The Arizona champion., 1886-05-08
CENTRAL ARIZONA.
Climate, Soil, and ProductiOns.--A General Answer to Many Inquiries Relative to this part of Arizona.

plateau, varying Tn altitude from 5000 to 1000 feet above the sea, with here and there a peak rising to an heighth of from o,ooo to I3,ooo feet. These higher elevations, situ- ated with remarkable regularity throughout the central portion ot 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, Tn the construction of artificial 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 rain. fall 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 a 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 O. excellent quality, commanding price in the "home market that to an Eastern or Northwestern farmer would seem fabulous. Although Io,ooo 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. Culiiva. ton is not required, and no other labor be oynd the preparation of the soil, planting 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 growing demand for hay, and many ranch men find II more profitable to ulIlize their growing crops for that purpose by cutting and curing 1t before the gram k fully ml,ured.
 All that portion oi the griat pll'eau above 6,ooo feet Is covered with magnificent forests of pine, with intervening glades of mountain parks and praries, Grazing lS the leading industry of the northern portion of lavapal county. The water supply Is limited, and rigid economy will beIe lured Tn the future | The scarcity of water in Ariz ma Is at pres ent safeguard against our ranges being overrun by herds from ;he croWe.d ra ngeN of other localities
 It is essentially q country for the poor man or the stock-grower begnnlng lie wltn mod crate means. The springs and talks afford ing permanent water le miles apart, giving a supply in each place sufficient for small band of from 100 10 500 head of stock | Around these water supplies lie hundreds Of square miles of nutritious mountain grasses, any ten acres of which is capable of keeping one anlmal throughout the year. By the con structlun of the artificial bI,lns and dlkeS be- | fore referred to, water may be saved and utIl 1 ized in proportion to the demands of the in creasing herds. The beef and mu,ton from this secti ln command advanced prices in the markets of the adaceB, cities. Our animals are not only marEetab,c OUt li prlmc cOnul- tion during the year.
 The Atlantic & Pacific railway runs central | lv through this section east and west, and the company own alternate >ecuuHs of land. | They offer special indg ceme"ts lu Capitalists or colomes requiring la, 5e blpc<s oi lInd and | do not in thiS section dispose of quanuurs less than 5o,ooo acres. The remdinln5 lands are subject to homes,ead and Precmpuou rights. The past two Years shoW percepu ble increase in the filings and settlement, ol these Government lands, but as yet they atc practically untouched,
 | The pine forest of this section k Go mile, wide and in length extends beyo d ihe llml> of the Territory referred to m this article | As a whole il Is larger lhau the StIte ot Mary 1 land, and an a. lreeaUle revelation to the tray eler who, in keeping with the popplar b-liel of our eastern neIg bor,, lmagnes cross | ing Arizona he is about To lIdycrsc d barren and sandy waste
 The lpmber product of the one great saw mill ln all these piuerIeS hnds a ready market in old Mexico, southern Califqrnla and New Mexico, with increasing local de mand. The railway towns and principal markets of this section are llolbrook, Wins. low, Flagstaff, Williams and Ash Fork The relative merits of these towns need no, here be discussed, being about equal in importance and each Peopled with energetic, hospllable and progressive citizens.
 | Schools, churches and social amusements prevail. The interest manifested in all mat lers pertaining to social progress is perhaps greater than Tn eastern towns of like numbers
 Aside from pulmonary complaints among those not acchmated, there is no sickness Fevers and all forms of malarial diseases are unknown. Arizonas least need is doctors The southern and central portion of Yava pal county is rich in mineral bearing ledge, and placer gold fields. Recent discoverles in Cataract gorge, north pf the Bill Williams mountain, bid fair to rival in some respects some of our older camps. Durng the sum mer season persons visiting the Cataract re gions may procure "outits" and find the place accessible from either Ash Fork, Will