Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-10-15

| ar The trivaipa.
 Knowing that the cattle or stock
 raising interests of this Territory are
 equal to, or to say the most of secon- diary importance only to our bullion producing, dividend paying mines, 1t is
 the purpose of the CITIZEN in a series
 of articles, ln which will be given an array of facts well calculated to engage
 the attention of the thoughtful and
 induce them to do as many of our pre-
 sent cattle kings once did. Make a
 beginning, however small, and by in-
 dustry and good management amsss to
 say the least, competence. To be a
 successful cattle man no particular
 talent IS needed. Attention to business
 being the back bone of every mans
 success. Not one broad acre in fifty IS
 as yet under any other title than that
 of the general government, although
 they by the different Congressional
 acts, are opened up and subject to pre-
 emptiOn and improvement.
 As whole water may be scarce,
 surface indications warrant that belief,
 but the high extended ranges that cap
 and cross the great messs and plains 1 preclude the possibility of such want,
 If the proper means for securing 1t be 1 taken. If but a mere fractional part of
 the money now expended In the develop
 ment of non producing mines WAS used | to determine at what depth the hidden
 RrtesiRn liquids could be reached the ! people and Territory would be vastly | the gathers. Water once found, to | bring 1t to the surface for use
 Is but mere question of few hundred dollars. The water rights of the strong natural streams have, as a rule, been
 taken up, thus making 1t optional with
 late corners whether they buy or dig. The former Is, of course, preferable, but the latter has its advantages also, and If the surrounding range be sufficiently
 large, either can be made profitable.
 \ few head of cattle backed by strong heart and willing hands, furnishes q broad basis upon which to build an in- dependent fortune and one that accu- mulates rapidly after the first few years. An illustration of that was mentioned ID the CITIZEN a few days since, where a ScOtchmsn going to Kansas nine years ago and taking up an unclaimed range, invested his all, S17OO in cattle. Last week he sold his interests to a stock company for Sl60,0O0. Similar increases in value are common in Arlzona.
 THK SIERRA BONITA RANCH In the valley of the Aravaipa, is an H. lustration. It was, ten years ago, an unclaimed waste, brOwsed only by the Apache ponies and forest game. To- day 1t IS a princely estate, one of the best furnished and most magnificent ranges ID the West. Eight thousand head of blooded cattle and 800 of the best bred horses in the Territory thrive and fatten on its grasses, and as yet its area o: 9OO square miles, every inch of which Is productive, IS not half taxed, nor will 1t be till 5000 cat tie roam its plains. It's fortunate own CT, II. C. Hooker, came moneyless to the Territory sixteen years ago, and falling ID with Col. Hines, then one of the heaviest beef contractors in the West, partnership was formed, the business qualifications of one man off setting the money qualifications of the other. The firm prospered, notwith- standing their immense losses at the hands of the Indians.
 In the meantime Col. Hines died and hls partner carried on the business alone. In the course of few years he considered his fortune made. so sold out and returned to California. In those days the mining market boomed, for tunes were made and lost Tn a day, | the latter lot falling to the share of Mir. Hooker. He then with his remaining 5000 or SS,00O again turned his face ArlzOnaWards and resumed his old vo- cation.
 About this time the government post of Camp Grant was established and under its protection he drove into the Aravaipa valley some 4OOO head of cat tie, Rostly beef steers, the remnant of his various contracts. He at first set tied at what, on the old military maps, l IS designated as "Kennedy's Wells" l and now known as the Riley Ranch, a l part of his present domain, but finding | a more favorable location lower down | and nearer to the fort, he drove his cat | tie there and established what is now | known as the Central or "Home | Ranch" and where he, with his family, ! lives and entertalns strangers and guests | right royalty.
 His next move was to secure the water rights Of that entire end of the valley | over which he now claims control, and | he finally succeeded 1t was not without much trouble and the buying of number of iLterlOpers, who had settled there for that purpose. On the rn va Tor and their ownership carried with them the value of the land and rendered all other attempts at settlement hugatory.
 The ranch in its entirety embraces some thirty odd miles square with out lets at either end Of the valley, which, generally speaking, lies north and south. On the east rises the Graham or Sierra Bonita (pretty mountainj range. Mid way against its western base stands Fort Grant, and from which the ranch takes its name. On the east are the equally prominent Gsliura mountains. Centrally located between the two -anges is the
 HoHE OR CENTRAL RANCH
 And upon which are bdlt his residence, stables and corrals. The former, S5 feet square, is built of adobe on the old hacienda plan, with a large interior court, in the center of which stands the windmill and tank that supplies the premises with water. The rooms front hree sides of the plaza or court with ! door leading into each. On the un- built side IS a high adobe wall with a l pair of heavy folding doors giving egress 70 another court or yard Of similar size l { 10 the one occupied by the house and m ( which are kept the carriages, family [ horses and fine blooded stock. Like the l 'ormer admittance Is gained only through a great pair of doors, some ten eet nigh, and which at night are se- ,urely locked. Further to the west is | till another stable and corral of like ( build and slze as the last and known as he breaking and breeding stable. Ad- ( oining that on the north IS the Taquero stable and yard. On the ( one side are stalls for about twenty [ horses and behind them are the sheds 'or the proper keeping of the necessary saddles, brides, spurs, riatas, etc. On 2 he north but separate from the main building, IS still another stable for and used mainly for the keeping of sick or diseased horses. To the west again IS he hay corral and at the time the writer was there the men were busy topping ,fr 125-ton stack and making prepara- ions for the putting up of another of , squal dimensions to the one named. 2
 Directly in front of the house facing 'outh, but separated from it by about ! fifty, feet IS the mayordomo's and mems quarters, the blacksmith and repairing 1, ihOps. while again to the west are the 'heds for the storing of the various agricultural implements, such as mow- ng machines, rakeE, gang blows. s wagons, etc. In the rear of that is the a 'attle corral 300 feet. square with the i Isual high walls and heavy doors. The [ whole looking like some old low built [