Weekly Arizona citizen., 1880-08-14
ARIZONA.
The Truth About Arizona-Its Mineral
 Wealth-Climate.
ICOrrespondence to Record-Unioul

Correspondence 10 Record -Unionl
 TUCsoS, July 24.-Whatever mis- takes, omissions and ignorance l may develop in this communication, l trust 1 shall not commit the dastardly of fence of wilfully and maliciOusiy mis- representing the country, its people or its material wealth. There Is pre- vailing impression In the minds of many with whom have conversed in this Territory that CalitOrnians are down on Arlzona'" For the life of me, l can find no cause or excuse for any such opposition, if any exists. There certainly exits no just reason why " our people '" should bs down on this Territory. Their interests in many ways are identical, and so soon as the men of wealth are absolutely certain that the mineral deposits here are as permanent and as rich as pres ent developments indicate there will be no lack of funds to open up every mine, tunnel every mountain and con- struct necessary railroads ID every di- reclion. Arizona has been cursed by misrepresentation. I presume that the general Californian knows about as little Oi Arizona to day as people in the east know uf California after ihirly years investigation. Gus ual observers, disappointed prospect DTS, railroad haters and inflated spec ulatOrs have in the past greatly under rated or overrated the truth.
 Tucson, one of the oldest cities on the American continent, Is situated on a vast plain, nearly surrounded by mountains from two tO ten miles away. The southern portion of the city Is washed by the waters of the Santa Cruz, a small stream called here river; in Missouri Il would be a run in Ohio a creek; in Maine branch here it is a river. But by whatever name it is called il is d bened ction to all the thirsty land through which it's waters meander. The banks on either side of the river are productive of all kinds of fruits and vegetables. The water is. clear, sweet and whole some and when supplemented with ice is delicious Tucson contains pop ulatiOn of about six or seven thousand. The town presents to person arTrlv- ing from San Francisco or the East very fat and squatty appearance. The streets are comfortably wide for :; Mexican town, and make some pre- tense 10 running at right angles, but decidedly miss it in many places. There has as yet been little done in grading the streets and sidewalks, % that bulated pedestrians are obliged to look sharply and move cautiously. However, at this time considerable work Is being done on the sidewalks of the principal street. Tucson is a busy place and has none of that dull. sleepy appearance about it l expected to fiUd, and particularly that part or it that has felt the touch of the magic wand of American progress. Large siXteen-muic teams, drawing two i'm mense wagons, are going and coming. furnishing supplies tor distant mining localities Mules and donkevS, loaded with general merchandise, 20 groan- ing, crOwding and sweating through the streets, bound for the "digsing-' In many regards life in Arizona is the Te-enacted early days of California. and old CalifUrnians seem tO enjoy it l am quite sure that l do. During the
 
 q truly cosmopolitan community. Men and women of many nationalilies crowd and jostlo each other as they press their way.
 Ratjlcsnakes and tarautulas are nOta as numerous or as dangerous ss has been represented. have seen but few uf them during my sojOurn in the Terri tory.
 The most exaggerated reports have gone to ihe world regarding the heat of this locality. Now the facts are these: The months of June and July are The hottest months. This year the thermometer has at no time during these months. or at any other time, risen tU over 1l0 degree, according to the Signal Service report. Ordinarily the thermometer ranges from 8 10 1O0 degrees during th" warme>t portions of ihe day. ] have found no heat in the Territory IS oppressive as that Of Marysville and Oroyille, Caliiornina. The nights are cool and delicious.
 Arizona is a wonderful country wonderful iu it's wide waste of sandy desert: wonderful in its immense de- dosits of prec,ous metal; in it's noun iains covered with the richest grasses (" their very summitS; in is forests "f trees-sycamore, whiie oak, walnut. spruce, pine. aud other useful and well-kuOwn varieties. Unless wr are very much mistaken, Arizona will in d few years become the Fl Dorado O' the desert, and all the vast UnOccup jed valleys will swarm with a teemIng . unnnlorrnu