Old Rio Verde Canal Traditional Cache
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Nice walk, not too much of a challenge.
Small Tupperware - Logbook and room for smaller items.
FTF Prize too!
Located along the "Rio Verde Canal"
Most people , even well-versed locals, have no idea what that is.
Arizona has always been a real estate investors dream, which also makes it a real estate con man's dream.
In 1892, the "Rio Verde Canal Company" was formed. They raised $3,000.000.00 from investors "back east" who had heard about this land of opportunity and wanted a piece of the action.
The people behind the canal told of thousands of acres of flat, nearly free land out in the open desert which is now Scottsdale/Paradise Valley.
Winfield Scott (The Scott in the word Scottsdale) bought his 640 acres in 1888 for $2.50 per acre (about $500/AC in today's money) and that land had water available.
The land to the north of Scott's farm was even cheaper, due to the lack of any water. The company's scheme, at least as they described their objective, was to raise enough money to buy the land, build a canal from the Salt River, and develop and sell farms and then be in the business of supplying the water.
At least, that's what they said.
They were successful in raising funds. They bought some land and began digging the canal. Marketers they were, they even gave the alluring name "Paradise Valley" to what was then a flat, barren, unoccupied, dry piece of dirt in the remote Arizona Territory.
They seemed to spend more time getting publicity and taking photos of the bits of canal than actually digging much of it. To continue raising even more money, they showed the photos of their progress to those who were "missing out". Once even more money was raised, it disappeared along with the people behind the "Rio Verde Canal"
Thousands of people see the canal remnants every day or even live right next to it and have no idea its there.
The Old Rio Verde Canal is still fairly intact from Pima/the 101 and runs east, along the north end of Westworld, crosses Thompson Peak Parkway going along the School/Soccer fields and heads just south of McDowell Mountain Ranch.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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