will be opened in March

Prescott Journal Miner, page 8, February 8, 1916

City News In Brief: To New Home

Mr. and Mrs. George Heller, until recently with the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farm Co., will make their future home in Tucson. …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 10, 1916

Willow Creek Storage Now Assured

Second dam of Land Company is approved and construction will soon start …

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 11, 1916

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3 (col 7, mid), February 15, 1916

Thinks Bean Is A Rival Of the Aztec

The Aztec bean, which became famous through tnc publicity given it by the Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce, has not ceased to create interest in all farming communities in the United States, every now and then some farmer coming to the front with a new bean to test the superiority of the Aztec. To date, the Aztec has maintained its prestige as the "King of the Bean Kingdom."

The latest authority to test the superior qualities of the Aztec is M. Hardin, of Geary, Okla., who has sent to the local chamber samples of the so-called "Gigantic Wonder Bean," although in comparison with the Aztec it is a mere "pigmy." Quoting from Hardin's letter:

"The Gigantic Wonder Bean is a great new forage plant and soil builder, is a perfect stock food, yielding tons of hay per acre. It is a novel and prodigious curiosity of unusual importance. Extremely early, enormously productive. Tender, stringless and surprisingly delicious for snap shorts and shelling. This wonderful plant is a native of India, and was introduced into this country a few years ago. It is a great acquisition and truly a prodigy. The Gigantic Wonder Bean is an unsurpassed garden vegetable and forage plant."

The samples of the bean have been divided into three equal lots and will be given to Prof. A. M. McOmie, to try out at the Russian colony; J. D. Bethune, for the county farm; and L. L. Bates, for the Prescott experiment station.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, February 13, 1916

Large Storage For Lake Watson

Spillway To Be Closed When Over 1,000 Acre Feet Additional Of Water Will Be Had

Prescott Journal Miner, page _, February 11?, 1916

Willow Creek Storage Now Assured  xxx

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6 [col.2, bottom], February 12, 1916

FOR SALE : Farm and Water, 160-acre homestead, $1,000

[20-acre water right, 10 miles north of Prescott.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, February 15, 1916

City News In Brief : To Phoenix

Attorney Joseph E. Morrison of Phoenix after a two days' visit with his brother Attorney R. E. Morrison, left yesterday for the South.

[Morrisons later represent the Russians in their suit against HAFC.]

1917 January 18 — Russians Sue Hassayampa Company

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3, February 16, 1916

Willow Creek Storage Now Assured [col.6]

(From Thursday's Daily, Feb 11)

"Water storage on Granite creek has proven so successful that the Willow creek project has been deemed necessary to provide another unit to carry out the big land developing plans of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co.," said Colonel W. W. Huffman, of Anderson, Ind., yesterday. He did not designate a definite date for construction to begin, but stated that before the beginning of Summer the work would be under headway, so that flood waters this Fall and Winter would be conserved.

Colonel Huffman made his first inspection of the project yesterday and after returning from the colony tract, said: "The work starts off auspiciously, and the Russians are energetic and practical in their movements. Section lines are carefully laid out, construction of homes has started, and development of the 3,000-acre allotment will soon be under way."

Colonel Huffman stated that specifications for the Willow creek storage dam would be identical to those of Granite creek, although the surface area will be expanded to four times that of the latter. This unit will afford double the present acreage to be developed, and for which there will be other colonists to take charge.

Dams on Lynx creek and Mint Wash are also under consideration, and the entire tract of over 20,000 acres will be embraced in the developing plans ultimately to be carried out.

The visitor is highly pleased with the undertaking, and from the inception of this movement has been one of the heaviest backers of his company. He is secretary of the American Playground Device Co., of Indiana, and enjoys prominence in his State as a supporter of any project wherein material development of the country at large is to be considered.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 4, February 16, 1916

Larger Storage For Lake Watson (col 7, bottom)

(From Sunday's Daily)

It has been deemed advisable by the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. to harness as much water as possible at its Lake Watson dam on Granite creek, and in a short time the adding of another three feet to the spillway section will begin. This will increase the capacity of the lake to an additional 1,000 acre feet, which action has been requested by the head of the Russian colony now on the ground.

The spillway is situated on the west end of the dam, and is three feet lower than the main structure of 67 feet in height. Since the first of January the overflow has been continuous, at times reaching to over three feet in depth for a distance of 70 feet in length. Yesterday the overflow at the spillway was over eight inches, and the loss of such a large body of water, at this particular time of the season for finishing winter crops, leaving the main body intact for future uses, prompts early action for this increase in storage.

Bisbee Daily Review, page 3, February 16, 1916

County and State News

PRESCOTT The capacity of Lake Watson, the storage reservoir of the

Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms company will be increased 1000 acre feet by the raising of the spillway section of the dam three feet. The increase in the capacity of the lake was requested by leaders of the Russian colony near Jerome Junction.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, February 18, 1916

Public Records: Instruments Filed as Recorded by The Prescott Title Co.

Arizona Land and Irrigation Co to Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co. Water right for Sec. 3, 15N., 2W., and Sec. 33 16N., 2W.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 18, 1916

Pleased People

Messrs. James and Harold Gorman of Lakeside, Md., and Henry H. Jackson of Canterville, Md., with their wives, who are making a tour of the State, visited the Russian colony tract a few days ago, and for a virgin land proposition, expressed themselves as pleased with the outlook. The visitors are to remain in the State until Summer, and then later will return for a more extended trip of inspection of industrial conditions.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, February 22, 1916

City News in Brief: Has Big Contract

G.W. Hill, who has the contract for plowing several hundred acres of land for the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Co., was in the city yesterday after equipment, and begins his big undertaking immediately.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, February 25, 1916

Russian Colonists Make the Dirt Fly

Larry Little of Lonesome Valley is quite favorably impressed with the farming outlook since the Russian colonists have assumed charge of their land allotment, saying that their knowledge of the business with their industry in tilling the soil is being wholesomely proven daily. Plowing the 3,000 acre tract is going on, houses are being built, fences laid, and other practical work goes ahead.  All colonists are please over their situation, and this Summer it is believed the regeneration of that region will be accomplished.

[Larry Little: Aug 31, 1915;  Feb 25, 1916; Dec 15,29, 1916]

Cook & Benjamin, Prescott contractor, built homes, school, other things.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, February 26, 1916

Plenty of Water

Charles E. Bock, located east of Jerome Junction about seven miles, has determined the water problem on his farm, by sinking a well through a formation that was supposed to be barren of any flow water whatever. At a depth of 342 feet, however, water appeared in such a volume that a pumping plant with a capacity of 1,000 gallons per hour failed to decrease the supply. Larry Little did the drilling, and he stated yesterday Brock's lands are now enhanced in value fully four fold.

Tombstone Epitaph, page 3,  February 27, 1916   

Farmers Of Great Plains

Men Required Who Are Willing to Endure Some Hardships They Must Become Drought-Resistant.

By George A. M'Murdo. Colorado, Agricultural College, Fort Collins, Colo.

We have the experience of generations from which to profit. The settling of a colony of Russians in the Great Plains and the planting of the seed that they brought with them gave us Americans our first insight into the possibilities of dry-land agriculture. They showed us our opportunity. Uncle Sam also took a hand and has been gathering information to help us. He now has sufficient material and data collected to begin to put the practice of dry farming on a scientific basis. …

Yavapai Magazine; April, 1916. Pg. 8, col. 3

The first year's crops were saved.

It was a big victory for the colony as well as McOmie who was developing a close relationship with the immigrants. He became a fluent speaker of Russian and referred to the colonists as his "official family." He invited "every resident of Prescott to pay ‘his children’ a visit, promising that it will prove interesting and instructive to all who accept."

St. Johns Herald and Apache News, page 2, March 2, 1916

Russian Colony in Yavapai

Lonesome Valley is one of the busiest parts of Yavapai county. In the latter part of January there came a train load of 150 Russian colonists. They brought with them cattle, horses, chickens and household furniture. It required 14 cars to transport them and their belongings.

With very little delay, the men set to work on the construction of 25 farm homes.* Each family will have from 20 to 120 acres. A church and school house will be built as soon as possible. The colony will own a tract of  3,000 acres that will be worked under the direction and advice of  Prof. A.M. McOmie, who for many years was connected with the State University.

Dunkard families will come-shortly from the Sacramento Valley in California. —Yavapai Magazine.

* Cook & Benjamin, contracting carpenter of the S. F. P. & P. railroad, built homes, school, other things.

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 6, March 8, 1916

City News in Brief: Looks Good

Alex Duff, the merchant of Jerome Junction, was in the city yesterday on a business trip, and stated the Russian colonists are active in field work, preparing the soil for cultivation. Duff also says the country is being transformed and practical farming will soon be successfully demonstrated.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, March 9, 1916

Progressing In English

Are being Taught At Colony Near Jerome Junction by Miss Olga Pryor

County Superintendent of Schools W. Curtis Miller on his arrival at the new school at the Russian colony near Jerome Junction was greeted with a curt "good morning" by nearly every one of the 22 pupils who a week ago today knew nothing of the English language.

The pupils under the direction of Miss Olga Pryor are quickly gaining an English vocabulary, according to Miller, the pupils of all ages being in the first grade so far as reading and the English language go.

Over 20 houses have already been constructed with the school house in the center of the colony. Fifteen more pupils will he added to the classes when more houses are completed and other Russian families can move in from the junction. Twelve new families are now on their way to join the colony from California. The children are well dressed in American style clothing. Miss Pryor, the teacher, is a graduate of the Flagstaff normal school and has had three years’ experience in teaching in the State of Kansas.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, March 10, 1916

Plans Maturing On Big Land Movement

Russians Are Getting 3,500 Acres For Developing The Various Crops

Repairing of the diversion dam of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms Company on Granite creek, damaged during floods of January has commenced, and water will be turned into the main canal next week for developing over 3,500 acres of land for the Russian colonists [colonists from Russia], was the statement made yesterday by Prof. A.M. McOmie in charge of the agriculture department.

In reviewing land operations, he stated that intensive farming is now in full swing, and the first development will consist of the following crops being cultivated: 1,000 acres to alfalfa, 500 to wheat, 500 to beans, 500 to corns, 500 to potatoes, 300 to Sudan grass, and the balance to vegetables and smaller seeds. To date there have been erected 15 new residences, and a public school building, with an attendance of 25 pupils. Planting of the entire tract will be finished in May.

Prof. McOmie also stated Lake Watson has abundant storage for cultivating the above unit allotted to the Russians, and with other colonists to arrive later, their holdings will receive consideration by additional water storage being provided probably from the Willow creek sited. He also said that outlook for the success of this first big land movement for Yavapai is encouraging, and the Russians on the ground are pleased interest as well as indications for building up a flourishing business.

Reprinted in Weekly Journal-Miner, March 15, 1916, page 3

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, March 11, 1916

Border of Arizona Is Crossed In New Raid

Mexican Bandits Kill Rancher Near Osborne Junction

Many Head Livestock Driven Off by the Looters; Police and Provost Guard Patrol Douglas; Smelters are Guarded  (Associated Press, Bisbee, March 10)

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, March 12, 1916

Santa Fe Takes Films Of City And Vicinity

Are To Be Used In Big Advertising Campaign Throughout The United States

[Ads to be shown in 10,000 theaters in U.S. with 19 million expected viewers. Filming by A.E. Reeves advertising department, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and Assistant General Advertising Agent C.J. Burchfield. Jerome smelter, Prescott sites, Granite Dells, and local people.  Colonists from Russian?]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 15, 1916

Progressing In English

Are being Taught At Colony Near Jerome Junction by Miss Olga Pryor

(From Thursday's Daily, March 9)

County Superintendent of Schools W. Curtis Miller on his arrival at the new school at the Russian colony near Jerome Junction was greeted with a curt "good morning" by nearly every one of the 22 pupils who a week ago today knew nothing of the English language.

The pupils under the direction of Miss Olga Pryor are quickly gaining an English vocabulary, according to Miller, the pupils of all ages being in the first grade so far as reading and the English language go.

Over 20 houses have already been constructed with the school house in the center of the colony. Fifteen more pupils will he added to the classes when more houses are completed and other Russian families can move in from the junction. Twelve new families are now on their way to join the colony from California. The children are well dressed in American style clothing. Miss Pryor, the teacher, is a graduate of the Flagstaff normal school and has had three years’ experience in teaching in the State of Kansas.

Copper Era and Morenci Leader, page 2, March 17, 1916

Russian Colony Energetic

PRESCOTT -- Water from Lake Watson, the storage dam of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Farms company, will be turned on this week to irrigate the 3500 acre tract of land now being cultivated by the new Russian colony in the Lonesome valley. The Russians have planted 1000 acres to alfalFa, and 2000 acres to corn, wheat, beans and potatoes. The balance of the tract will be put in vegetables and Sedan [Sudan] grass. The Russians have built 15 houses and a school house since their arrival in February.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 18, 1916

Contract Finished

Cook & Benjamin, contractors, have returned to the city from the Russian colony lands near Jerome Junction, having completed the construction of many new homes, the public school buildings and other improvements. They stated these aliens were making commendable headway in farming, were of a genial disposition, and industrious, all being practically trained to their vocation. The country is being regenerated and verdure prevails already instead of desolation as heretofore.

2 earlier reports suggest the colonists built their own homes.

• Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, February 25, 1916
  Russian Colonists Make the Dirt Fly
• St. Johns Herald and Apache News, page 2,  March 2, 1916
  Russian Colony in Yavapai

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 21, 1916    

[Typo in date. Issue found on microfilm.]

Irrigation Will Start Next Week

Repairing of the damaged diversion dam of the Hassayampa Alfalfa Company had made such progress yesterday as to warrant the starting of irrigation next week.

The entire tract of 2,500 acres will be reclaimed. The Russian colonists are making good headway in preparing for crop growing. Lake Watson again overflowed yesterday from the storms of the week.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, March 21, 1916

May Establish Night School For Aliens

Naturalization Examiner Jones Confer With Superintendent Baker

Fredrick K. Jones, U.S. Naturalization Examiner for Southern California, Nevada and Arizona wants local officials to offer night classes to immigrants by July 1.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 6, March 22, 1916

Mexican Plot At Jerome Watched

Alleged Conspirators Inactive Following Leaders Capture; Conditions Quiet

2 suspected Mexican revolutionaries working in Jerome mines were arrested for "conspiracy".

Prescott Journal Miner, page 7, March 28, 1916

Official Proceedings Of The Common Council Of The City Of Prescott, Arizona

The matter of furnishing water to the Russian colonists was discussed at length and on motion the Clerk was instructed to notify all users of water between Del Rio and Prescott that on and after June 1, 1916, no water would be sold from the pipe line between Del Rio and Prescott, and that all taps and meters now in use between those points would be discontinued. 

Prescott Journal-Miner, page 8, March 28, 1916

The Santa Fe Files On Immense Acreage

Railroad Company Now Closing Up Title To 670,000 Acres Of Its Grant Lands

670,000 acres (1,047 square miles) sold to Arizona counties for $8,400 — about a penny per acre, or $8.27 per square mile. 30,000 acres (47 square miles) remain. Land was granted, given, by the US government to promote railroad building. Lands extend 40 miles on each side of the railroad in alternate sections, checkerboard, giving the investors 40 square miles of free land for every mile of rail built.

———————

Weekly Journal-Miner, page 2, March 29, 1916

Same (From Tuesday’s Daily)

Weekly Journal-Miner, pages 2,5; March 29, 1916

Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors Of Yavapai County, Arizona. 

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA.
Prescott, Arizona, March 6, 1916.

Board of Supervisors of Yavapai County, Arizona, met pursuant to adjournment on Monday, March 6, 1916, at 9:30 o'clock a. m.

Present: William Stephens, Chairman; Henry J. Sutler, Member; Harry W. Heap, Member; R. T. Belcher, Clerk.

Minutes of the meetings of February 7th, 8th, 15th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, 29th and March 1st and 2nd, 1916, were read and upon motion the same were approved.

It was moved by Mr. Suder that three prominent citizens of Yavapai County be appointed to act as a Building Committee in conjunction with the Board of Supervisors and County. Attorney in the consideration of matters pertaining to the erection of a fireproof court house for Yavapai County, each Supervisor to have the privilege of appointing one member of said Building Committee. The roll being called, Mr. Heap voted "No", Mr. Suder voted "Aye", Mr. Stephens voted "No".

It was moved by Mr. Heap that a formal order, dated March 6, 1916, and signed by the Chairman of Board of Supervisors, be directed to George M. White, authorizing Mr. White to commence the work of wrecking the county court house, and instructing him to commence the work not later than Monday, March 13, 1916. The motion was unanimously carried.

The Board authorized Mr. George M. White to utilize certain portions of the court house plaza for piling material taken from the old court house.

The Clerk was instructed to make arrangements for the Jail Mess Cook in the rear portion of the lower floor of the Odd Fellows Building.

Mr. Joseph H. Morgan, Deputy County Attorney, appeared before the board and asked the minute entry, entered on page 71, book 4, Minutes Board of Supervisors, reading as follows:

"The Board of Supervisors met with W.N. Bowman, the architect selected by the Board to superintend the construction of a new court house for Yavapai County. Matters pertaining to the building of the new court to be furnished by the architect was considered. The Deputy County Attorney was instructed to prepare a contract and to present the same to the Board of Supervisors." be changed to read as follows:

"The Board of Supervisors met with W.N. Bowman, the architect selected by the Board to superintend the construction of a new court house   for Yavapai County. Matters pertaining to the building of the new court to be furnished by the architect were considered and agreed upon. The Deputy County Attorney was instructed to prepare a contract and to present the same   to the Board of Supervisors."

The Clerk was instructed to make the suggested change, which was accordingly done.

The question of the construction of a temporary vault on the lower floor of the Odd Fellows Building for the use of the County Recorder was taken up, and upon motion of Mr. Heap the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors was instructed to make the necessary arrangements to have the  said vault constructed.  

Mr. Joseph H. Morgan, Deputy County Attorney, suggested that a note be added to the Notice to Contractors calling for bids for the construction of a fireproof court house for Yavapai  County, as published in the Journal Miner, the official newspaper of Yavapai County, said note to read as follows:

"NOTE — It is the purpose of the Board to let only one contract for the  he entire building and equipment. The separate bids on the plumbing, heating etc, are required from the bidders in order that the County may be assured that the equipment of the structure will be properly cared for as provided in the specifications. Bonds and guarantees of manufacturers, or subcontractors, must insure the County as welt as thc general contractor"

Upon motion of Mr. Heap the Clerk was instructed to direct the following telegram to William N. Bowman:

"Notice to Contractors for bids as prepared by you would seem to indicate that separate contracts will be let for plumbing, heating, etc. Thc Board desires to let only one general contract for the entire building and equipment. Advise if notice should be changed for information of contractors. "

...

This being the day and hour set by the Board for this opening of proposals for moving the county jail from the court house plaza, the Board  

[page 5]

proceeded to the opening of bids, the same being as follows, to-wit:

"Prescott, Arizona, March 6, 1916. Board of Supervisors, Yavapai County, Prescott, Arizona.

Gentlemen:

We hereby propose to move the County Jail approximately 700 ft. for the sum of Twelve Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($12,200.00).

The Board of Supervisors to guarantee us an unobstructed right of way along the nearest route to the new site.

Yours truly. The N. P. Olson Const. Co.. By N. P. Olson."

The bid of the N. P. Olson Construction Company for moving the county jail was taken under consideration by the Board. ... The bid of the N. P. Olson Construction Company for moving the county jail for the sum of $12,200.00 was taken up and discussed. It was moved by Mr. Heap, seconded by Mr. Suder. that the bid of the said N. P. Olson Construction Company for moving the county jail from the court house plaza tor the sum ot $12,200.00 be accepted, subject to the terms and conditions of contract and bond to be furnished by said Construction Company The roll being called. Mr. Heap voted "Aye", Mr. Suder voted "Aye", Mr. Stephens voted "Aye".

The Clerk was instructed to request the County Attorney to prepare a contract and bond covering the moving of the county jail and to submit the same to the Board of Supervisors for approval and acceptance.

No further business appearing, the Board, upon motion, adjourned until Tuesday, March 7th, 1916, at 10:00 o'clock a. m.

WILLIAM STEPHENS, Chairman Attest: R. T. BELCHER, Clerk.

Prescott Journal Miner, page 5, March 31, 1916

Russians Are Doing Fine At Colony

Winter Grain Already Above Ground; 20 Homes Now House Busy Agriculturists

While their less fortunate country men are involved in the European war, enduring indescribably miseries, 120 Russians at the colony near Jerome Junction are enjoying the "simple life," their thoughts only on tilling their soil and producing rich crops. Since the colony was started the Russians have made much progress. They originally lived in two big houses. Now twenty dwellings have been erected and all are being kept neat and clean. All the colonists seem to know is work and each is doing his share. The land is being plowed in readiness for the vast truck gardens which will be planted. Eight and ten horses are frequently hitched to a single plow and in this way the work is progressing rapidly.

The principal crops will be potatoes, beans and grains. Some of the Winter grains have already been planted and are peeping above the ground.

Not the  least interesting feature of the colony is the school, where 38 Russian boys and girls are being taught the things that will help make them good American citizens. The pupils have shown a particular interesting "Mother Goose" stories. Recently, after the teacher has told them of, "Jack and Jill," one of the little fellows, eager to prove that he understood the story, grasped a pail of water, ran up a hill and dropped it, much to the delight of his school mates and amusement of the teacher.

Each colonist has his allotment of chickens, geese and horses and is working hard to produce the best results from the land assigned them.

A.M. McOmie, superintendent of the colony, says he already is becoming a fluent speaker of the Russian language. He refers to the colonists as his "official family" and invites every resident of Prescott to pay he and "his children" a visit, promising that it will prove interesting and instructive to all who accept.

Yavapai Magazine April 1916, page 8

Russian Colony Active
Busily Preparing for Results on Their Lonesome Valley Farms

While their less fortunate countrymen are involved in the European war, enduring indescribable miseries, 120 Russians at the colony near Jerome Junction are enjoying the "simple life," their thoughts only on tilling their soil and producing rich crops.

Since the colony was started the Russians have made much progress. They originally lived in two big houses. Now twenty dwellings have been erected and all are being kept neat and clean. The land is being plowed in readiness for the vast truck gardens which will be planted. Eight and ten horses are frequently hitched to a single plow and in this way the work is progressing rapidly.

The principal crops will be potatoes, beans and grains. Some of the winter grains have already been planted and are peeping above the ground.

Not the least interesting feature of the colony is the school, where 38 Russian boys and girls are being taught the things that will help make them good American citizens.

Each colonist has his allotment of chickens, geese and horses, and is working hard to produce the best results from the land assigned him.

A. M. McOmie, superintendent of the colony, says that he already is becoming a fluent speaker of the Russian language. He refers to the colonists as his “official family” and invites every resident of Prescott to pay "his children" a visit, promising that it will prove interesting and instructive to all who accept.

Prescott Journal Miner, April 4, 1916, page 3

Colony Will Be Allowed City Water

Heap Only Members Of Council Opposing The Plan; It Belongs To Citizens He Says

Whether or not the city should allow citizens outside the city limits to tap the city water pipeline was the principal point that arose  at the council meeting last night, when A. M. McOmie, superintendent of the Russian colony, near Jerome Junction, asked for permission to use city water for an indefinite period.

McOmie said he had been notified by the city clerk that the water in the pipeline, which the Russians have been tapping, will be shut off June 1. He argued that, as no solution of the water question had been found as of yet by the colonists, the latter would be greatly handicapped should the city refuse to allow them to use its water. On behalf of the colonists he offered to erect huge tanks at the colony to store the water in if the city would start it's big pump once a week and run it long enough to fill the tanks.

Councilman Harry Heap vigorously opposed the plan, saying that it had been wrong from the start to allow the city's line to be tapped by anyone outside the city, and that, should McOmie's request be granted it would establish a precedent for other residents along the line of the water system.

Councilmen Smith and Head and mayor Timerhoff favored the plan on the ground that the Russian colony was good thing for Prescott and deserved all the support the city could give it. They also pointed out that the pipeline near the Russian colony would not be used much this Summer and that, as a man would have to be at the pumping plant all of the time anyway, it would be little trouble and expense for him to start the pump once a week. Councilman Heap admitted this, but consistently insisted that the citizens of Prescott, alone, were entitled to the water of the city system.

A motion was finally introduced by councilman Smith providing that all outside consumers be ordered to erect tanks and that the be filled once a week from the city pipe. Heaps vote was the only negative one. City attorney E. J. Mitchel suggested that a contract be made between the city and the company which owns the land on which the colony is located, and that this company be made to put up a bond to show its good faith in the matter. This plan was approved. McOmie put up a good argument for the use of the tap on the pipeline, and promised that he would see that it was opened only on days when the tanks were to be filled. After the matter had been settled, Heap laughingly suggested that Monday be officially “Tank Day" on the water system and that everybody should "tank up" then.  …

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 3, April 5, 1916

Russians Are Doing Fine At Colony

(From Friday's Daily, March 31)

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 6, April 5, 1916

Colony Will Be Allowed City Water

Heap Only Members Of Council Opposing The Plan; It Belongs To Citizens He Says

(From Friday's Daily, March 31)

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott), page 6, April 5, 1916
Public Records : March 27, 1916

Geo. A. Thayer files notice of preemption on SE¼ , Sec. 34, 16 N., 2W

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, May 3, 1916

1915 Copper production shatters all records,

[2+ billion pounds, 21% more than 1914. Higher average price = $0.175/lb.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 1, May 5, 1916

Farm Loan Bill Passed By Senate

[U.S. Senate votes 48 to 5 in favor of Hollis Farm Loan Bill to establish rural country banks.]

Prescott Journal Miner, page 3, May 5, 1916

Sewer System Tests Are Success

Arizona Land and Water Co, Making Good on Contract with City for Sewage

[Ed Meek, Arizona Land and Irrigation Company, had contract. Mayor and Prof. McOrmie comment. Inadequate septic tanks are replaced. Treated water to be used for irrigation, not into Granite Creek. AL&IC forfeited lease for not complying with city contract, but city council is giving them another chance to complete part of the contract, then get another lease.]