The Arizona champion., 1886-05-15
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate, Soil, and Productions.-A General Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to this part of Arizona.

S,OOO lO I,SSS 'NN' NN'~ ' ' with here and there a peak rising to an heighth of from 9,ooo to IS,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ 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 ot 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, Tn the construction of artlhcal basins and a system of dikes that will be used to catch portion of the escaping waters and 1t 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 element.
 The annual rainfall beglns 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 of time. 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 Coco feet. All kinds of root vegetables flourish and grow to enormous size and are of excellent quality, commanding price in the "home 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 adjacent mining camps, saw mills and railway towns, it has never been supplied by the home production. Cultiva- tion is not required, and no other labor be oynd the preparation of the soil, pl,nti ( and gathering, is bestowed upon the crop.
 The entre country is singullry free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern hu,blndmln. There Is growing demand for hay, and many ranch. men And It more profitable to utilize theIr growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curing it before the grain Is fully mltured.
 All that portion ol the grat 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 lavapal county The water supply IS limited, and rigid economy will beieqaIred Tn the future, The scarcity of water in Arlz ma Is at pres ent safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded I'd 'ges of other localities
 It is esenually a country for the poor mn or the stock grower beginning lie with mod crate means. The springs and ia 'NN afford ing permanent water lie m.le5 apart, glvin5 n supply in each place sufficient for small band of from 100 to 500 head of stock. Around these water supplies lie hundreds ol suuale miles of nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which iS capable of keeping one animal throughout the year. By the con struction of the artificial basins and dlke' be- fore referred to, water may be saved amt utll ized in proportion to the demands oi the m creasing herds The beef anl mditon from this secti m command advanced pnceS in the markets of the adjacent cities. Our animals are not only marketable but ia prime cundi- tion during the year.
 'lhe Atlantic X Pacific rlilwayr runs central ly through this section east amt west, ani the company own alternate sections of land, | They offer special induccme Us to capitalists or colomes requiring large blocks of laad, and | do not in thls section dispose of quantities less than 3O,ooo acres. The remlnng lands are subject to homestead and preemJttou rights. The past two y-arS show perceptl- | ble increase in the filings and settlements ul | these Government lands, but aS yet they are | practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section is 0 miles wide and in length extends beyo dtnc linlt' | of the Territory referred to In this article. | As whole it is larger thau the State ot Mary | land, and an agreeable revelation to th- trav- eler who, tn keeping wita the popular bsilel of our eastcrn nelg bor,, imdsInes II cross ing Arizona he is about to traverse barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill m all these piperieS finds re ldy market in Old Mexico southern California and New Mexico, wuh mcrea ing local d=- mand. The railway towns and principal markets of this section are ilolbroD&, Wins | low, FlasstaH, Williams dHi \Sh Fork. lhe relative merits of these towns need not here be discussed, being about e !ual in inin3oraoce and each peoLled with euerseIlc, hos .1itable and progressive cltllen,.
 Schools, churches aid S'cial amuScment- prevail. The interest manifested in ali mat lers pertaining to Socld ptogrc,N k p.rnNt'' i greater than m eastern towns ol like numbers
 Aside from puimon IT. cpmp mplldlS among those not acclimated, there K np S,cNne'S 1 Fe,ers and all form, of mIllri Il diseL,c, are unknown. AuzOna's least ned |, doctor,
 The southern aud cenlrll pJrupn of llya pal county Is rlch In muerai bearing led se, aud placer gold fields. Rec-nt d,cOycre, IT Cataract gorge, north of the Bll WlIiilu' mountain, bid tar To rival in ms reNp1cr some of our older camps DurTg tae Nu'u- mer season persons uNung the Cataract re- gionS may procure "ouInl," and hnl th' place accessible from either Ash tar>, Wlll- lams or Flagstaff. The lack of proper m l. chinery tu treat the ores of th, section k q present the greatest draw back to m,nins
 interests. No mining Country O. like arc. can sh such uniform value in all ore pro i ducts as this portion of the lerrnory and th, amount ot ores now beIug shlpred to d,,tan ! .t,,,,ll .tI. ., proof that reduction wur ,s capable ui tIeu ing the refractory ores oi our mineral bearing localities would be profitable investment fol