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

T 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea, with here and there a peak rising 10 an heighth of from 5000 to 5000 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 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 artiical 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 rain. fall begins in the month of June and lasts until Sep tember. IL comes in gentle showers and with admirable regularity, stimu- lating a wonderful growth in 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 6.ooo 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, planti z and gathering is bestowed upon the crop.
 The entire country Is singulIrly free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern hu,bandmln. There is growing demand for hay and many ranch. men find il more profitable to utlrze their growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curing It before the graln IS fully mnured.
 All that portion oi the griat 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 Yavapal county. The water supply is limited, and rigid economy will be required Tn the future. The scarcity of water in ArIZ Jna Is at pres ent safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded ra ges of other localities
 It is esentIally a country for the poor man or the stock grower beginning lie with mod crate means. The springs and tanks afford ing permanent water lle miles apart, gl"ns supply in each place sufficient Tor small band of from Ioo to 500 hGdd Of stock Around these water supplies lie hundreds oi squaie miles of nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which iS capable oi Keeping one animal throughout the year. By the con struction of the artificial basins and dikc' be. fore referred to, water may be saved aud utIl ized in proportion to the demands uf the in creasinp herds. The beef anl mutton from this secti ln command advanced PrIces in the markets of the adjacent cities. Our animals are not only marketable but in prime condi. ton during the year.
 The Atlantic X Pacific railway runs central. ly through this section east and west, ant the company own alternate sections oi land. They offer special inducements tp Capitalists or colonies requiring large blocks oi land and do not in thls section dispose ot quantities less than So,ooo acres. The remaining lands are subject to homestead and preemptlOn rights. The past two years show perceptt. ble increase in the filings and settlements oi these Government lands, but as vet they are practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this secti1n is Q miles wide and in length extends beyo d the lGnits of the Territory referred 10 Tn this article As whole it is larger thau the Stale oi Mary land, and an agreeable revelation 10 the Irlv- eler who, in keeping with the popular belIci oi our eastern neg bOr,, imdsiueo | cro'S ing Ariyt na fe is about io trdverse barren and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill Ill all these piieries finds q ready market in old Mexico Southern California and New Mexico, with Increa ing local de. mand. The railway towns and principal markets of this section are Holbrook, Wns low, Flagstaff, Williams and \Sh Fork. The relative merits of these towns need not here be discussed, being about equal in importance and each peopled with energetic, roSt tIitlble and progressive citizens.
 Schools, churches and sncial amuSementS prevail. The interest manifested in all mat. ters pertaining to social progress is p:rhip' greater than m eastern towns OI like numbers.
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclimated, there is no sickness. Fevers and all forms of maltr Il diseases are unknown. ArizDna's least :ed Is dactor,
 The southern and central portion of YIva pal county Is rich in mineral bearing ledscS and placer gold fields. Recent discoVerie, Tn Cataract gorge, north of the Bill Williams mountain, bid fair 10 rival in me respects some of our older camps Duung the sum mer season persons visiting the Cataract re- gions may procure "Outhl," and lind the place accessible from either Ash tJrH, Wiil- jams or Flagstaff. The lack of nrpp.r mt- chinery to treat the ores of this sectlJh is al present the greatest draw btck to inning interests. No mining 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 being shipped to distant works for treatment should be SulNtaniial proof that reduction works capable of treat ing the refractory ores of our mineral bearing localities would be profitable investment for