Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-12-12
Florence.

One of the most inviting and interest Ing towns m the Territory is the town ot Florence, situated on the Gila rlyer, kbont twenty-five miles north of Casa Grande. The soil is entirely free from
 alkali. and its ineKhaus:ible fertility gives assurance of SD aboGdarce of p-o- ducts so long as time lasts. The pro- cess of Irrigation increases the richness of the soIl every year, far heyoud ihe ex-
 haustion by the prolific crops, and It IS
 but the truth the soll has but to be tick led with the plov to lanGh with e gol- den harvest. All about the town are
 ranches and orchards, constituting homes of the most iuvitinE appearance, Rod Tn their midst beneath canopy of almost interlAcing trees, tue quiet little town exists, like happy household, con
 i-uied and comfortable. The products
 Uf the ranch ind ready market at Slivrr
 hIug, PInal and tho numerous mining
 Camps ln every direction, aud the peO-
 pie all seem To have little ready mon ,y laid by for raiuy day, for 1t Is one
 of the best toSns m the terrltory III
 whIca tJ make collections.
 The town Is well suppiIed with all the
 necessary establishments incident to the
 requirements of the people, and first
 among institutions of which every body
 Is proud is Mir. Peter Will and bis ismous
 brewery. Just how the place could get along without them IS not quite clear,
 hut Tn the beginning, when the town
 was created, it became apparent that
 where there IS mIll there Is 6 way, Gnd the way has ever since been one of pro- gress. The fOamlng beverage Is di- pens ed byJ V. Wilson and F.. F. Drew, who each enjoy large volume of the thirsty trade and dispense the luxurIes ID the most urbane and accommodating man ner.
 The Silver King hotel IS the hospita- ole resort Of the traveller Es well Us the appreciatIye resident, and Messss. Geo 4. stone and Go, put forth their best ei- .oTts tO please every one.
 In general merchandising NIT. J. M. l OchOa has a very complete establish ment and commands 6 great volume of trade. He IS a progressive citizen and Is therefore very popular with the peo- | pie. Mir. J. ID. RittenhOuse, who sue l ceeded to the business of Smith and | Murray, has built up big trade and IS | ranked among the most prosperous bus | iIe-s men of the place.
 Vim. l.. Guild: Is the popular stage | agent and telegraph operator and Is one | of the leading citizens.
 Among the ranches, some of them | are worthy of greater special mention | than can be giN en them ct this time. | Probate Judge Bartleson has very at | tractive place with charming and l home like residence; Pat Holland, the | industrious, hard working and open l hearted ranchmsn, has place that can be sold any day for Si0,OOO; G. W. Sharpe has recently added many im- pEovements to hIs splendid property, | and Hill de Armitt, C.. II. Ourv, Levi | kuggles, and many others, have val uable and handsome places that are l each worthy of extended notice.
 Among the pillars oi the town, how | ever, there is no more important insti- l tuition ;han the Enterprise, a weekly ! news paper that has no equal Tn Arizona. | IL Is conducted by Hon rhOs. F. Wee | din, and II Is devoted to the local inter | ests with a zeal that the people appreci- 1 ate and they give rousing support to l tbe paper.
 Florence has U splendid new school 1 house, just completed, and il k credit | able structure for any city. Miss F.. J. Monk m the PnncIpai and she Is giving | the best satisfaction m her position.
 Florence nas lodge or the Ancient | Order oi United Worknen, embracing | among its members tine cream of the ! residents of that valley. A Legion Oi Select Knights Is also in good running | OIder, dispensing it's practical charity | wherever the hand of Riiic:lOu has left | its christening mark.
 There are many other deserving peo | pie and institutions that are necessarily ] overlooked III this nasty sketch, but among all the pretty towns m the sunny | land in winch We dwell, there Is no more ] pleasant and pretty town than lovely Florence. There is some l talk there Oi opening a grand canal from a point on the river about nlne miles above the town, in which q great volume of water will be conveyed to tbe broad and fertile lands extending from the river down to even Casa Grsnde. If this is done, it will open ub one of the finest fruit belts on the Pacific Coast, aud 1t will oh Te- dound tO the wealth and prosperity of the town of Florence.