The Arizona champion., 1885-10-24
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate, Soil, and Productions A General Answer to Many In quiries Relative to this part Of AriZOna A

This portion of Arizona is vast
 plateau, varying in altitude from
 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea,
 with here and there peak rising
 10 an heighth of from 9,ooo to I3,ooo
 feet. These higher elevations, situ-
 ated with remarkable regularity
 throughout the central portion of Ydvapai county. are local and con-
 stant source of moisture to the adjlc-
 ent parks and foothills, from the
 blankets of snow that cover them dur
 ing SIX to eight months of the year.
 During the open period of the winter
 months and in early spring great be-
 dies of water flow from these vast
 snow beds, to be swallowed up at last bj the unsuitable sands of the distant plain.
 A new era is dawning in regard to
 the water supply of Arizona, in the
 construction of artifcal basins and a
 system of dikes that will be useo to
 catch a portion of their escaping wa
 ters, 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 ele-
 ment.
 The annual rain.fa begins in the
 month of June and lasts until Sep
 tember. It comes in gentle showers
 and with admirable regularity, stimu-
 atin4 wonderful growth in a re
 markable short period oftime. Wheat, rye, oats, barley and millet are grown without irrigation, yielding an adun- dant and profitable crop. Cora Is succt s5tully ar)"a 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, commanding price m 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 Cul,iva- ton is not required, and no other labor be oynd the preparation of the soil, planti 2 and gathering, i, bestowed up m the crop.
 The entire country is singularly free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern hu,bl ,dman. There IS growing demand for hay and many ranch men find II more profitable to utilize their growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curi z Il before the gram Is fully mllured.
 All that portion ol the griat plaeau above o,ooo feet Is covered with magnificent forests of pine, with tervening glldes of mountlln parks and prarieS, Grazing IS the leading industry of the northern portion of Yavapal county. Rigid economy Tn the lolrdl 7 au use of the present water supply meets the present demand and Is the safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded ranges of other localities
 IL IS essentially ! country for the poor mn or the stock grower beginning lie with mod eriie mcan,. The sprmg> and tl k at ,rd ms permanent water he miles apart, giving i supply Ia eacn piIc. suinclclt for small band ot from loo to 800 head of stock. | Around these water supplies lie hundreds of square miles oi nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of winch IS caplOle of Keeping ohc animal throughout the year. By the con structlon oi lhe arIIicill blsIns and dl, CD be- lore reserred to, water mIy De saved InI utii. lLed In proportion to the demand, oi the in- creaslng nerds. The beef anl mutton from .nls secu ,n cJmmInd advanced prices ln the k.tS he I |, are not only mar..;et t1le but ia prime condi- | Ion during the year.
 Inc Atlantic X Pacific railway runs central. | y through tdiS section east and west, and the | company own alternate sections of land | l ihey ohtr special iuduceme. Is to Capitalists | 'r colohieS requiring large block, of land, and | lo het In lh.s section dispose of quantities 1 ess than 5o,ooo acres. The remaining lands | ire subject 10 homestead and preempt.on ightS. Inc past two -ars show q pcrceptl. 1e Increase m the filings and settlements of | hese Government lands, bur as yet they are untouched,
 Inc pine forest oi this section is Go miles "ius ana m length extends beyJad the limits Ii the territory referred to m thi, artlcle As a whole II IS larger thau ,he Stat. of Mary. ana, and all agreeable revelation to the trav- 'iei "ho' ih keeping with the popula belief '' oui eastern neg bors, imagines ia cross hg Arlzona he Is about To traverse a barren Ini sandy waste
 ne lumber product of the one great saw hiil Ill all these pineries finds ready haiket Tn Old Mexico, southern California md New Mexico, wllh increasing local de. nand. The railway towns and principal ndlkrtS Ot fh,s ara IIoii,ronG W,,. | ow, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork. The eiative merits oi these towns need not here 'e discussed, being about equal in importance hu each pcofied win energetic, hospilable ma progressive citizens.
 Schools, churches and social amu,emcnts ievail. The interest manifested in all mat CTS pertaining to sdcial progress is perhaps reater than Tn eastern towns oi like numbers.
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among nose not acclimated, there is no sickness. evers and all forms uf malirial diseases are nkn 1wn. Arlzona's least need is doctors
 The southern ard central portion of Yava. al county is rich in mineral bearing lodges nd placer gold fields. Recent discoveries m ataract gorge, north of the Bill Williams lountan, 6id tair to rival ia some respects 'me ot our older camps Durrg the sum- Ter season persons vislllng the Cataract re- Ions may procure '''outnt," and hni the lace accessible from either Ash Fork, Will ms or Flagstaff. The lack of proper mI- hinery to treat the ores of this section is at resent the greatest draw back to mining lterests. No mining country of like area m sh w such uniform value in all ore pro- acts as this portion of the territory and the mount ot ores nov beng shipped to distant orks for treatment should be substantial roof that reduction works capable of treat thc retractpry f,f n.