The Arizona champion., 1885-10-31
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate, Soil, and Pro,luctions.-A General Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to this part of Arilona.

This portion of Arizona is vas plateau, varying in altitude iron 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea-
 with here and there peak rising
 to an heighth of from G,ooo to I3,ooc
 feet. These highsr elevations, situ
 ated with remarkable regularity
 throughout the central portion oi Yavapai county, are local and con- stant source of moisture to the adiac. ent parEs and foothills, from the blankets ot 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 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 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.f begins in the month of June and lasts until Sep tember. It comes in gentle showers and with admirable regularity, stimu- lating a 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. Corn is successfully grown in the valleys and basins below an altitude of 6 1000 feet. All kinds of root vegetables flourish and grow 10 enormous size and are of excellent quality, commanding price in the "home market" that to an Eastern or Northwestern farmer would seem fabulous. Although COCO 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 bee0 supplied by the home production. Cultiva- ton is not required, and no other labor be. oynd the preparation of the soil, planting and gathering; is bestowed upon the crop.
 The entire country is singularly free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern husbandman. There is growing demand for hay, and many ranch men find 1t more profitable to utilize their growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curing it before the graId Is fully natured.
 All that portion oi the griat plateau 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 Yayapai county. Rigid economy in the boarding and use of the present water supply meets the present demand and is the safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded raages of other localities
 It is esentIally q untry for the poor man or the stock'grower beginning lie with mod. crate means. The springs and tanks afford. ing permanent water lie miles apart, giving supply in each place sufficient for a small band of from 100 to 500 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 structlon of the artificial basins and dIkes be- fore referred to, water may be saved and util- ized in proportion to the demands of the in creasing herds. The beef and mutton from this sectI )n command advanced prices in the markets of the adjacent cities Our animals are not only marketable but i, prime condi, ton during the year.
 The Atlantic X Pacific railway runs central. ly 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 ofland, and do not in thiS section dispose of quantities less than 5o,ooo acres. The remaining lands are subject to homestead and preemption rights. The past two years show percepti- bic increase in the filings and settlements of these Government lands, but as yet they are practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section is to miles wide and in length extends beyond the limits of the Territory referred to nj this article. As whole it is larger thau the State of Mary. land, and an agreeable revelation to the tray eler who, in keeping with the popular belief oi our eastern neig bors, imagnes in cross ing Arizona he is about to traverse barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill in all these pineries finds a ready market Tn Old Mexico, Southern California and New Mexico, with increasing local de- mand. ,,The railway towns and principal markets of this section are Holbrook, Wins low, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork. The relative merits of these towns need not here be discussed, being about equal in importance and each peopled with energetic, hospilable and progressive citizens.
 Schools, churches and social amusements prevail. The interest manifested in all mat Iers pertaining to social progress is perhaps greater than III eastern towns of like numbers.
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclImated, there is no sickness Fevers and all forms of malarial diseases are unknown. Arzonas least need is doctors
 The southern aud central portion of Yava. pal county is rich in miueral.bcaring lodges and placer gold fields. Recent discoveries in Cataract gorge, north of the Bill Williams mountain, bid fair to rival in some respects some of our older camps. During the sum- mer season persons visiting the Cataract re- gions may procure "outfits" and find the place accessible from either Ash Fork, Will lams or Flagstaff. The lack of proper ma chinery to treat the ores of this section is at present the greatest draw back to mining interests. No mining country of like area can show such uniform value in all ore pro- ducts as this portion of the territory. and the amount of ores now being shipped to distant works for treatment should be substantial proof that reduction works capable ot treat ing the refractory ores of our mineral bearing localities would be profitable investment for