The Arizona champion., 1886-02-06
CENTRAL ARIZONA
Climate, Soil, and Proiluctions.-A General Answer tO Many Inquiries keiau'e to this part of Arizona,

| iSCl. uCoS HiShSi S'~'"ei', 'A'u 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 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 dlwning in regard to the water supply of Arizona, Tn the construction of artificial basins and system of dikes that will be used to catch a portion of the escaping waters and it will eventually be hoardcd up and useu 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- lating a wonderful growth in re
 markable short period oftime. Wheat, rye, oats, barley and mil!et 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,ooo feet
 All kiads of root vegetables flourish and grow to enormous size and are oi excellent quality, commanding price in the "home market that to an Eastern or Northwestern farmer would secm fabulous. Although 10000 l pounds of potatoes per acre is bu; an average ield, such Is the local demand rom our adjacent mining camps, saw mills and railway towns. it has never been supplied by the home production. Culti>a. ton is not required, anl no osh=r labor be- oynd the preparation ofihe, soil. planu 2 and gathering is Oe,towc ! 1E'n the crop. ! The eatre country Is sin5ullrly free from. l far weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern hu'bl ,dmIn. There is growing demand for hay, aud many ranch. m n fnd 1t more profitable to u,ze theIr gro vlng crops for that purpose by culung and ldri ( il before the graIn ls fully n4ured. Ali that portion oi the srll, pin cln above 900 feet Is covered with magnificent forest, oi pine, with lervenng glades of mount1n parks and pralieS, Grazing iS the leading industry of the rouhern portion of YaVapal county. The water supply is limited, and rigid economy will be beieql'red m the future.
 The scarcity of water in Ariz ma is at ptcs- snt safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded ra>gvs of other localities.
 It is essentially q country for inc poor man or the stock grower beginning lie with mod crate msans. The springs and tanks afford. ing permanent water he miles apart, giving supply il each place suIcent Tor small band of from Ioo to 5oo head of stock. Around these water supplies lie hundreds 0! S1ua,e miles of nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which Is capable of keeping one animal throughout the year. By the con struc,ion of the artificial basins and al, eS be. fore referred to, water nay b. saved anu util ized in proportion to the demands of the in cfeaSiug herds. The beef and mutton from this seosi ,n commlni advanced prices in the markets ot the adjacent cities. Our animals are not oaly marketable but ii prime cond:- ton during the year.
 The Atlantic $ Pacific railway runs central. ly though this section east and west, and the comp,ny own alternate sections of land. They oIftr special induceme ti to capitalists CT coloales requiring large blocks oflanI, and | io net in thls section dispose of quantities l , are subject to homestead and preem Dton rights. The pl't two y-ars show percept. ble increase in the filings and settlements of these G )vernment lands, but as yet they are practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section is Go miles wide and in length extends beyo | the limits of the Territory referred 10 Tn Uni, article As whole it is larger thau tht State of Mary land, and an 3 teeable revelation to the tray eler who, in keeping with the popular belief of our eas,crn neis borS, imagines il cross ing Ariycna ke is a6ou, 10 traverse barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mil III all these piIeries finds a ready market in Old Mexico. Southern California and New Mexico, with increasing local de- mand. The railway towns aud principal markets of this section are lIolbrook, Wins low, Flagstaff, Williams and Asa Fork. rhe relative merits of these towns need not here De discussed, being about equal in importance and each peopled wth energetic, hoSpiiablc and progressive citizens.
 Schools, churches and social amusemcnts prevail The interest manifested in all mat lers pertaining to social progress is perhap, greater than ln eastern towns oi like numbers. 1
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclmated, there is no sickness Fevers and all forms of mllarill diseases are unknown. Arizona's least need is doctors. |
 The southern and central portion of Yava pal county Is rich in mineral. bearing ledges | and placer gold fields. Reccnt discoverlc, in Cataract gorge, north of the Bill Wilnams mountain, bld far to rival in some respects some of our older camps. Dunng the sum mer season persons visiting the Cataract re- g;ons may procure "outitS" ani had the place accessible from either Ash For~, WI!i- l lams or Flagstaff. The lack of proper m ,- chinery to treat the ores of this section Is at | present the greatest draw bick to mining | interests. No mlnin. Country of like area | can sh W such uniform value in all ore pro ducts as this portion of the territory. and the | amount of ores nov belng shipped 10 distant | works for treatment should be substantial | proof that reduction works capable If treat ing tho refractory ores of our mineral bearing localities would be q profitable investment fo, | its founders. 2'her. are no hostile Iadians In this p rtion of dtizona.
 7'hc land IS strewn with the ruined habita- tions and relics of prehistoric races High ! on the walls of each mountain gorge and | canon u,ov he foun1 the mined nuenl,. of