Arizona citizen., 1877-05-12
THE SOIL

In the valley is remarkably fertile, but irrigation is necessary. Most of the grains, vegetables, and fruits of the temperate and semi-tropical zone can be raised in profusiOn. Some of the valleys seen on my route have been brought tC high state of cultivation
 Produce of all kinds bring a high price, and find ready market in the mining camps and military posts; and 1 doubt not that the farmer who comes here with q little ready money and a disposition to work, will find quite as big a bonanza on the surface of the soil as his ambition craves. It costs little for clothing. An adobe house that is comfortable enough can be built quickly and at little expense; so that little outlay is required, more than just enough 10 get here, and the farm er does not have to run in debt for things that would be necessary in the Eastern States. And right here I will say that the quickest, safest, and cheap est way for Eastern people tO reach this Territory is by rail to San Francis co, via the Union and Central Pacific railroad. thence by the Southern Pa .cific railroad, which by the lst of May will be finished 10 Yuma, on the Colo radO river, and by iall to thIs city, 300 miles from Yuma, In future letters 1 shall speak more at length of the farm ing and grazing and lumber interests, which are destined to be extensive at no distant day. In these respects at least, and probably in its mineral wealth as well, Arizona IS far ahead of Nevada.
 Arizona has an area little greater than the combined area of Indiana and Illinois, and is divided into six counties. Tucson is the Capital, and largest town in the Territory, having about 5000 inhabitants, about two thirds of whom are MeXicans.
 THE COUNTRY HEREABoUT
 Possesses a fertile and grateful soil whenever it IS tried with irrigation South and east of the city a consider able tract of country is cultivated, and has been for years, by Mexicans. I was shown different farms that have been worked successfully for nearly 100 years, some years producing ;wo crops, but which show no signs of eXhaus-  ton. Fruits of all kinds, the most de- licious, are raised in abundance; the same as to vegetables and grains, ficient of which are being grown to supply all this region, an1 to spare Oranges, lemons, figs, almonds, etc., all the fruits and nuts of the semi-trop- ics are raised here with little care. Wa ter is all that this country needs to make il blossom like a rose, and water is easily attained by sinking artesian wells, where the Santa Cruz river is not available. The first settlement by whites was made in l769 They eStab- lished a Catholic mission nine miles south of this city, and built a large, high church, which is even now we'll preserved, and would be an architect ural ornament to any city or town in America. IL stands alone out on the prairie. Many of the Indians here about are devOut Catholics These have small farms which they till. They speak English, are well behaved, ln- dustrious, and quite intelligent The agricultural possibilities of this county are great, and likewise it's prospects, though Us mines are less developed than those of the districts less remote. All that is needed IS capital to develop one mine, when the Tucson district will likely be brought into as great prominence for it's mines at are the McCracken, Globe and Castle Dome districts, of which l shall speak more at length hereafter. EGLEsIAs.