Arizona citizen., 1878-12-21
FLORENCE LETTER.
Improvements view Of its FV. Commissioner William
 sons NSit.


 FLORENCE, December 13-Thi
 town is growing gradually aud on
 good basis. Any town surrounded b.
 productive land, need not fear for It
 future. Such an one will not spring uI
 like a mushroom nor will it decline 1T
 wealth, even though it experiences al
 occasional season of depression
 Several new houses are now being
 built, aside from the spacious county
 building intended for District Court
 room and the several county offices
 The walls are now completed anC
 scaffolding going up to enable the car
 penters to put on the plates, rafters and
 shingles. The walls are high anC
 thick, and hence the various room:
 will be comfortable in Summer and
 convenient and spacious at all times
 When done, and it will be ere long
 the county will not owe dollar on it
 Pinal county is out of debt with money
 in the treasury, which is evidence of
 wise management on the part of the Supervisors.
 It will do no harm 10 remind your readers, that Florence rests upon rich soil; that the whole town and suburbs are embowered in trees of rapid growth; that grapes, peaches and other fruits are quite plentiful in season and more trees and vines are maturing that the streets remind one somewhat of those of Salt Lake City in that there IS running water alongside most of them, &c. For miles above and be- low the town, there are valuable farms with water privileges. As the popu latlnn increases in the prosperous Pioneer and Globe mining districts, so will the demand for the grains and fruits oflhis locality, and likewise will this rich land enhance in value. There is too much disposition, in times nf temporary depression or when prosper ity is not as great as enthusiasts expect, to get discouraged and want to sell and scratch, or dig. or dicker fer living elsewhere The prudent and wise owner of agricultural land here, will not sell cheaply. Such land is not too plentiful in Arizona, and each year will add to its salesbIe value; and tie real estate owners of this town, need not be alarmed for the future of the place. This is bound to be a prom ineDt town between the mines and the railway, and perhaps with mining pro- gress will itself become railway town. Except Phenix, and perhaps it not ex- cepted, the growth and future of Flor ence are as well assured as any town in ArIzona.
 The personal event of note this week, 1 is the arrival of Gen. Williamson, ! Commissioner of the General Land l Office at Washington, with MT. Mitch ell, private Secretary of Secretary Schurz-Mr. NJ. coming in the capa- city of shorthand reporter. The gen tlemen arrived on Tuesday and expect to start westward by 10 morrow's stage. i Gen. Williamson intended 10 have vls- fted Prescott and Tucson. but on his | arrival at Yuma, and seeing the char acter of the Prescott blackboard, and l learning the time required to make the | trip, he at once abandoned going to | the Capital. He was also somewha. in the character of the stages on the Tucson route and there fore thought he would try them to Florence and possibly to Tucson. | Owing to rheumatism contracted in the war for the Union, and to the olher fact that he is large man, he found it painful to ride in the small coaches. and on reaching Florence, decided to go no further except in a large stage or by expeditions private conveayance. neither of which were available.
 After extended interviews with the local land officers here and also with | -he Surveyor General who came per re- quest, he stated that a visit 10 Tucson would serve no public purpose, al- though il would have been a personal to have seen your town and surroundings. It is quite we'll understood that his inquiries were specially directed 10 the condition of he various kinds of lands in the Ter -itory; desirable changes in existing egislation regarding timber, pasturage md dry lands generally, private land claims and Indian reservations. The 'eplies to his inquiries, were taken town in shorthand for the use of the Department and before appropriate of Congress. He also discussed irrigation as applied in Ari- .ona and the feasibility of a new and much more effective and economical ystem. He evidently desires 10 i'm. prove the land laws. He knows that he laws which apply to the lands of 'iher localities, do not 10 the grass. mesa, mountain and timber of Ariz"na and similar land in other sec ions of the great interior of the conti- l' ent- He is very anxious to procure ! uch change in existing laws as will T test promote actual settlement and de 2 elopment of the various grades of and yet belonging to government