According to the Territorial Governor of Arizona to the Secretary of the Interior, the City of Mesa, Arizona's water rights began as a water right claim by four individuals. They purchased the canal water owned by a stock company, then by February took their families and set up camp in Mesa. Following is the description of the initial town site from the Governor's 1886 report:
The section of land entered as a town site was divided into
10-acre blocks and these subdivided into 1 1/4-acre lots for residence and
business property; the land immediately surrounding the town was entered by the
various members of the colony for more extensive
agricultural purposes.
The first water was turned upon the land where the town of
Mesa now stands in November, 1878, and not until the winder of 1879-'80 was
much seeding or planting done, for they had homes to build, land to clear, and
other preparatory work to do. It must be remembered that this energetic,
industrious little colony of thirteen persons settled upon a desert, where for
centuries the sun only smiled upon the sparse growth of cacti and sage brush;
where there was no trace of verdue, and whose only visitant was an occasional
coyote in his lonely wanderings.
The transformation after six years has been complete. It is
regarded as a colony no longer. Mesa has a population of 700. The original town
site is dotted over with beautiful homes built of rustic red wood neatly
pained, some of brick, and others of adobe; all surrounded by fruit trees and
vines, they present a picture of Arcadian homes set in groves of fig, almond,
ash, locust, pepper, willow, umbrella, and pomegranate trees. Altogether there
are 7,000 acres under a high state of cultivation devoted to the raising of
cereals, alfalfa (French lucerne), with extensive orchards and vineyards
supplying and enriching a population of 1,300 people. Several crops of cotton
have been raised here. Grapes are made into wine and raisins, not excelled by
those of California.
For information on the Mesa historical preservation project and to view many 20th century images of mesa, view http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/PDF/MesaMissingArchitecturePresentation.pdf
To view Mesa homes on the National Historic Properties List visit http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/MesaHistoricPropertyRegister.aspx