The weekly Arizona miner., 1872-11-30
FROM MARICOPA COUNTY,
PHGNIx, Maricopa County, A.. T,
 November 22d, 1872.

For several months past the people of Tempe have been much annoyed by the Pima and Maricopa Indians stealing firearms, blankets, and clothing from the houses while the men were out at work; and by their stealing corn, pumpkins, melons, &c., out of the fields.
 On Friday last, party of fourteen Indians made a raid on ranch back of the Double Buttes, and when the owner, Mir. Varder, att tempted to interfere, they attacked him with arrows. He then beat nasty retreat and went in search of assistance. Finding c. c. NJ. Heltibrand, NJ. P. Scott, and Parson Groves, the four hastily mounted, pursued the Indians (who by this time had loaded their fourteen animals with pumpkins and were making off), and induced them, by per suasion and threats, to return and disgorge, after which they scattered in all directions and left.
 One of the Indians said that they were Maricopas, but the Americans think that they were Pimas.
 aEr Ditohes.
 Frank Rowe is taking ditch ont of the Verde, above the McDowell reservation. This will make two dtches in the same vicinity. A new ditch, named the Buffom ditch, has been taken out of Salt River, on the south side, near to the Miller ditch.
 The Tempe ditch has been dug out deeper, has had a new dam put in, and has been per manently improved otherwise.
 The Prescott ditch has had new dam and a thorough clearing out, and now carries much more water than formerly.
 On Monday last, J. Leopold took trip over the river, and reports that the Mexicans, living on the Mexican ditch, have enlarged the same, are clearing land, and are preparing to put in much larger crop than last year. The Swilling ditch has had new dam and thorough cleaning out and now carries an abundance of water.
 The Griffin ditch is being enlarged to four times its former capacity, and will be coln- pleted in one week, after which it will be ex- tended into the valley for some miles further. The Monterey ditch has been dug deeper and extended half mile further.
 The Watson ditch, Maddox ditch, Van Ormc ditch, and Mexican ditch No. ?, have each been cleaned and improved more or less in preparation for the coming season.
 The Salt River ditch, having been com pleted but short time, needs no cleaning
 The above are all main ditches, which are fed directly from the river, some of which have several extensions and side ditches through which the water is distributed over the country. These extensions and side ditches have all been cleaned out and re- paired.
 The Miller ditch, Savery ditch, Rowe ditch, and California ditch are not yet com pleted and will not be servicable this season. The Barnum ditch is awaiting capital.
 Agricultural Items.
 The bean crop in the valley is nearly, if not entirely, harvested. The yield was up to the average and they can now be bought for from ten to twelve cents per pound.
 Sorghum yielded we'll, though very little was sown last Summer. It is already worth fifteen dollars per ton and is likely to be higher before Spring.
 The supply of cornstalks for fodder is limited, as but little corn was planted. Pumpkins yielded well and are abundant, and will be extensively used for fodder.
 Sweet potatoes yielded we'll and the sup ply was large, so that they have been selling for ten cents per pound all fall. In addition to this, large quantities of them have been shipped to Tucson, Mcdowell, Prescott, and other parts. The supply of onions was large and, in the first of the season, they sold for ten cents per pound.
 The supply of watermelons, apparently, las been inexhaustible, from when they first began to ripen in the Spring till the present ime, and they have sold at prices varying rom one dollar to twenty-five cents each. Muskmelons were not quite 30 plentiful.
 Other vegetables have been scarce, and have commanded very high prices.
 Word comes from all parts of the valley that most of the farmers are now sowing, or will commence very soon, while some have great deal of grain in already. Mir. Ormc has l75 acres iii on c. H. Gray's place. B. F. Griffin has loo acres in on J. T. Alsap's place. Holcum Hargrave have 80 acres in, and a host of others that I know of have various quantities in, from GO acres down.
 Items.
 On Saturday night last, about ten o'clock, some of Grants friends fired an anvil salute in honor of his reelection to the Presidency.
 Our town has grown so large that the baker was compelled to pull down his oven ant build larger one. On this account, the hscbe,ors have all turned bakers for the last ten days.
 W. II. Pope, who has been to the uiia during the week, reports times very duii ano Indiana very lively in that vicinity Last week the Apaches stole some animals from the Pimas aA on Monday they stole four Fk<c. e.