The Arizona sentinel., 1879-01-11
Notes On Arizona.
TCoyrespondence of the BaUetin.l

Before commencing trip
 through Arizona, which business
 compelled me to perform, l had
 read various works touching upon | its resources, mineral wealth, etc,
 and I was struck with the want Of
 detail contained therein upon
 many points of interest to the
 general seeker of information, and, indeed, one could hardly eX-
 pect in a general description of so large Q territory anything else.
 The mineral wealth of Q country
 is naturally of great interest to miners and those interested in
 mines. To the agriculturist, a de- scription of the agricultural re- sources is of equal value, and l therefore propose in this article to give you reliable data of 9 vast agricultural portion, and the only portion developed in fact of this
 part of the Territory of Arizona. The town of Phoenix is pleasantly situated in the Salt River Valley,
 with a plentiful supply of water derived from Salt river, tributary of the Gila river. It contains about 1000 inhabitants, of whom about One-Quarter are
 MeXicans. At the last election, l November 9th, 557 votes were boiled. A public school, in pros porous condition, numbers 87 scholars. The religious denomi- nations are Presbyterian, Metho- dist, Carmelite and Roman Cath ollie. A quiet, self-cOmplacent air prevades the whole town, and one cannot help remarking the self relying demeanOr of the inhabi- tantS. There are seven mercan- tile stores, all in prosperous con- dition: three livery stables; three black8miths' and WagOnmakers' shops: two carpenters and cabi- netmakero' shops; two drug stores; five distinguished lawyers to decide upon the pros and cons of society; four esculapians: and refreshing absence of any pre- ponderance of saloons. The set clement of Salt River Valley, in- cluding the Tempe portion of the valley, commenced about 1868. The average width of the valley is 8 miles, by 40 miles long. It extends from the mouth of the Agua Fria, at its junction with the Gila, in an easteriy direction to point at the junction of the Salt and Verde rivers. A refer ence to an ordinary map will show the points. The acreage under cultivation yielded last year about eight million pounds in grain, Of which 2,500,000 was wheat and 5,50O,00 barley. The land yields from twenty to thirty bushels of wheat per acre, and of barley twenty-five 10 thirty-five. There are three flour mills in the valley. l The principal rains commence in December and continue until the i end of February. Crops are pht in from November 1st to March 1 1st. The Summer rains are in t Ill dIIu %1u . dSG. S4OpS OI DCd4ic l and potatoes can be planted in March. Beans and corn can also | be planted from the 10th of June | to the 1st of July. The rains of July and August benefit corn, beans, sorghum and sweet pota- toes, which are harTesled in Oc- tober. In fact, there is not crop of either cereals or e5culentS that | cannot be grown in this part of Arizona and arrive at equal per fectIon as in California. Grapes, peaches, apricOts, almonds and figs seem to be indigenous, for their growth and perfection are unsurpassed.
 The market for all cereals i5, comparatively speaking, close at hand. The outlets for all pro- ductions are the military posts, 1