Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-09-03
THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.

l
 through dry, yielding sand. Iwelvt 9 miles from Maricopa the Gila is reached
 In dry seasons it's waters seldom reacl - to the crossing. but during the ram!
 season, and for several months later, it B waters gather force and are used in thu
 irrigation of much valuable land. Eigh | miles further on the great Salt river il
 reached, and down which at all seasonl | of the year an abundance of water flows
 although three large canals, run on tn,
 cooperative plan, tap the river on tht north side about eight miles above Phe
 nix, each one carrying an immense body l of water, which IS used m lrrlgatlng the
 great grain fields below. In addition
 to the canals are numberless small ditches used for the purpose of convey
 ing water from the river to the Maucops and Pima Indian settlements, and also
 to the lands owned and titled by other
 settlers who have acquired no in.
 terest in the canals. The valley
 itself Is about thirty-siI miles long and
 from eight to twelve miles wide. This
 does not include the mesa, or table lands
 above, much of which Is now being set
 tied and under partial cultivation.
 During the past season 1t Is estimated
 that fully twenty million pounds of
 grain were harvested in the valley
 alone. Much of it Is still in possession
 of the farmers, who can readily sell al | 3{ cents per pound, but who are gener-
 ally disposed to hold on for luther ad-
 yancements. The hay crop, always
 abundant, could, with better railroad
 facilities, furnish hay to the entire Ter
 ritory at prices much less than those now commonly Tn vogue. It was an | error on the part of the railroad not to have crossed the Colorado at the l Needles and located the road up this
 valley. The bad washouts, now so an- ! moving and common, would by this
 means have been avoided, in addition | to its trayersIng some of the most fertile | lands m the Territory, which, for want ! of sufficient market, now lie idle and ! unprOductive It would have infused | a new life into the thriftless mai0ri- | ty who plough and SOW sufficient for a | mere existence, and whose squalidness | and ignorance contrast sharply with the
 more intelligent and prosperous minor ] Ity. The Salt river mills, not | ed the country over for the eX- | cellence of their four, are fitted with | the latest improved machinery and are complete n every respect. Hay l dens Mills, situated on the south side
 of the river at Hayden's Ferry, has
 capacity 25,00O pounds of flour per day. In capacity the steam mill of J. |. T.
 Smith comes next, its production being
 20,000 pounds per day. Better flour j.
 not manufactured on the coast. NIT.
 Smith the proprietor, Is a pioneer of the
 valley, a man of means and influence.
 There are several other mills of less
 of less capacity but which also, do a
 good trade and turn out good fiour
 PheniX centrally situated as she Is on 8
 great belt of productive soil, can well
 afford to be independent. Her streets
 are broad and laid out with regularity
 not common to ether towns ID the Ter
 ritOry. Her founders with rare foresight
 saw Tn the then distant but LOW near fu- ture, the capital of Arizona, and ID the
 survey wisely made made provisions foI what IS Low soon to be realized, the re mOyal of the capital of that place.
 In the valley the peach to all ap- pearances, grows to a great perfection, but It lacks the flavor of those grown on the Gila or Upper Colorado. Com peteut judges however believe the difference can be easily overcome by proper attention to grating and cultiva- | tion, but the demand for fruit is not l sufficient tO warrant either trouble or | expense in improving 1t. There is no | section on the coast where fruit | trees are more thrifty than in the Salt | River valley. Figs, pears, plums, apri- | cots and nectarines do equally well | The grape undoubtedly is ID its element | as 1t grows with or without water, and | of a flavor equal to the best California | grown.
 Phenix aspires to become the capital, | and with a probable show of success. It is an attractive town, owing to its broad and shady streets, its good hotels and comfortable dwellings, most of which are built of brick and mastIc, while its public school is said to be, and Is. the finest m the Territory. Able are employed, and people point with just pride to the progress made in their town in behalf of education. Many of the farmers have American horses, as well as the best blooded cattle and hogs. The latter are shipped to the Tucson butchers by hundreds.
 In this connection a good word for the Pima and Maricopa Indians will not be out of place. They own good ranches, and they till them successfully l There Is no Jealousy between them and the better class of whites. In early days they stood as a protective bulwark be- tween the white settlers and the savage 1 Apache. Without them the former could not have lived. In addition to their own work, they seek and receive all llnds of employment, in which capacities they generally give satisfaction. The wages paid them are small but suffi- ,lently remuneratiye. While the pres snt generation survives the Indians will receive fair treatment, but the index finger of time points to the day whep he VIII have % go.
 Hayden's Ferry, situated on the north bank of the river about eight miles above 2henix, Is an honor to the gentleman whose name 1t bears. Ten years ago Jhas. T. Hayden left Tucson and settling here gave life to the present grand en- erprise. It was by incessant toil that le accomplished so much, for in those lays the country was new, obstacles numerous and but little demand for what was produced. At big expense | le damned the river some six miles .bove the ferry and by the excavation ,f race for that distance, secured a | most magnificent power, which he has lsed with such telling effect ever since. The mill stands near the foot of Pros ,ect Butte and ls built in the solid rock IS is the water race on the western end. The mill is two stories high and is sup ,hed with the best of machinery. 4 1 arge stOrehouse IS annexed to the mill where at all times there are stored hun ireds of thousands of pounds of flour. Along the mill race and to the rear of the nil, are numerous large fig trees rowing there seemingly by accident | wagon making and blacksmith shop gas established for the use of his own cams, which are many, as in addition to lis four and grain business he carries n that of general merchandise. NIT. iayden's residence Is an attractive fea- ure. It IS built as long experience l aught him that houses should be built n this country. 4 fine orchard sHr- ounds it, and 1t Is covered with trailing mes. Now after many years of trouble nd disappointment he enjoys in peace he result of his keen perception, hard ,, york and strong integrity. All honor O the pioneer of the sandy desert, and nay he and his live long to enjoy their . resent good fortune.
 At intervals through the valley are to ; 'e seen the ruins of what arc supposed : o have been canals used by the AZtecs 1 ong ago. Mounds scattered over the [ Jams mark the site of their abOdes. ' 'o numerous are they that one is led to Y he belief that the valley was both peo- (