The Arizona champion., 1886-01-30
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate, Soil, and Productions.-A General Answer to Many Inquiries ReiatiVe to this part of Arizona.

with here and there peak rising 10 an heighth of from 9, 1000 to I3,ooo feet. These higher elevations, stu- 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 10 eight months of the year.
 During the open period of the winter months and in early spring great bo- dies of water flow irom these vast snow beds, 10 be swallowed up at last
 by the unsuitable sands of the distant
 plain.
 A new era is d1wning in regard to the water supply of Arizona, Tn the constructor of artiical basins and q system of dikes thit will be used to catch portion of the escaping waters and it will eventually be boarded up and used with the same economy and
 care by which we subdue and bring U 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 Id with admirable regularity, stimu- llting 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, ,ooo 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 o,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. Cultivn- | ton is not requye,l, and no o!her labor be- oynd the propagation of the soil, planti z ! and gathering, k bestowed upm the crop.
 The oayir. coulsyy ii sinyularly free from ! farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern hu>bl dmln. There | is growing demand for hay, and many ranch. m,n flnd it more prohtabl. to utilize their growing crop- for that purpo+e by cutting and clring it before the gram Is fllly mItured.
 All that portion ot the griat pl1'eau above 6 .oJo feet is covered wth magnificent foresty of pine, with 'lervening clsdes of mountain parks and prarieS, Grlzmg Is the leadmH industry of the northern portton uf Yavap.i county The water sIppty is limited, and rigid economy will be IeGulecd Tn the future The scarcity Of water in Ariz ma is at pres ent safeguard against our ranges being olerrun by herds from the crowded ranges of other localities
 l. is esenualIy country for the poor man or the SOCK grower bNgnning lie win mod crate m.ans The springs and tarks atfor'l- ing permanent wsIe!' lie mAe' apart, giving | supply in cscl place ~lIcient for Il ,;nlll band of from 100 to 5oo head of stock Around thsse water supplies lie hundreds of ,lule miles ol nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which is capable of keeping one aniny,l throughout the year. By the con .,ruc Ian of the ar,ti. al basins and dlees be- i,zc referred to. water may be saved and utl. ized in proportion to ihe demand, of the in o.csang h.r,L. The beef anI mleon from gais .,c,i n commanl advanced prices in the n .-lesS Of ,he adjicsnt cities. Oar animal,
 ,-e not olly marketable bat il prime condi. ton daring the y'ir.
 The Atlantic X Pacific rlil@ayruns central ,v through this section east and west, and the cpm pany own alternate secitons of land. They nicr speclll in,lucems ts to capitalist. pr colonies rcIltirng large bL,c,ts ofland. and
 b mt in this section diSpo.e of quaniaia. s.sS than 5000 acres. The rcmaining land, .re subject to homestead and prcSsnoNon rights The plst two y-arS show percepti ole increase in the filings and settlements oi these vernment lands, but as vet they are practically untouched,
 The pine lorrs; of this section is @ miles wide anl in length extends beyo q the limits Of the territory referred 10 Tn this article As whole Il Is lars ger thu the State ot Mary land, and all 1srecaOlc revelation to the trlv- elcr who, in keeping with the popular belief of our eastern neig bors, imasineS ih cross Ing Arin>na he is about 70 traverse barren aai sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill Ill all these pileries fnds a ready market in Old Mexico Southern California and New Mexico, with increasing local de mand. The railway towns and principal markets of this section are llolbrooi, Wins low, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork. The relative merit. of these towns need not here be discussed, being about equal in importance and each peoPlcd with energetic, hospillble and progressive citizens.
 Schools, churches and social amusements prevail. The interest manifested in all mat. ters pertaining to social progress is perhaps greater than in eastern towns of like numbers l
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclimated, there is no sickness. l Fevers and all forms of malaria diseases are un!ln ,wn. Arizpna's least need is doctors !
 The southern and central portion of Yava pal county is rich in mineral bearing ledses l and placer gold fields. Recent dscoverie in | Cataract gorge, north of the Bill Williams mountain, bid fair to rival in s,me respects ! some of our oller camps. During the sum rner season persons visiting the Cataract re ;ons may procure "outtits' ani find the | place accessible from either Ash ForS, Will | lam' or Fisgsta't. The lack of proper ma chlnery to treat the ores of this section is at | present the greatest draw bIck 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. an th. | amount of ores nov being shipped to distant | works for treatment should be substantial | proof that reduction work. capable of treat ing the refractory ores of our mineral bearing localities would be profitable investment for | its founders. There are no hostile Indians in this rtion of Arizona.
 Thc land IS strewn with the ruined habi,a- ,I; oC