Arizona silver belt. [volume] (Globe City, Pinal County, Ariz.) 1878-19??, 1883-07-14
Railway Screed No. u.
Agriculture and Horticulture.

The least important, its money val.
ne considered, of the capabilities of
the country through which the Arizo.
ma Mineral Belt railroad passes are
those mentioned above. They are of
great Importance, however, to the peo-
pie along the line, as it relieves them
to very great extent from depen-
dence upon southern California. All
of our fruit and much of our roots and
cereals came from there until the de-
velopment of the farming interest
along the Gila, and in the country
about Phenix, and the establishment
Of market gardens at the Wheatfelds.
At present the area of land under cul-
tivation, near the line of the railroad,
is probably not more that 5000 acres,
much of which is between the mouth
of Pinal creek and the canyon of the
Salt river--twelvc miles. There are
1--WE can only approximate though the
fgrres are the result Of careful calcu-
lation) probably 1900 acres of land
upon which crops have been raised
this year in the Salt river valley, and
there are at least $500 more that can
be supplied with water by irrigatina
bitches, and made productive. Along
the Tonto, there has been considerable
farming done, though of somewhat
desultory character; and grapes, apri
cots and peaches have been cultivated
and brought to the Globe market. By
the construction of bedrock dams thu
whole seepage water of the Mazatzal'
as well as the regular flow of the Ton
to could be raised to the surface anf
utilized for irrigating. The soil o
these two sections is a sandy loan
alternating with black soil, both o
which are immensely productive. Ii
the foothills of the Sierra Anchas ar
small valleys where tributary stream
of the Salt river rise, and which rul
as surface water for considerable dis
tances. There are always alluvia
patches of great fertility beside them
ind their sheltered position fits then
for fruit raising. AT the recent dem
onstration, on the "Fourth," at tn
Tonto, man named Boquet sol
fruit, raised in these foothills. From
the Tonto, along the Wild Rye, il
Green valley, and Strawberry valley
in Pine creek, on the East Fork of tn
Verde, and in scores of other place
till the timber is reached a large mum
ber of these alluvial patches are found
In the timber, even, there are glade
of considerable extent which can b
pro6tably cultivated owing to tn
snowfalls which store the ground wit
moisture, and the greater humidity
the atmosphere. Anywheres belo'
the timber line the fruits, roots an
cereals that grow in semi-tropic;
countries can be raised. Cotton an
tobacco thrive well. Taking all I'll
ground susceptible of successful Gu
tivation along the line of the A. NJ.
railroad, there is no doubt but what
would reach and pass 25,000 acre
Compared with the immense area
the timber and grazing land the Fl,
ures seem Insignificant, but it meal
nearly forty square miles; it meal
homes for thousands of people;
means cheaper and better living fl
the residents of the towns, the mine
and the prospectors; it means a stab
country, because the soil affords Il
surest foundation to build upon;
means a myriad of wants; it meal
work for railroad, and profit for
builders. II means business activit
social development and territori
wealth.
Dutchey, Warm Spring India
who killed a Norman teamster ne
the cattle camp. four miles from q