of the Gila by the settlers above the reservation, the water supply of the Pimas soon began to fail, and as early as 1870 the Indians were much concerned over the diminished flow at the reservation. Shortly after this, in 1872, several bands of the Pimas left the Gila River Reservation and went over to the Salt River.

When the Florence Canal was constructed in 1887, the water supply was still further diminished, and many Indians were reduced to a state of poverty and want.

None of the descriptions of the earlier explorers is sufficiently accurate to aid in determining the area the Pimas had under irrigation. The "folklore " and traditions of the Pimas themselves, which received attention during the compilation of data for this report, are also vague regarding this matter. The earliest accounts of the Spaniards as well as Indian traditions would point, however, to the conclusions that the Pimas in the earliest days of the Spanish exploration were distributed over a much larger territory than they occupied at the time of the American occupation, and that at a later period the Apaches, or perhaps Mexican slave hunters, caused them to confine their agricultural activities and their habitations within a smaller

area.

The coming of the whites, with the consequent decrease in the water supply, caused the Indians to cease to cultivate many of their old fields and reclaim land at places favorable to the use of the return or seepage flow of the river. Peace with the Apaches, together with conformity to tribal customs and superstitions (tending to scatter the Pimas formerly banded together), are other causes responsible for the present rather widely scattered locations of the irigated districts. Obviously these changes, whether enforced or voluntary, have rendered exceedingly difficult the determination at this date of the area previously under cultivation at one time.

There is also evidence to show that the channel of the Gila formerly was considerably narower than at present. Destructive floods of recent and comparatively recent times have swept hundreds of acres of irrigated or previously irrigated lands down the river.

From the chart which follows and which has been compiled from all the evidence and data gathered during the progress of this investigation and survey, it is seen that prior to the coming of the whites the Indians on the Gila River Reservation were irrigating an estimated area of 13,000 acres, served by nine large ditches. The largest area cultivated at any one time (about 1885) was estimated at 15,800 acres. At the time (1914) of the survey in connection with this investigation, 15,627 acres were being cultivated, and this area was served by 21 different canals, including the Little Gila. Of this area 1,271 acres were irigated by a ditch diverting water from the Salt River, so that the total area at present under cultivation and using water from the Gila River amounts to 14,356 acres.

In addition to the above surveyed areas, 11,315 acres were found to have been previously irrigated, at one time and another. In Appendix A is published a historical sketch of irrigation on the reservation, containing a number of references from the reports and narratives of the early Spanish and American explorers concerning irrigation by the Pimas. A detailed historical description of irrigation under each canal, together with statements from Indians themselves, is also given in the appendix.

Canals.

Areas irrigated in five-year periods as estimated from all available information.

150

(12)

(12)

(19)

(13)

(13)

(13)

33

1,559

3,319

91, 937

354 10 198

11 22

(12)

(13)

1 This ditch leased by Indians, capable of irrigation by Blackwater United States "B" line 2 Area under Cayau included in North Blackwater, by Hoskmson.

3 Old.

1 Agency farm west to Santan Road included.

5 Irrigated first by Morego Ditch.

7 Cultivated and previously cultivated.

6 Since 1880 irrigated by Cottonwood and Agency project.

8 Changed heading to present Stotonic.

9 700 acres lost by floods under Bapchil.

10 Approximately 100 acres estimated lost by flood.

Present irrigation under Bridlestood from Snaketown Canal.

12 Approximately 300 acres estimated loss by floods under Ancient Maricopa.

13 100 acres estimated lost by floods under Santa Cruz.

14 Padilla, Old Woman's Mouth.

15 Santan (Indian).

16 Old Santan.

17 Stotonic, Bapchil, Sranka.

181,271 acres irrigated by Salt River not included.

IRRIGATION WEST OF GILA RIVER RESERVATION.

That portion of the Gila basin beginning at the west line of the Gila River reservation and extending to Yuma, a distance of 170 miles, commonly is called the Lower Gila Valley.

From the Gila bend, 50 miles below the reservation, and extending throughout the remaining portion of the Gila's course, the Southern Pacific Railroad is located at a distance of 2 or 3 miles south of the river.

The altitude of this portion of the Gila basin is extremely low; the elevation at the west reservation line, which has been previously given, is 950 feet, while the river at Yuma is approximately 100 feet above sea level.

On account of these low elevations the temperatures are very high. The extreme summer heat, however, is somewhat modified by the accompanying low humidity.

The crops grown along this portion of the Gila are similar to those grown in the Florence Valley. Where sufficient water is to be had, as in the Buckeye Valley, alfalfa is the principal crop and oats, wheat, barley, sorghum, and corn are also grown. Cattle grazing and feeding is also an important industry in this section.

Further down the river, where water is scarce, the crops are largely confined to the grains. In this climate all warm, temperate, and many tropical fruits could be grown. Not much attention has been paid to fruit growing in this section, however, due undoubtedly to the occasional frosts in the upper districts and to the scarcity of water in districts lower down.

The irrigation systems on the Gila below the Gila River Reservation, taken in the order of their location down the river are: On the north side, the Buckeye, the Arlington, and the Enterprise; on the south side, the Joslin, the James Bent, the Papago, and the Antelope Valley. Of the above systems all but the latter, the Antelope, are above Gila Bend.

In the past irrigation systems have been constructed in the vicinity of Gila Bend; and below Gila Bend in the Dendora, the Palomis, the Antelope, the Mohawk, and the Redondo Valleys, these systems are no longer in use.

No towns of importance are supported by agricultural or other industries along this portion of the Gila. The town of Buckeye, situated in the district of that name, with a population of less than 500, is the only town worthy of the designation.

In the territory along the river, between the west boundary line of the Gila River Indian Reservation and the confluence of the Gila with the Colorado at Yuma, irrigation has been practiced more or less for a number of years.

The first irrigation in this district was coincident with the establishment and maintenance of the early overland stage stations. These stage stations were established as early as 1857, but the irrigation in connection with them was never extensive and was confined to the lower portion of the Gila Valley.

With the coming of the immigrant trains in the early seventies, this portion of the country received its share of settlers, and a