The Arizona champion., 1886-01-30
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate. Soil, and Prod actions.--A Fienorr Answer to IIuy inIuiries Relative ( this part of Arizona.


 wtth here and there peak rising 70 an heighth of from o,ooo to I3,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ- ated with remarkable regularity throughout the central portion of Yavapai county, are a local and con stant source of moisture to the adiic- eat 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 imonths 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 artifical basins and a system of dikes that will be used to catch a portion of the escaping waters and it will eventually be hoarded up and used with the sime economy and care by which we subdue and bring U our aid any other useful element.
 The annual rain.fall begIns in the month Of June and lasts until Sep tember. It comes in gentle showers a d with admirable regularity, stimu. lltinI a wonderful growth in re. markablc short period time. Wheat, rye, oats, barley and miIlet are grown without irrigation, yielding an adun- dant and profitable crop. Corn is successfully grown in the valleys and blS,ns below an altitude of 6 900 feet. All kinds of root vegetables flourish and grow to enormous size and are ol excellent qrllIty, commanding a price in the "homc market" that to an Eastern or Northwestern farmer would seem fabulous. Although 10000 pounds of potatoes per acre is but an average yield. such Is the local demand from our adjicent mining camps, saw mills and railway towns, it has never been | supplied by the home production. CultiVs- 1 tlun is not reluyul, and no othsr lahOr be. oynd the preparation of the soil. pianti z and gathering k bstowe,l up n the crop. The oaGre cOrIEyy is singllarly free from ! farm weeds and oUnoxI)us growth that arc the b,ne of the Eastern hu'bl ,drnln. There l IS growing demand for hay, and many ranch mn hni it more profitable 10 utilize their growing crops for that purpose ny cutting and clring il before the gram rs fdly mnured. Al! that portion ol the grIN plrcau above 6oo0 feet Is covered with magnificent foreSts | of pine, with teryening eiadeS of mountin | parks and praries, Grirng Is the leadm,, | industry of the rothem postion pf Yavap,i county. The water sappiy is lmtcd, and | rigid economy wIIl be Ieqaired ln the future. l The scarcity Of water in ArE ma is at pres enl safe gulri against our ranges being oyerrun by herds from the crowded raages | 4 other lJcalri:s
 IL is esenuaiiy country for the poor man or the stock grower bss2Ouin. lie win mod. crate m.an.. The springs and tanks afford. ] ing permanent wite. lie mAe' apart, giving a supply in cscl place ,rdrsent for small b,ul Of from 100 to 5oo head of stock l Ar1uud th--e water SaI p'iOs lie hundrcd, oI | ,luuc miles oi nutril1u, mountain grasses. 1 lny ten acre. of which IS capable of keeping I
 ,,ruc ion of the artiissi basins and dt,es be. | EGe rsierr<o water may De saved and uiil. iL.d n proportion to Inc demands of the in o.sssng herds The beef anl muson from .,ii, s,c.i .l c,nn.ni advanced prices in inc
 .glcs> oi thc ijbciG cItei, Oar animal
 V. not O -ly mar& 'ie but il prime condi
 ii1n during the war.
 Th= Atlantic & Pacific railway runs central | lv through this section east and west, and the c1myany own alternate sections of land l They U,icr special inrlaeeme t- 10 capitalist.
 pr coIoniea rsIuiring large bloc,Ss ofland. and 1 b n.t in thls SeclLIn diSpose of quanttie.
 s.ss than 50 900 acrcs. The remaining land, are subject to homestead and presnptIor rights. The past two y-ars show percepu ble increase in the filings and settlements ot these C vcrnment lands, but as yet they arc
 practically untouched,
 The pine forest oi this section Is 0 mile, ! vide and in length extends beyo dthe limit. of the Territory referred to In this article
 As a whole Il Is larger thau th. State of Mary land, and an agreeable revelation to the trav- eler who, in Lceplng with the popular bale
 of our eastern ncis bors, imagines la cross Ing Arin.na te is about to traverse barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw
 mill rn all these piaeries fnds a read, market in Old Mexico, Southern Californla and New Mexico, with increasing local de
 uaad. The railway towns and principal
 markets of this section are iIolbrook, Wins low, Flavs;lH, Williams and Ash Fork. The relative msrt. of these towns need not here be discussed, being about equal in importance and each pooPIcd slth energetic, hospi,abit and progressive citizens.
 Schools. churches and social amusements | prevail. The interest manifested in all mat. ! ters pertaining to social progress is perhap, greater than m eastern towns of like numbers
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclimued, there is no sickness
 Fevers and all forms 1f maIaril diseases are unknown. Anzona's least need is doctors
 The southern aud central portion of Yava i pal county is rich in mnerll'bearlng ledses and placer gold fields. Recent discoveries m Cataract gorge, north of the Bill William, Ianountnn, ind far to rival in Ime respect. some of our olIer camps. Durl'g the sun- mer season persons vIsiting the Cataract re-
 ,ionS may procure "outits" anl find the l place accessible from either Ash ForN, Will, Ia,ns or Flsgstaf The lack of proper ma chlaery to treat the ores of this see;ton is al | present the greatest draw buck to mining interests. No mining c5uotry of like area eau show such uniform value in all ore pro duets as this portion of the territory. and ths amount oi ores nov beIng shipped to distant works for treatment should be substantial 1 proof that reduction work. capable of treat | ing the refractory ores of our mineral bearing localities would be profitable investment fol it's founders. There are no hostile Indian, In thi, p rlion of dcizona.
 1 7he land IS strewn with the ruined habita- ,ions and relics of prehistoric races. High