New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-02
THE WEALTH OF ARIZONA.

| ~" FhoiLrs CLIMATE, MINES AND RAILWAYS.
lfEon AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUxKl
| TOMBSTONE Arizona July 23-Arizona nnf,l ra
cehtiy the most remote of the Territories has not
reserved falr proportion of public notice and has
peen 100 often credited with features 20 which she
had no claim, rather than with her really wonderful
resources. When Baron Humboldt predicted that
"a -, 'nis portion OF North America would be found
thc greatest mineral deposits in the orld he smoke
| IRON a ripe scientific experience aided by actual
observation AT present the paramount and prac-
ucay the only interests ia the Territory are hose
10 pe found in the rocks below the surface of the
ground, and the necessities which spring from the
| handling of them. Agriculture and grazing cam
no'' under any known system of tillage and with
the atmospheric disadvantages peculiar 20 the
cnmate, hgure respectfully in the resources of 4ri
zona. nor. owing to the scarcity of water are man.
fractures likely 10 make moro imposing exhibit.
Visitors Tor the most part have confined their in
sesuea1ions 10 the towns aud mining districts and
| nave accepted without qualification the forid re-
ports or the rich pasture ard arabic lands mad. Il,
them by partial or interested persons The mineral
! deposits have In many instances exceeded their
antcipations, and by parity Of reasoning thev
nave concluded this TO he the case with the ferfiIa
valleys and grasso covered hills go graphically pic
tured by the pioneers and rancheros whose propertx
is securely tied mp in these hazardous ventures
lhe press Of the Territory in it's zeal for the general
advancement has often given place TO fulsome aud
incorrect accounts of the advantages oare, 10 ibs
busbandman and grazier. The great trunk lines Of
railway IN their efforts 10 secure traffic have NOT
been overscrupulous in the statements periodically
made to the public and the results at times have
| been disastrous 10 individuals. Eastern men and
foreigners with scant means have gone thither i'm
agining that they had only 10 run the furrow "a
reap great harvest and 20 guioe their ilocks and
herds to prevent them from strayng away The
boundless alkal deserts and the low, barren noun
tans, picturesque 1t is true, but devoid OF herbage
| and whose nakeaness is sparsely concealed by a
stunted growth of scrub trees incapable Of giving
shade or shelter and barely available as fuel are
rude awakeners to these unfOrtunates
NO PLACE FOR AGRIcULTURisFs
The fact Is, from agricultural standpoint that
II we except the northern part OF Africa no country
! on the globe extends such meagre inducements 10
! immigrants Possessing an area more tlan twice
that of the great State Of New-York. there is not
! now much arabic land in the whole Ter
| ritory is TO be fonnd in the smallest Of
New-York's counties. is there more land to
| be had which with the methoCs of cultiva-
| ton now in vogue can be made productive. Arte-
sian wells have been suggested for irrigaing pur-
! poses by those " no should know better In Tucson
the largest city in the Territory Of means have
been engaged for several years in sinking one of
| these wells. After The expenditure of many thou
sands Of dollars a stream has been struck which by
| pumping - made TO yield about 90. 600 gallons
day. dozen ordinary wells dug on the mesa at an
Insignificant cost would probably have given similar
| results. The Southern Pacific Railroad has
souk several arteSiau wells at great expense 20
supply the necessities of the road. In no instance
has stream been encountered of sufficient force To
| flow TO The surface without the aid OF pumIs
! Clogged with such conditions irrigation must an
pear TO reasonable minds the blindest folly
Along the streams few and far between called
by courtesy rivers there narrow strips of land
seldom mole than half a mile in width which by =
costly system of irrigation, ale made 10 Weld
slender crops of barley and hay. These rivers Of
which there only tive six in the Territory ara
usually about the width Of a railroad bed and ara
correSpondingly shallow. They would not be digni-
fed with such high sounding titles ia the East
They have an eccentric habit peculiar TO streams
the Pacific, of sinking into the groand at inter
walls and is not unusual for them disappear for
twenty-five or thirty miles and Use again in unex.
pecte0 quarters IN the Valley OF the san Pocro,
the junction of the river of that name with tie
Gila in the southeastern portion of the Territory,
some enlerpuSing men have located ranches and
are at present experimenting with a variety Of
seeds and fruit trees. moderate degree Of success
has thus far rewarded them, but there has been
nothing phenomenal about it, and they will lsrob-
ably realize much more handsome profit from
their min ing properties than from their agricultural
lands. In the salinas valley, in the northeastern
part Of Arizona, agiiculture has made some head
way, but irrigation on a large scale with an ex-
tive despite the eloquent advocates Of that system
both in California aud Nevada. And to show the
scarcity OF water for farming purposes, and the
small likelihood OF increased facilities il is only
necessary to state that the average annual rainfall
is not than five inches, less than the aggregate
for single month in fortunate portions of
tho country. As long as there are lands so be had
IN the States and Territories where there is an
abundant rainfall, and which, with the same amount
Of energy and capital, viii yield a fourfold return
agriculture must necessarily languish In Arizona.
In the Patagonia district aud IN the Papago oOun-
try near the Sonora line tall rank grass furnishes
forage for Hocks and herds bat juicy piece of
beef is a novelty and good mutton unknown
| Sheep and goats degenerate very soon after they
brought into the Territory, ana their flesh he
| comes tough and fbrous. Even the camcls which
were introduced 10y the Government for service in
| the deserts, have not thriycn. Though accustomed
to drouth and sand, Arizona has been too mach for
! them.
VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND CAME.
| Vegetables and fruits imported from neigh
boring States the vegetables most in use being
! canned. For this. however, there is no excuse.
Vegetables can be raised in sufficient quantities and
Of excellent quality in the immediate vicinity OF
the towns to supply the wants of the inhabitants;
and Why this has been done hitherto probably
| due to the tendency OF the American settlers who
first entered the country 20 drift into the habits aud
customs Of the Mexicans already there. feature
strongly marked at this late day in ordinary busi-
ness methods and transactions As our own coun-
| trylnen increase i'm numbers and influence. their
natural energy viii sever many OF the bonds which
! custom mas woven and which tend 20 retard prog
ress On the other hand. certain kinds Of game
are abandant Antelope, wild turkeys, quail and