| OCR Text |
Show With all these drawbacks, navigation is possible to Mojave every month in the year, except under very adverse circumstances, and to El Dorado Canon about seven months. While there are some fertile lands along the river, the areas under cultivation are very limited. I doubt if they will amount to 500 acres in all. There are also a few stock ranches. The principal industries are those connected with the mining interests and even these are of limited extent. The river and harbor act of 1878 provided for an examination or survey, or both, of the Colorado from Yuma to El Dorado. An examination was made of the entire stretch, but the instrumental survey only included that portion between Hardyville and El Dorado. An estimate amounting to $97,269 was presented for improving certain localities above and below Mojave. Nothing was done, however, until 1884, when the sum of $25,000 was appropriated for the work. When this amount was expended the officer then in charge did not ask for any additional sum on the ground that the commerce of the river did not warrant a continuance of operations. The commerce of the river has been steadily decreasing and there appears to be no prospect that there will be any change for the better in the near future. In my opinion the Colorado River is not worthy of improvement by the general Government. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. H. H. Benyaurd, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Casey, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. o |
