The Arizona champion., 1885-12-12
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate, Soil and Frosuctisns.--A General Answsr to Many Iraauarfes Relative so this part of AriEonA.

Ants portion OI hfizonA is vast plateau, varying in altitude from 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea, with here and there peak rising to an heighth of from 1000 to I3,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ- ated with remarkable regularity throughout the central portion of Yavapai county, are local and con- stant source of moisture to the adjac- ent parks and foothills, from the blankets of snow that cover them dur ing six to eight months of the year. During the open peioi of the winter months and in early spring great bo. dies of water flow from these vast snow beds, to be swallowed up at last by the unsuitable sands of the distant plain.
 A new era is dawning in regard to ! the water supply of Arizona, in the construction of artificial basins and a system of dikes that will be used to catch portion of the escaping waters and it will eventually be hoarded up and used with the same economy and care by which we subdue and bring to our aid any other useful element. The annual rainfall begins in the month of June and lasts until Sep tember. It comes in gentle showers and with admirable regularity, stimu. latina wonderful growth in are, m m,rkable short period oftime. Wheat, rye, oats, barley and millet are grown without irrigation, yielding an adun- dint and profitable crop. Corn is successfully grown in the valleys and basins below an altitude of 6.ooo feet. All kinds of root vegetables flourish and grow to enormous size and are of excellent quality, comm anding price Tn the "home market" that to an Eastern or Northwestern farmer would seem fabulous. Although Io,oco pounds of potatoes per acre is but an average yield, such is the local demand from our adjacent mining camps, saw mills and railway towns, it has never been supplied by the home production. Cultiva- ton is not required, and no other labor be oynd the preparation of the soil. planting f and gathering. is bestowed up,n the crop.
 The eatire country is singularly free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that arc the bane of the Eastern hu,ba"dnan. There is growing demand for hay. and many ranch. men find it more profitable to utilize their growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curing il before the gra,n IS fully uatured.
 All that portion ol the griat pla'eau above 6.ooo feet IS covered with magnificent forests of pine. with Intervening glades of mountain parks and praries, Grazing IS the leading industry of the northern portion of Yavapai county. The water supply is limited, and rigid economy will be required in the future. The scarcity of water in Ariz m is at pres ent safeguard against our ranges being oSerrun by herds from the crowded ranges of other localities
 | It is esentially 4 country for the poor man or the stock grower beginning lite with mod. crate means. The springs aud ta"ks afford ing permanent water lie mile, apart, giving < supply in each place sufficient for small band of from 100 to 800 head of stock. Around these water supplies lie hundreds Of square miles of nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which is capable of keeping one animal throughout the year. By the con. Nruction of the artificial basins and dIkes be- fore refenedto, water may be saved and utIl. ized in proportion 10 the demands of the in ereasing herd,. The beef snd mutton from this secti ,n command advanced prices in the markets of the adjacent cities. Our animals are not ouly marketable but ia prime eondi- ton during the year.
 The Atlantic & Pacific railway runs central lv through this section east and west, and the company own alternate sections of land. They offer special inducements to capitalists or colonies requiring large blocks ofiani, and .l do net in this section dispose Of quantities te-, than Sc, o,ooo acres. The remaining lands are subject to homestead and preemption rights. The past two years show percepti- ble increase in the filings and settlements oi these Government lands. but as yet they arc practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section is Go miles wide and in length extends beyoad the limit, of the Territory referred to Tn this Article As whole il is larger thau the State of Mary land, and an agreeable revelation to the tray- eler who, in keeping with the popular belieI oi cur eastern neig bors, imagines |" cross ing Arizona he is about to traverse barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill Ill all these pineries finds a read, market in Old Mexico, Southern California and New Mexico, with increasing local de mand. The railway towns and principa markets of this section are Ilolbrook, Wins low, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork. Tn, relative merits of these towns need not hert be discussed, being abou, equal in importanc, and each peorled with energetic. hospi,ablt and progressive citizens.
 Schools, churches and social amusement. prevail. rhe interest manifested in all mat iers pertaining to social progress is perhap, greater than Tn eastern towns of like numbers I Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclimated, there, is no sickness Feyers and all forms of malarial diseases ar, unkn .wn. Arizona's least need is doctors
 The southern aud central portion of Yava pal county is rich in mineral. bearing ledge and placer gold fields. Recent discoveries il Cataract gorge, north of the Bill William mountain, bid fair to rival in some respect some of our older camps. During the sum mer season persons visiting the Cataract re. gions may procure "outhts" and hnd th place accessible from either Ash Fork, Will. jams or Flsgstaf. The lack of proper ma. chinery to trea, the ores of this section is . present the greatest draw back to minini interests. No mining country of like are can sh W such uniform value in all ore pro ducts as this portion of the territory. and th amount of ores nov being shipped to disian works for treatment should be suLstantia proof that reduction works capable of treat lng the refractory ores of our mineral bearinl localities would be profitable investment fo