The Arizona champion., 1886-05-08

Climate, Soil, and Producticns.--A General
 Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to
 this part of Arizona.
 This portion of Arizona is a 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 9,ooo to Is,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ, ated with remarkable regularity throughout the central portion oi 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 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 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 milIet are grown without irrigation, yielding an adun, dant and profitable crop. Cotn 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 ot excellent quality, commanding price in the "home market" that to an Eastern or Northwestern farmer would seem fabulous. Although Io,occ 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, 1t has never bter supplied By the home production. Culdta ton is not required, and no other labor he | oynd the preparation of the soil, planting and gathering, is bestowed upon the crop. The entire country is Singularly free iron | farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern husbaudman. There is growing demand for hay. and many ranch men find 1t more profitable to utilize theil growing crops for that purpose by cutting ana curing it before the grain Is fully matured.
 Ali that portion ot the grat pll'eau above | (, 900 feet IS covered with magnificent forest, of pine, with intervening glades of mountain parks and praries, Gra6lng Is the leading | industry of the northern portion Of YavaPa county. The water supply IS limited, and rigid economy will be required m the future | The scarcity of water in Arlz ,na Is at pres ent a safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded ranges of other localities
 It is esentlally country Tor the poor man or the stock-grower beginning lie with mod crate means. The springs and tanks afford ing permanent water he miles apart, glving a supply in each place sufficient for small band of from 100 to 500 head of stock | Around these water supplies he hundreds oI square 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 bIsIRs and GiSeI be fore referred to, water may be saved and utl | ized in proportion to the demands of the in creasing herds. The beef and mutton iron this secti ,n command advanced prices in the markets of the adjacent cnres. Our animal' are not only marketable Dut ih rlme cOndi ton during the year.
 The Atlantic X Pacific railway runs central ly through this section east and west, anu the company own alternate Seet'o's ~ land They offer special inducements Co capitalist or colonies requiring large blocks of land anc 1 do not in thlS section dispose of quanlIlie' less than so,ooo acres. The remaining land' are subject to homestead and prGemptor rights. The past two years show Percefh ble increase in the filings and settlements O these Government lands, but as yet they ar' practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section Is Go mRe' wide and in length extends beyond the limit of the Territory referred to m this article | As whole il is larger thau the State oi Mary land, and an agreeable revelation to the traV- eler who, in keeping with the popular belle of our eastern neig borS, imagines cross ing Arizona he is about to traverse q barreT and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill Ill all these pinerIes hndS read, market in Old Mexico, Southern Calfornl' and New Mexico, with ,icreasing local de mand. The railway towns and prnclpa i markets of this section are tiolbrook, Wins low, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork. Th' relative merits of these towns need not her' be discussed, being about eqpsl in importance and each peopled with energetic, hoSpItabi' and progressive citizens.
 schools, churches and social amusement l preysil. The interest manifested in all mat Iers pertaining to social progress is perhaps preater than in eastern towns Of like numbers
 Aside from pulmonary compla'nts among those not acclimated, there is no sickness Fevefs and all forms of n,llaridl diseases arr unknown. Arizona's least need is doctors The southern and central portion Of fava pal county is rich ia mneral-bearing ledge and placer gold fields. Recent discoveries " Cataract gorge, north of iae Bill WiihAr' moantain, bid fan Co rival in some respeet' some of our older camps Durrg the.sum- nher srason persons visiting the Cataract re- | A. E4..l q h.