Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-11-17
COL. HOoKER's ENTERPRISE.
Tho Prospects of Great Success fin Fat tening Cattle.
 1Phpnix n zptt. l

Tho Prospects of Great Success fin Fat
 tening Cattle.
 PheniX Gazette.
 Col. Hooker, president of the Sierra Bonita cattle company, one of the most extensive cattle breeders ill Ari- zona, and gentleman thoroughly familiar with all the details essential to success in that rapidly increasing businessN arrived at the Hatch ranch some time>S since driving 200 head of fine young steers, which he proposes to fatten for the San Francisco markets. Having had the pleasure of years of acquaintance with MT. Hooker, and knowing him to be s.ockman of great experience, we visited the gentleman at the ranch for the purpose of ascer- taining his views upon the undertak- ing inaugurated by him.
 Col. Hooker says that provided> the cattle breeders of Arizona can purchase hay in this valley at reasonable, prices, the fattening of cattle for the beef markets of the Pacific coast in this valley will become one of its lead ing industries; that as far as his ob servations has extended the country Is admirably adapted for fattening cat tie, and that the cattle breeders of the various sections of Arizona will drive their saleable steers here to prepare them for market.
 MT. Hooker has l 200 head of fine young steers in this valley preparing them for the California markets, and has purchased in the neighborhood of ,0O0 tons of alfalfa hay to feed them on should the occasion require it.
 The stock was driven from his mag nihcent ranch in Graham county, known as the Sierra Bonita ranch, nine miles west of Fort Grant, and the cost per head for driving is given by the gentleman as follows:
 Labor, twelve days at SIS per day, $216.
 Hay en route, $154.
 Barley, $25.
 Making $395, or 40 cents per head.
 Thus it will be seen that driving cat tie for feeding and fattening purposes from the most remote sections of Ari- zona to the Salt river valley is not only profitable but can be done at a trifling cost.
 Col. Rockers cattle arrived in fine condition, and are without doubt the 1 best lot of beef steers ever seen in this valley. The gentleman has an inn mense herd on his extensive ranch, and being an experienced and practi- cal cattleman, has been breeding "up" his herd for several years until to-day he has the finest bred large herd of cattle on the coast, and after a few months of feeding on our green alfalfa | fields, his beeves will command the highest prices in the San Francisco markets
 This Is apparently new departure and opens up large and successful industry in this valley, and it behooves our farmers to give such men as MT Hooker all the encouragement possi ble, as by so doing splendid market will be opened for the sale of their al falfa hay, which grows and thrives ir this valley almost beyond all reason In all the history of the world no coun try extant has ever approached tht Salt river valley in its wonderful pro duct of alfalfa. The fact of the mat ters where water is found abundance and it can be raised in almost un limited quantities, and its quality is 0 the best.
 Six cuttings yearly can be obtained with sufficiency of water and aften tion. Thus it can be easily seen tha there is really more money, greate profit and less uncertainty in raising alfalfa thanin any other product, 0 which this valley has many.
 Thus 1t will be seen by our farmer that new and splendid industry i being inaugurated in our midst, ant one which they should encourage b, every reasonable means.
 Col. Hooker informs us that he will if successful in this, his first venture drive and feed in this valley at leas from 5000 to 10000 head annually This in connection with Mr. Vail an, others who are now preparing to d likewise, will make ready market fo every ton of hay cut in the Salt rive valley, and every ton that can possibl be produced in the future. Gradual, but surely this valley is going forwar on its march of development and pro gress. The hand of thrift and plent has laid its caressing touch upon tn . sunny slopes of Maricopa, and unde the benign influence of willing hand and courageous hearts the barren acre of our limitless domain will bud, blool 3 and blossom.