The Arizona champion., 1885-11-07
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate. Soil. and Productions.--A General Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to this part of Arizona.


 this part of Arizona.
 This portion of Arizona is vast plateau, varying in altitude from 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea, with here and there a peak rising to an heighth of from o,ooo 10 I3,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ- ated wi!h remarkable regularity throughout the central portion of i Yavlpai county, are local and con stant source Of moisture to the adj ac- ent parks and foothills, from the blankets of snow that cover them dur ing six 10 eight months of the year. Daring 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 al last | by the unsuitable sands of the distant plain.
 A new era is dawning in regard to the wafer supply of Arizona. il the construction of arti6cal basins and a i system of dikes that will be usea to catch portion of their escaping wa ters, and 1t will eventually be hoarded up and used with the same economy and care by which we subdue and bring 10 our aid any other useful ele- ment.
 The annual ain.fall begins in the month of June and lasts until Sep tember. It comes in gentle showers and with admirable regularity, stimu- !atlnI~a wonderful growth in re- mlrkable short period oftime. Wheat, rye, oats, barley and mllIet 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 tn the nome 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 adjdcent mining camps, saw mills and railway towns, il has never been supplied by the home production. Cultya. lion is not required, and no other labor be oynd the preparation of the soil, planii rg and gathering. Is bestowed up lhe crop.
 The entire couutry Is Singularly free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern hu'bI idman. There Is growing demand for hay and many ranch men hnl II morr profitable to utilize their | growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curi'g II before the srain Is fully nItured.
 Ali that portion ol the grlat plIreau above 6,ooo feet Is covered with magnificent forests of pine, with Intervening glades of mountain parks and prlrles, Grazing Is the leading industry of the northern portion of YavapaI county. Rigid economy m the hoarding 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 "a gcs of other lIcllHies
 It Is esentIally untry for the poor man or the stock grower beginning lie with mod. crate means The sprrng> and talks afford lns permanent water lIe mileG apart, EiyIng a l supply Ia each place sufficient for d small bLnd ot from Ioo to 800 head of stock. l 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. SrucIIUn Oi the artIficIal basins and discs be. lore reierredtu tu, water may bs saved and util. ] ILed In proportion 10 the demands uf the in creaSIng herds. The beef and mutton from lhIS sectI m cJmmInd advanced prIces in the l markets ol the ad yiccnt Cities. Our animals are not only mIrket4ble but prime condi. ton durins tae year.
 | The Atlantic X Pacific railway runs central. | ly through tnls section east and west, and the company own alternate sections of land. l They offer special induceme Is to Capitalists or cOlonIes requiring large blocks of land, and | do n-t In ihlS section dispose of quantities | les, than 5o,Uoo acres. The remaining lands are subject to homestead and preemylIon rights. The past two y-ars show percepti. Oie increase in the filings and settlements of these Government lands, but as yet they are { practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section is Go miles wide aud in iength extends beyo d the llmlts of he Territory referred 10 In this artlcle AS whole il Is larger thau the State of Mary land, and au agreeable revelation to the tray eler who, in keeping wlth the popular belief O. our eastern neIg borS, nnaglncS cross ing Arizona fe is about to traverse a barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill Ill all these pineries finds a ready market in Old Mexico Southern California and New Mexico, with increasing local de- mand. ,,rhe railway towns and principal markets of this section are Hoibrook, 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, hospitable and progressive citizens.
 l Schools, churches and social amusements | prevail. The interest manifested in all mat. Iers pertaining to social progress is perhaps | sreater than Tn eastern towns oi like numbers.
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclmatsd, there Is no sickness. FeverS and all forms of malarial diseases are unkn Jwn. Arizona's least need is doctors.
 The southern aud central portion of Yava. pal county is rich in eral.bearing ledges 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 Ie- gions may procure "oul6ts" and ind She place accessible from either Ash Fora, Will- I lams or Flagstaff. The lack of proper ma chinery 10 treat the ores of this section Is at present the greatest draw back to mining interests, No mining country of like area can sh 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 oi treat f II l.