The Arizona champion., 1886-05-01
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Cliuate, Soil, and Productions.-A General Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to this part of Arixona.

Climate. Soil, and Productions.-AG General
 Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to
 this part of Arixona.
 This portion of Arizona is a vast plateau, varying in altitude from 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea, with here and there peak rising to an heighth of from 9, 1000 to I3,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ- ated with remarkable regularity throughout the central portion ol 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 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 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 10000 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. ton is not required, and no other labor be. oypl shA ,,f fha Snn ,,I. ptin and gathering, is bestowed upon the crop.
 The entire country is singularly free from farm weeds and obnoxious growth that are the bane of the Eastern husbandman. There is sgrowing demand for hay, and many ranch men find it more profitable to utilize thelr growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curing 1t before the graln Is fully malured. All that portion oi the grlat 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 iequred Tn the future, The scarcity of water in Aril ma Is at pres ent safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from the crowded raiges of other localities
 l. is essentially country for the poor man or the stock grower beginning lie with mod crate means. The springs and tanks afford ing permanent water lie miles apart, giving a supply in each place sufficient for q small band of from 100 to 500 head of stock. Around these water supplies lie hundreds oi square miles of nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which ls capable of keeping | one animal throughout the year. By the con struction of the artificial basins and dike, be. fore referred to, water may be saved and util zed in proportion to the demands of the in creasing herds. The beef and mutton from this secti m command advanced prices in the markets of the adjacent cities. Our animal> arc not only marketable but i, prime condi ton during the year.
 The Atlantic X Pacific railway runs central lv through this section east and west, and the company own alternate sections of land. They offer special jnduceme tS to capitalists or colonies requiring large blocks ofland. and do not in this section diSpose of quantitie, | less than 10000 acres. The remaining lands are subject to homestead and precmption rights, The past two y.ar, show aperceptl- ble ipcrease in the filings and settlements o | ! these Government lands, but as vel they are practically untouched,
 The pine forest of this section > Go miles wide and in length extends bryo q ihe limits of the Territory referred to IU thi, article As whole il is larger thau the Sl4le oi Mary land, and an agreeable revelation tu the tray | eler who, ID keeping with the popular btlieI Of opr easlyrn nels bors, lmaglnes |, cross l ing Arizona he Is about to tlaverse barren | and sandy waste.
 The lumber product of the one great saw mill Ill all these pi cries linda read! market ID Old Mexico Southern California and New Mexico, with increasing local dc 1 mand. The railway towns and principal 1 markets of thls sectlon are HolbloQk, Wins low, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork Tn, relative merits of these towns need not her, be discHssed bring about equal m ngporlance and each peopled with energetic, hospltabl, and progressive citizens.
 | Schools, churches and social amusemen,> prevail. The interest manifested in all mat ! ters pertaining to social progress is perhap, greater tban in eastern towns of like niIipbers | Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acclimatea, there is no sickness. | Fevers and all forms of lnalariil disea,ps arc 1 unkpown. Arizona's least need Is ductor, Tbe southern and eeniral portion of Yava pal county is rich in wlueral bearing ledge, and placer gold fields. Regent dscoverle, iu Cataract gorgs, north of the Bll Williams, mountain, bid far to rival in me respects some of cur older camps. During the sum mer season persons visiting the Cataract re gions may procure "outhts" and ind the place accessible from either Ash Fork, Will -