Arizona weekly citizen., 1889-05-04
ARIZONA.

| and bounded Dy NeFdud duu V edh OI
 the north, New Mexico on the east,
 Mexico on the south and California and
 Nevada on the west, being separated
 from these two states by the Colorado
 river. It constitutes a portion of the
 territory ncquired by the United States
 from Mexico in 1S4S; a strip along its
 southern border having been acquired
 from that country few years later un-
 der what is known as the Gadsden pur-
 chase. Arizona was organized as Ter
 ritory in 1863. Assessed value Of taxa
 ble property in 1887, 76,313,5O0. Popu-
 lation, 9OOOO whites and 35,OOo Indians.
 The Pimas and Maricopas, who number
 about 4OOO, and occupy reservation or
 64.OOO acres on the Gila river, live by the cultivation of the land and are par tially civilized, as are also the Moquls
 and the Zunis living on the north. | These latter tribes not now numerous,
 were by the Spaniards called Pueblo h.
 dians. from the fact that they inhabit- pueblos or towns. The Papagos num-
 bering about 4OOO and living near the Mexican line, are also somewhat civil ized, cultivating the land to some extent and owning much stock. The Utes, al small tribe, inhabit the country adjacent to the Upper Colorado. The Mojaves, more numerous, live along that river further down, the Hualapais, 1,5OO in number, occupying the country to the east of the Mojaves. The Iumas, an other small tribe make their homes along the Colorado and the Gila rivers. The Yavapais and the Apaches, number ing about 5000, are but little civilized, and before being reduced to subIectlon were nomadic in their habits. They have now been nearly all gathered on reservations, large areas of land having been set aside for the use of these and the other tribes mentioned. The Apaches, a savage and warlike race, whose depredations on the settlers and miners have done much to retard the progress of the territory, have at last been so effectually subdued that further serious trouble with them is not appre- hended. The Navaios, the most intelli- gent, enterprising and prosperous of these aborigines, number about l5,OOO souls and contrary to the general rule are on the increase. They cultivate the land and own 10000 horses, some neat cattle and 100000 sheep.
 Middle and Northern Arizona may be considered an elevated tableland, the country having mean elevation of 4,5OO feet, though more depressed further south. The whole Territory is noun | tainous, the ranges being much broken up and running in every directions though the most of them have north and south strike with often a southwest trend. They rise from three to five thou sand feet above the common level Of the country with peaks that reach an alti- | tude of 13,O00 feet above sea level. Gen. orally these mountains are not steep their lower slopes consisting of not very elevated foothills. In some cases, how ever, their sides are precipitous and rocky. While there are many consider | able streams issuing from the noun | tains, there are but few large rivers in Arizona, the only two of any size being | the Colorado and the Gila, the former | nayigable for small streams for 400 miles above its mouth. There are no lakes, | though shallow ponds, some of which cover a considerable area, gather Tn many places during the wet season. With the cessation of the rains they soon dry up as do also many of the noun | tain streams, aridity being one of the characteristics of the Arizona climate. July and August is here the wet season, very little rain falling during the other months of the year. The average annual rainfall does not exceed 20 inches, the average in the southwestern part of the territory being less than five. The Arizona summer is hot-at lower attitudes exceedingly so, though Tn the mountains where most of the mines are situated, the heat is not extreme. For eight months in the year neither the heat nor the cold is oppressive, except in a few localities, as at very low or very high attitudes. The climate is every where notoriously healthy. Most of the mountains in the central and northern part of the territory are we'll timbered with pine and other coniferous trees; cottonwood, sycamore and willow grow along the streams, with sometimes mes quite and variety of other trees on the foothills and plains, the growth here, when there is any, being always sparse. Abundant crops of grain vegetables and fruits of all kinds can be grown in the valleys and even on much of the up lands of Arizona with the aid of irriga- ton. This territory affords an immen- sity of natural pasturage, the native grasses, mostly of the bunch varieties, growing almost everywhere. Large numbers of horses, cattle and sheep are
 kept in the country, stock as well as
 wool growing being an extensive and | profitable business.
 Valuable deposits of gold, silver and
 copper occur in almost every mountain
 range of Arizona, the country being al
 so rich in iron, gypsum, lead and coal.
 The total value of the metallic products
 of Arizona amounts to about Sc0,O0O,OOO,
 divided as follows 10 per cent;
 silver 6Oper cent; copper 2S per cent;
 lead per cent. The metals produced
 in 1888 consisted of s1,OOO,O0O in gold;
 s2,OOo,OOO silver; s2.5O0,0OO copper cop
 per and lead, mostly copper, the output | of this metal having amounted for the
 year to 33,OOO,OO0 pounds. F. Mining | Journal.
 | NY co%,.6al tbat tho r1aOpla Of