Garfield County News | 1955-02-24 | Page 49 | Rim May Supply Water to Arid Desert Country

KSlBlKllftKKKfKBKKK JUST ONE OF THE PLEASURES of living In the White River Valley near Meeker is fishing In the many streams of the district, where trout abound in number and "good eating quality." Expert fishermen agree there Is nothing more delicious than a trout taken from a fast-moving, snow-fed stream. Rim May Supply Water To Arid Desert Country WINSLOW, Ariz. Geologists in northern Arizona are studying the state's "backbone," the Mogollon Rim, in hopes of finding support for an entirely new economic venture. The geologists say the 250 mile stretch of lime and sandstone south of Holbrook could supply an unlimited amount of a resource dear to the heart of everyone on the Colorado Plateau water. This sounds strange to tourists who remember the arid area for itf conspicious lack of water as well as the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. While standing on dry, blowing dust-land they might easily have been standing over underground rivers capable of supplying 30 million gallons daily. I Funneling 3,000 feet from the1 Rim to Holbrook, the water shows alkali content as it reaches the flats. But there is nothing wrong with it south of the town. Proof is in the artesian wells providing 80 per cent of the region s irrigation-al waters. Among other things the wells support 50.000 fruit trees and help maintain over seven million dollars worth ot livestock. An Impartial survey by the Southern Union Gas Company, completed a short time ago, resulted In a finding that the water is abundant. So far as industrial potentials are concerned, the company said the area was ideally suited for an agricultural implements assembly plant, a canning plant, a wood l ulp mill or pine by-products plant manufacturing everything from furniture to wood alcohol.