The Arizona sentinel., 1885-05-30
Arizona.
Its Farming Lands Offer Homes
 for Thousands

| AOE 4hOuSanuS-
 The following extracts relative
 to the farming lands of this Ter
 ritory, mode of cultivation, prices
 climate, etc., are from a letter
 published in the Galveston News
 by Patrick Hamilton, Immigra'
 tion Commissioner for this Terri.
 tory. He says:
 "The farming lands of Arizona
 Territory are mainly confined to
 the valleys of the Gila and the
 Salt rivers. These streams
 have their rise Tn the mountain
 range that forms the boundary
 between Arizona and New Mex
 ico, and flow westward to the
 Colorado of the West, which
 drains the entire Territory and
 empties it's waters into the Gulf
 of California. The principal val
 ley of the Salt river is that in
 which the town of Phenix is sit>
 uated. Its extent may be roughly estimated at thirty miles in length and ten in width, embrac- ing an area of 300 square miles, or nearly 100000 acres. The soil of this vast tract is remarkably rich and fertile. Near the river it is heavy adobe, while further back toward the foothills it is lighter and more friable. but equally as productive. Grain, fruit and vegetables of every variety yield bountiful crops. Atpresent there are not over 40,000 acres under cultivation. Of this area there are probably 1000 acres in fruits, peaches and graps. Be- sides the grape and the peach, apples, apricots, figs, pears. nec- tarines, quinces, plums, pome- almonds, and many other varieties are cultivated with success and yield large returns. But little attention has yet been paid to raising citrus fruits, but
 experiments have shown that with proper care and attention they can be grown in Arizona. The qua lity of wheat and barley raised here is equal to any pro- duced in the west, the yield being from twenty-five to forty bushels per acre.
 In Arizona everything is grown by irrigation. There is nU cer~ tainty for a crop without it. The system pursued in the Salt river valley is the same as practiced throughout the Territory were eyer farming is carried on. It is briefly as follows: The water is conveyed from the river in canals, and from these canals it is carried in lateral ditches to the different farms. From three to four flood. ings during the season are re> Iuired to produce a crup, and | rom One~half to a quarter of a | miners inch of water per acre is about the quantity used. After and has been irrigated for a num- Der of years less water is required, IS the ground becomes thoroughly Irrigation is found to enrich the soil, bringing upon it he sediment from the river, which acts as a fertilizer. It also nsures a crop the dryest season.
 The climate is one of the lealthiest on the American con- inent. For eight months in the ,ear the mean temperature of the Salt river valley averages about 70 degrees; during the remaining ummer months 1t is about 80 degrees mean, Fahrenheit. During July and August, although a trf1e warm, no injurious effects are ex- ,erienced. The air is pure, dry md eXhilarating; sunstrokes are lever known, and man feels 100 Iegrees in the shade in this eli nate less oppressive than 75 de- .rees in an eastern city. Snow lever falls in the valley, slight rost during the winter months eing the nearest approach to it. Roses are in bloom the whole ear; and while the snow covers he distant mountains, men are t work Tn the valley in their hirt sleeves in the middle of 1inter. In fact, the climate is 1 lmost perpetual spring; epidemic iseases are unknown, and r lalaria is never heard of.
 Wild laud can be had in any of |, he valleys mentioned at from S6 ) S8 per acre. A water right, lfficient to irrigate quarter sec on, is worth $500 to $500. accord. lg to location. The owership of his right insures water at all easons and at all times, so long s the river runs. Land of much