The Phoenix herald., 1879-05-10
ARIZONA. Some General Information Re- garding It. The Mineral Prospects Flattering.
ARIZONA.
Its Agricultural Lands ENtcn-
 SiVc and <sOOd.

There is evidently a wide spread
 and intense interest being entertain
 ed in regard 10 the resources of this
 vast territory. This is manifested by
 the extensive noteriety now being
 given them by prominent and wide
 ciro ulating Eastern journals. Be
 sides is to be noted the advent of nu-
 mcrous capitalists, agents, experts
 and others also other evidences of a
 conclusive natutc.
 Arizona has hitherto been tompar- atively unknown and inaccessible
 It is emerging from this condition
 into the light of the present general knowledge which her glowing pros poets, resolved into tangible aud ma terial form by extensive developments of its wonderful resources, have per force compelled. Important railroad projects are about being consumatcd looking to the immediate opening up of the territory to the outside world and bringing its products within easy reach of the eastern markets.
 A general acquaintance with the more settled portions recalls vividly to mind the many difficulties and seemingly insurmountable obstacles Arizona has had to contend with in the course of her development Prin- cipal of all were the unavoidable i'm pressions that had gone abroad con corning its general character. Large tracts of the country are barren, des- olate, forbidling and uninhabitable.
 There are immense and dreary wastes Of gravelly mesa, with naught but the ssrange-appearing cactus and the strong. stubby mesquit trees for vegetation, sage brush, plains of alka- Ii and sand, with clouds of dust con- stantly rising therelrom, numerous desert tracts hemmed in by hills of volcanic rocks, and frequent insolat- ed mountain ranges, stern, bleak and grim in their uninviting aspect
 Then, too, is the dreaded and terri ble infliction one is subjected to in the protracted periods of fierce and insuficrablc heat of these portions.
 Besides, there was in early days a constant fear of attacks and depreda- tions by large bands of hostile and maranding Indians. Lurking every where, and ever on the watch to do injury 10 the whites, it was one con- stant thought and struggle for exist ence Life under such circumstance and with the vicissitudes of an inhos- pitable country was far from being agreeable and certainly not a desira- ble one. Surely drear and uninvit- ing picture. Of course the impress ions resulting therefrom were of the most unfavorable nature.
 This is the picture which has com monly been presented for contem- plation to the outside world. While these peculiar conditions were gener- ally supposed to be applicable to all portious of the territory, they have only been true to a certain extent, and withal have been greatly eXag- gerated. They have unfortunately, also been extensivily dwclt upon by many who have undertaken to write about Arizona. They seem 10 have taken maligne pleasure in ringing in the changes on this disagreeable subject.
 But let us consider fact that must not be forgotten, an important one in this respect, that Arizona is vast empire in extent. Now let us the picture presented in ! more complete setting and in the softer light ot more extended lnowedge.
 THE VALLEYS
 Of the Salt, Gila, Little Colorado, San Pedro and San Carlos rivers con ain thousands of square miles of eX- ,ellent agricultural lands suitable for .aising abundant crops with compar- .tively small efforts of both temper ate and semiuopioal fam products. Thousands of acres of these lands Ire under profitable cultivation. ,, There are immense tracts of fine grazing land, which for richness and luality of grassess arc not 10 be sur passed. Numerous herds of horses attle, sheep and goats are already at large within their wild | lomain A remarkable feature in his respect is the climate, which is warm, mild and cqnable. Droulhs .ccur at long intervals, Lat their re ultant effects, in these later times re of but littIe moment or concern,