Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-02-11

|
 fifteen miles in length, and passing 2 |
 mile south of the town, was constructed |
 during the year 1887
 This canal is capable of irrigating 140, l
 900 acres of land It is twenty-five feet
 wide at the bottom and thirty-six at the l
 top. Large crops are raised here every year, the average value of ton of hay being $10 i'll a home market. Two crops
 of fine favored grapes are raised in a
 single season. Vegetables, and fruits
 are cultivated with success, and always
 meet with ready sale and good profit.
 The curing of grapes would be profit
 able business here, as there are no heavy
 dews, and with little work large quanti- ties of grapes could be dried and sold
 here, or taken to the differ ent mining
 camps in the region tributary to Flor l ence.
 Many stock ranches are found within
 few miles from Florence all of which
 have fine stock. The principal occupa-
 tion of the residents of this valley being
 farming, every piece of ground which
 can be irrigated Is under cultivation.
 When the first settlement was made in 1867 this whole region was an immense
 forest with no inhabitants but Apaches.
 These murdering Indians committed
 depredations on the hite settlers, and
 for a period of years they had control of
 the valley. The pioneers appalled, by the
 dangers that surrounded them; having
 witnessed the murder or barbarous treat
 ment of their companions, were even
 afr aid to venture out of their homes after
 nightfall But now that settlers have
 f1ocked in from all parts, the pioneers
 enjoy peace and happiness, and delight
 to tell of the dangers they endured years
 ago, when the redmen were the owners
 of this fertile land. Numerous improve
 ments have been made since that time;
 20O0 inhabitants having immigrated here.
 1000 buildings, principally of adobe, have been erected, some of them being of handsome designs. The public school,
 built in 1886, Is a well constructed frame building two stories high The Florence
 courth ouse is substantial and commo- dious adobe structure, with shingle roof, plain but commodious building. The Catholics have also erected large : church. There are at present six saloons, one hotel and five stores, all of which are } doing good business. A railroad is all we need to make this hourishing place. Many wild animals are found in near l y all O110 lduR6S H1OIOuOO' 5 The grizzly bear inhabit the White Fort Apache. The cinnamon, the black and the brown bear are found in every
 range of any size ill the territory. Some ! fine specimens of the elk family are also : found in the ravines and glens of the l San Francisco and Sierra Blanca ranges. 3 The roar of the California lion is heard r in all of the mountainous regions of Ari- ! zona. The antelope is found in the T grassy plains and valleys. The coyote . or prairie wolf roams over the deserts, f plains, and mssas, and his shr1ll yelp is heard from the Sonora line to the Utah r border. Another species of the wolf 8 family iphabits some of the mountain , ranges. It is fierce animal and does e not hesitate to make prey of full grown calves, colts and other domestic animals l that may happen to stray in its path. s The beaver makes his home in the streams . of the Mogollon and White mountains, l also along the Verde the Little Colorado, . the Upper Gila, the San Pedro and Salt rivers. The Arizona beaver Is not as h large as the northern beaver, and it's skin n is of m uch less value. In the elevated a rocks as we'll as in the desolate regious l. the big horn mountain sheep is dweller. 8 Of the smaller wild animals the wild cat J. Is the most dreadful foe. They attain a y large size and have all the fierce instincts e of their race. The jack rabbit" is J. found throughout Arizona, it's flesh be- o ing coarse and ta steless, but that of tho a smaller variety known as the ''cottor @ tail'' is as white and tender as that of { a chicken. This territory possesses large o and rich variety of the feathered tribe s The American eagle makes his home il e the lofty peaks of the principal ranges $ Wild ducks are found on the streams j. wild geese often visit part of the country ls coming from the coast distance O y about TO miles. The quail a beautiful e bird with flesh of delicious flavor, is al @ inhabitant of this country and seems t. h be rapidly increasing The mockinl l. bird with it's melodious voice is heart y wherever there is grove of trees or l, spring of water. Black birds are fount ,e every where. The hawk is met here also m where they attain large size. His tast -e for young chicks makes him an enemy t. e the farmer. The owl and the crow ar Ie dwellers of this territory from end t. m end. Larks, swallows, buntings, wrens
 grosbeaks and linnets are also found le The crane IS found i'll marshes and on tn e, streams throughout the valley. Anon 5. the reptiles found on the hills and noun of tains around Florence, the most poison of ous ones are the tarantula, the scorpion ar the centipede, and Gila monster. Thi Id reptile is of the lizard species covere es with scales and sometimes reaches tn
 length of two feet. Rattlesuakes ar st also found. The fishes of the Gila ar r, but few, though their number is increas et ing. A fish resembling sucker is foun B here. It is well favored, but very long as The Colorado salmon is also found i a this stream. Trout are found here i 10 abundance. In all the history of thi ,h valley there is no record of any earth D. quakes except the one in May, 1887, am s, that one, only lasting about thirt in seconds without doing any damage s, Fresh and healthy water is found through 8. out our valley, but I am very sorry t ,d say the male population does not seem of have much use for it.
 1g JULIA DEARMITT h. Florence, A. T. Age, 1G c. Yumn's Boom.
 n Our lovely village IS most adyantaoe