Arizona miner., 1868-04-18
Letter from phnnix.
tconnrsroNpE>cror rnr MiNrn.l
PnGNIx, layapai County, :
 Arizona. April j, loGs. <

VI Ih lOlt AlHlt Nb Allli'f hhA N'AtilE N'NNlN therein from every portion of the Territory except these Salt River settlements, l have this day constituted myself your special cor respondent, and will, therefore endeayor to act in that capacity until you shall have cause to punish ue for my presumption in thus crowdng th, little scrawl upon you.
 On the 18th day of November last. at the town of Wickcnburg, in this county, joint stock company was formed, under tAc name of the Swlling Irrigating and Canal Com pany, of Salt River, with a capital stock of SlO0oO, divided into fifty shares
 The stock selling very readily, business was soon commenced, and on the 18th day of March. 1868 a ditch, or rather, small canal, was completed, and in the short space of two hour, time, large body of water was turned in The ditch carries water enough to rrigatc. at least, 4oCO acres of land. This enterprise has but commenced, and is of the utmost importance to the miners in and around Wickenburg particularly those en- gaged in hauling quartz from the mines to the mills There are but few persons who would credit it, unless they were personally acquainted with the fact, that the two Com panies, viz: lager and Chapman, who have been engaged in hauling quartz for the Nul turc Mining G., have consumed SGOoO worth ot corn and barley pcr month the money al- ways being paid in gold bullion, upon it, de- livery. Produce of all kinds can, and will, ! be delivered at that point, at lower rates { than from any point Cknown to the writer) in the Territory.
 ] In order to give you a description of this ! country would have to consume more time ! than the person waiting for this letter, (wc ! have no mail as ycD will permit. Yet, if l were permitted to do so, could give you but q slight idea oC the real value and extent of l th lands here that are susceptible of irriga- ! ton and practical culture. This valley l. estimated Co be T. miles wide, and 2o miles long; that is 10 say, the distance from Salt ! River to the Ag,Ia Frio, is twenty miles, and hctwccn that stream and Salt River, the width of the Valley - fifteen miIes--a per ltILlf ANhA lld4tA VI Aist itiNNA oAl iiANN TNti ] in thiS or any other country.
 It was the intention of the Company to take the water out in the old aceq'lti or canal, which was used many years ago by people of whom we Know. or can learn, but little. Suffice it 10 say that they were entcrprisins and truly industrious. a, We have many proofs thereof, in the shape of ruins of what were once massive structures, the most colossal of which. can b. traced for twenty miles, (that IS the old a-e3f;1 meationcdj. The com. pany, seeing the importance of putting in big crops this year, to supply the immense demand for grain and hay at Wickenb1rg and Nulturc City, suspended work on the large canal and have succeeded in completing a ditch which will he more than sufficient to supply the wants of those who are engaged in farming at present.
 The Directors inform me that but seven shares remain to lc sold, all of which are to be reserved for men of families, and old bach elors need not apply. We have but five fam flies here at present, and as soon as Chaplain Blake of Fort Mcdowell, shall have flushed little ceremony that is now progressing rapidly, one more will be aided to this nun. Der. ! hope, ere this year clo-es. we will hay, bakers dozen, and then we will have room for more.
 Since the settlement was started, we have not been troubled by the Apaches. We often receive a visit from the Pima and Mari copa Indians, whose friendly relations toward the whites cannot be questioned. They some times make themselves very useful in crossing animals over the river, which, of late, has been very high. When they are around. one can feel degree of safety not otherwise felt, as they are ever yigilant. l am one of those timid beings whose constant fear and dread of the Apache has made cautious. Having read but little of Longielows works, can look upon the noble red man" only in the light of dastardly, murderous whelp. whose very existence has been the bane of Arizona. But for them, no doubt, this beautiful valley would now be populated by the progeny of the prosperous people destroyed by the hands of the Apaches
 If General Ilaleck will be allowed to put his ideas into practice, VIC will soon have an influx of people from the States, and we can extend the right hand of fellowship to them. The following gentlemen, some of whom are no doubt personally known to you, are put ting in crops, and thus far, have had no back sets: J. w. Swiling is cutiyating loo acres of wheat. barley and corn; George E. Free man, loo acres J. Burns, 50 acres; Thomas 1 Hogue, formerly of Walnut Grove. so acres