Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-03-13
JUDGE AXrELL'S LETTER.
The Pioneer JuTist writes Of His Jsunt
Through New Mexico and Arizona

The Pioneer SuI1st writes CT LAS :" """'
Through New Mexico and Arizona
To the Editor OF the New Mexican
PHGNIx, A. T., March ll.-To redeem
my promise ! will write you short letter
descriptive of what l have seen since
leaving Santa Fee lett there on the
night of Thursday last and arrived In
Deming at o'clock on the evening OF
Friday. Called on my old friend, Judge
Bristol. He has been quite i'll with throat
trouble, but is now much better. lie is
confined mostly to his home, but attends
not only to his own business but to that
also of some of his clients. AS al illustra-
ton OF his indomitable will, when he
found his hand trembling too much to
write he sent for type writer. He said
"lf my hand does tremble too much to
guide pen can manageto hit the keys"
Such will power, l believe, will sustain
him for many year for further useful
ness. At 5 O'Clock the same afternoon |
took the Southern Pacific, arrived at Ma
ricopa the next morning at 5 O'Clock, and
by branch railroad here at 5 o'clock,
thirty-seyen miles north from the South
ern Pacific. From Maricopa here the
country is level and treeless. We cross
the ella, and the Salt river, nearly as
large branch OF the CHA. We first come
to very pleasant American village called
Tempe, nine miles from here, when we
cross Salt river. Phoenix is the county
seat of Maricopa county and now also the
capital of the territory. The legislature
is now in session here. This is an incor-
porated city with a population of about
| 1000. 1t has three daily newspapers and
| one weekly. 1t has street car railroad
and electric lights; fine court house,
town hall and graded public school, all OF
brick, all fine buildings. 1t has two large
and many small hotels. 1t is lighted by
gas, and has pipes on all the main streets
| ready to be laid for water works. There
are are also two manufactures OF artificial
ice, one planning mill. several Touring
mills and many repair shops. 1t ISIS busy
American town. The land hero and for
a long distance about here is absolutely
level, with fall say of $50 feet in twelve
miles. The altitude of the town is 100
feet. The valley is more like a great
plain 1t is about fifty by fifteen miles
bordered by low rocky peaks. There are
seven principal canals. The Arizona is
the largest. 1t is completed and cost
about s70O, 0C0. 1t is forty-one miles long
thirty-six feet wide at bottom and fifty
eight ut top with an average depth OF
seven and one-half feet. This canal runs
at the highest edge Of the valley at about
$50 feet above the level OF the city
1t supplies the other canals whel
they need help. The water system
of the valley seems to be perfect
There are no distressing winds, and
have not seen wind mill. Alfalfa is d
foot high, the fields are green, peach
trees in bloom, and men working in thell
shirt sleeves. There is some cold i'll win
ter, but am told the thermometer never
shows below 20 degrees, and that only 10
q very short time. The summers are sail
to be very warm during June to October
when the people say they all sleep out 0
doors. The cottonwood grows along ali
the acequia bitches and, planted as fence
posts, grow into trees. Lots in the city ar
very high, 50xl00 from ~, 600 to IS 900; Oh
side lands are held from $50 to $3.50 pc
acre. Many immigrants are coming an
much land held by spectators. Shout
any of our friends desire further particu
lars | would advise them to correspon
with l. W. Evans, ESQ.,, real estate an
loans, Il gentleman who ID perfectly IL
formed as to the resources OF this wonder
full valley. am frank to say that for
winter residence this seems to me yer
desirable place. 1t is not beautiful lik
our beautiful Santa Ee, for it is too leve
1t is obscured by its alamos trees, now /
full leaf There is no great beauty in lC
cation without rise and fall, hill and dale
!. but hundreds of acres i'll alfalfa can b
flooded without making borders or going 0
with hoe. Alfalfa loose is not wort
more than "A or IS per ton. The cattl
are fat and plenty of large horses, e1
, ceptionally fine, and not above $500 pc
pair. The farmers do not shoe thei
Horses, the inhabitants are principal
from the northwestern states, some tror
California and some from Canada. {
course the nonresident Spectator is
draw back The population OF the vale
is not over 10000; when it is 100000
will not be full. The present need is
railroad to connect with the A. q
north. This could be to Prescott or Flai
staff in about 100 to lao miles. The
how easy to come to Santa Fe. And a
at present certainly, they are quite too #
from us to be neighborly. This mort
railroad willcertainly be built at an earl
date, and this great valley will not on
be a pleasure garden to its inhabitan
but will be winter resort for many OF il
northern neighbors. We OF Santa I
can entertain them in the summer, m
how pleasantly they can return the con
pliment in the winter. Rents here a
very high, 1880 per year on a six ye
lease for good corner room, and $75 p
month for shop on main street. lntere
also high no usuar law money wor
- IL per cent per month. hope to wri
you again from lndio, when am 200 fe
, below the ocean level. S. Z. AXTELL.
Syrup OF Figs