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Show $ /0 The Settling Tanks Ever sinee the settlement of Old St. Joseph in 1876 experienced locally because of the great amount of trouble has been from the muddy Because of this much Sediment on the lard (J:uring irrigation. ot the land is now co vered. with a foot or more of rather fine-textured clay, which unless it be well c li.tivated -ani t hi.s isdifficult without high-powered machinery--is rather impervious' to both water and air. The mineral content of this mud, with its sodium, alkali, et.e , , has mad much of the land unproductive--taerefore there has been a teniency to "break up" new Lard , if a \a.Uable. water, which , settles Sediment from flood waters' from the mountain range to the southward, Much of the flood like that of the Egyptian tille, may enrich the soil. has come badlands' and alkali the from. north east and always water, however, The proportion of water coming' from these "dead" soils has steadily fiats. increased because of the impoundment arid diversion of the better waters up the Little Colorado and its southern'tributaries, thus perhaps compelling us to use the almost undiluted flow from tile l:8d.lan:i s, or allow crops to wither . and die. pumped 'wells -did much in the matter of diluting this un satisfactory'd:xXim river-flow; but the need of desUting the water has long In February, 1941, the st. Joseph Irrigation Co. levied an ass been felt. essment of 20¢ per share on its 1509 shares of assessitie capital stock (later this assessment was refunded on III shares being used a bove the de silting tanks) for the purpose of purchasing Lard on which these desilting -near the Tanner Wash east of Joseph City. tanks could be constructed. was land $375.00 ,$plus $128.77 for fencing--the former (The cost of this owner retaining pasture rights). - flowing Our . and . .' j .take:n:·'by' ? .. U S.' ,the SOil Conser the Considera lie interest in the matter was work .were too ltbids" 'But' drawn were fo1_" up. vation Service; and plans it do could who "farmers" thes. they thought high for consideration of in done the in but in was, maj 1943; themselves. Construction was begun the into them to as so use, basins the bring '1947. In attempting to fill thus pre If levee at the slUce-gate" of one of the four tanks gave way, The season. the 1948 them two of during than venting the use of more Bba of this year" the break was repaired in July, 1949; and August 17th account Wl.th project completed, ordered. the of Directors , considering tbe the '"Settling Tankst1 closed. land and fence, is $11,028.92. tiThe total cost of the project, including "AAA" the $4,158.65. The bala.nc:e was we received from or this amount with the ents. (The cost just given, disagrees slightly raised by in closing of rter ledger; but a few small items inadvertently cming Assessment Acct.,. bnng the total the account,' and enarged to the regular .- ' , assesm to the total. here he ven. ) .?oncxete, WHAT NEXT? Well, t.he irrigation canal. ha Wl.th sdnkage , and &1.1owl.ng almost entirely thus doing away perhaps and with overlow one more rapid transfer of water from fa to another; watered pasturelands, but sank from the earthen ditch , which may have siC beenu:ined. . . water \ -' with ch |
