Cotton Land Company records

Contains official records of the Cotton Land Company, and the Cotton Water and Irrigation Company, 1909-1970, relating to land development and water rights to company lands located in Mohave County, Arizona, on the east side of the Colorado River. Includes articles of incorporation, minutes, stockbooks, correspon-dence, maps, legal and financial documents, and photographs documenting the activities of the companies, especially in the periods between 1910-1930 and 1945-1965.

The bulk of documents in this collection relate to the history and activities of the Cotton Land Company, especially in regard to the leasing of lands, and litigation on various estate and contractual matters. The General files contain the official records of the two companies, as well as topical files relating to everyday business and the final distribution of assets. The leases and subleases in the files are with individuals, partnerships, and corporations located in Arizona and California, and doing business as Schweitzer Company, Bermuda Planta-tions, Mohave Valley Farms, Mohave Venture Farms, D.W. Hulet, John R. Mahoney, McKellips and Gregg, Hubert Merryweat-her, River Farms, and Sherrill and LaFolle-tte.

The Litigation files involve claims between the company and the United States of America, John R. Mahoney, Hubert Merryweather, Bermurda Plantations, and others. The files consist of correspon-dence and legal papers relating to the issues and their resolution. The largest case involves the company's claim against the govern-ment for the loss of about 9,000 acres of land due to the construc-tion of the Parker Dam. The company's witness, Charles H. Lee, an engineer, prepared several reports on the causes of flooding in Mohave County. Related documents are found in the Maps and Charts files and in the General files.

The Indians files include correspondence about leases and exchanges of lands with the Colorado River and Mohave Indians during the 1930s and 1940s. Correspondents include governmental personnel in the Office of Indian Affairs, Congress, representatives of the Indians, surveyors, appraisers, and other interested parties.

Of interest in the Maps and Charts files are several folders including : a 1940 report by C.H. Purcell on "Hydraulic reconnais-sance for proposed crossing of Colorado River and bottoms near Needles;" possible acquisition of certain lands by Metropolitan Water District of Southern Califor-nia; Charles Lee supplemental report on flooding of lands in Mohave Valley, including discharge records of the Colorado River; and additional reports, some by M.M. Kaufman, on surveys of company lands, and on lands taken by the government.

The Taxes files contain various correspondence and forms for corporate income reporting, while the Title files contain abstract of title to land patents, deeds, and accretions involving proper-ties of the company and the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Company. The Water Rights files include a report by C.P. Vetter on the effects of the constant rise of the Colorado River bed in the vicinity of Needles, and documents relating to the acquisition, leasing, and ownership of Colorado River water by the company.