Arizona citizen., 1877-06-23
FLORENCE AND VICINITY.
ImprOvemPutS-Va Products
 Prospects, Etc.

LdI " III luC ACchs VIC tOullN V lilllt time to carry out a long-since proposed visit 10 Florence and vicinity. Al.
 though not inc largest in population
 and wealth, Florence IS today the most prominent of all the interior places in Arizona The Southern Overland daily mail and stage line passes through it; the CaliforaIa and Arizona t-i-weekly mail and stage line connects there; Ihe Silver King and Globe City lri-weekly mail and stage line connects there, and Dodge & Sutherland's tri-weekly stage line to the King mine and Globe City, has headquarters there. l. asst Monday morning, both stages to the King and Globe, were loaded inside and out with passengers and all the freight that could be piled in and on them. Re ports from the mines are generally very good and from some localities better than for months past The great richness of the King is every where known by it's production and sales of ores and bullion in San Fran cisco. It is now stated as fact that the Silver Bell and Baldwin are equal ly valuable; that the vein of the lat ter two is clearly defined and solid with ore in which native silver is abundant. It is said jumpers are fig uring for a foOthold on them with a vIew 10 extorting blackmail legally or otherwise, but from what we have heard, the jumpers, if persistent, will get something more suitable to their case than blackmail, even if backed by by men who only mine on California street. New and very rich and ap parently extensive discoveries have just been made ten to twelve miles from the King on Pinto Creek, and very rich ore has been found on MiE eral creek on the new Florence and Globe wagon road. The Pinto creek discoveries are regarded as very Im- portant. McMillau & c.. have recent ly sent in from Globe district two lots of bullion aggregating near $lO,OO0, from very short Iuns of ore. In fact, the reports from the mines are full of encouragement, and they are backed up by very acceptable evidence. The mines have received so much public attention by all who have seen them or have interests there, and even from those who like Ourself, have mostly only hcarSay knowledge, that we will turn 10 the town and the rich soil around with its capacities, which we did sec and tu some extent carefully examine The importance of the mines can hardly be Overestimated but the rich yglley is the surer reliance for all time
 Florence itself is situated in very extensive tract of rich bottom and sec ond mesa or table land, abundantly supplied with water from the Gila. There is not break in the rich lands from the mouth of the San Pedro to Yuma, and tine valley at no point Is more desirable than for miles either up or down the river from town. Seven years ago, only two or three houses stood where now stands the county seat of Pinal county, with its numerous stage lines, stores, shops, hotels, land, expr ss, telegraph and other offices Then, here and there barley, some corn, and a few vegetables were growing; now added to tlese there are wheat, alfalfa, sugar cane, potatoes, apples, peaches, plums, grapes, 0uinces, apri- cots, black berries, strawberries, &c. Orange, lemon, mulberry and other fruit trees are growing. The town and neighborhood are embowered in thrifty cottonwoods, ash, and some locust and other useful and ornamental trees. Ash Is preferred 10 cottonwood. Many new buildings have recently been erected and others are now in course of con Struction. Already some of ;he origin al business buildings are giving way to fine structures like those of Jos. CollingwODd & Co. and Longs Hall. J. s. Douglass put up a very good resi- dence on his l60-acre tract in the south ern part of town; NIT. Collingwood is preparing 10 put up large, substantial and comfortable residence; Col. Rug gles has the stone foundatIGn laid for, in our opinion, the best residence in Arizona. The Colonel is builder byI profession, and as such he has much pride in showing the public what he can do as well as 10 provide for his own comfort. His ground around his building site, is already well plant ed with grapes, figs, peaches, apples, pears, plums, vines of various kinds, flowers and ornamental shrubberv. Our lack of space prevents detailed men ton of the difficulties met and overcome in introducing many of these plants and trees, and experiences in tbeir cul- ture, but enough is demonstrated to show that all the fruits known 10 tEe Temperate and some 10 the Torid zone can be successfully cultivated. Where sugar-cane will grow well, oranges, lemons, bananas, etc, will not fail.
 AMONG THE RANCHES.