The Clifton clarion., 1888-07-25
SAFFORD.
The Oldest Settlement in the County of Graham-An Inter- esting Letter on Its Settle
 ment, Resources, Etc.

Stafford is one of the oldest set dement's in the county, and de- rived its name from Governor Stafford. It is in Graham county, and is located on the Gladsen Treaty Purchase, one mile south of the Gila river. It is situated only few miles from the inter- section of the 33d parallel of lati tude with 33d degree of longitude; and was the county seat until the spring of 1883. The county seat was then removed to Solomonville, five miles distant. The nearest railroad station is Bowie, which is forty miles south. A daily stage passes through Stafford from Bowie, also Fit. Thomas.
 The altitute is $500 feet above the sea level. The two extremes of the thermometer are 112 deg. in the shade and 9S or 109 above zero. The average rain fall is 12 inches and the snow fall in the valley is very slight.
 Twelve miles north is the Gila mountain range running nearly parallel to the river. Mt. Ora ham, which is the third highest peak in the territory, lies about seven miles west. Its height is 10,576 feet. Stafford is in the Pue- bio Viejo valley, which is thirty five miles long, and from six to ten miles in width. The valley IS level, beng covered mostly with mesquite, and can boast of a nat ural curiosity in the form of the Hot Springs, twelve miles below Stafford.
 The nearest Indian reservation is San Carlos, .ffty-seven miles west. The tribes on the reserva- ton are the Yumas, Tontos and Mojaves. There are some off the reservation, and the number on is uncertain as there have been so many removals in the last year.
 The last raid was about two years ago.
 In minerals the surrounding mountains are rich, containing, gold, silver, copper and iron.
 Agriculture and stockraising are the principal occupations of the people. Flour and lumber are the only articles manufactured.
 All crops are raised by irriga- tion. The soil is generally fertile and often after harvesting the small grain corn is planted, the same ground yielding two crops in one year.
 Fruits, such as apples, peaches, figs, plums, pears, quinces, grapes, apricots, and such berries as black berries, strawberries, and rasp- berries are successfully raised.
 Stafford was first settled by J. C.. Glosby in 1874, who IS also the oldest inhabitant. He was born in Saratoga, New York, and is sixty years of age. He is en- gagged in the mercantile business.
 There are in Stafford two stores, schoolhouse, gristmill, postofice and blacksmith shop. The dwell ing houses number about thirty three, and are constructed chiefly of adobe.
 The most common varieties of trees are oak, pine, cottonwood, willow, mesquite, walnut, ash, cedar and hackberry.
 There are several varieties of cactus, including tree, night blooming, yucca or Spanish bayo- net and prickly pear.
 The domestic an1mals are horses, sheep cattle, goats, hogs, mules and burros, and among the wild animals are bear, mountain lion, coyote, wildcat, fox, beaver and raccoon. Wild birds are numer- ous, of which may be mentioned, linnet, two kinds of red birds, bluejay, meadow-lark, quail, wood becker, pigeon, dove, owl, hawk and crow.