Mohave County miner., 1889-10-19
4 Frsspsessrs N.sss y ne way.

Arizona ia country Of great contrasts.
Leaving Kingman on the 1st Of May the
cattle were in fine condition and the grass
abundent, arriving at Cottonwood creek .
complete change took place, the road for
ssveral miles ascended to plateau and
every thing looked AZ though it were at
least two months earlier in the season,
the grass just starting, the stock in poor
condition and the weather quite cold. this
continued to Prescott. Prescott has
changed but little since was there three
years ago, indeed it il not near 10 lively
ss Il was then. The situation Of the town
IL most pleasant, being in basin sur
rounded by pine clad mountains, and
must have delightful summer climate.
At present it seems 10 be taking D rest.
From Prescott the country descends rap
idly through rough mountain country
until, reaching the Salt river valley, it
passes over an an open plain for about
thirty miles. This spring there was no
rain and the plain looked parched and
vegetation dried up.
Approaching Phoenix with its green
trees and fields the contrast was delight
ful. On this side about ten miles crossed
the Arizona ditch, 1t is whopper. There
was little water in it but when full good
sized vessel could run on it. Between
this and the next ditch there was an in
terval Of six miles, there was but little
cultivation between these bitches. Cross
| ing the second ditch the road for four or
FIVE miles passes through dense settle
ment. shaded by cottonwood trees. The
principal crops Of Phoenix arc alfalfa and
cottonwood trees, and nowhere in the
world do they grow more luxuriantly, it
is true there are other crops but these are
the leading ones. As you pass by each
house you will zee small orchard and
vineyard moro or less attended to. The
trees and vines look thrifty but l did not
zee that they were attempting to grow
fruit on commercial scale. The town
OF Phoenix has improved q great deal
since my last visit, but what surprised
me most was the great stock Of goods dis
played in the stores, at first could rot
see anything to justify this as the settle
ment had not grown in proportion and
the exceedingly low price OF everything
produced. for want OF market, did not
seem 10 require such stock, but ] subse-
quently learned that the growth OF the
town il quite independent Of the valley.
Phoenix is drawing trade from an i'm.
mense extent Of country. tits undoubt-
edly the cheapest place to buy supplies
in the Territory People tell me there
has been no boom, which ] can well be,
lieve, as the most eloquent Of real estate
agents could hardly make a tenderoot
see fortune in a few acres Of alfalfa al
% per ton for hay, or in grain at fifty OF
sixty cents per 100 los.
| saw pamphlet describing the Salt
river valley, among other things It assert
ed that the climate was unriyalled and
that crops and fruit were two weeks earli
er than in California. As TO the climate
it may be described as semi-torrid, with
the possible exception Of Yuma and the
Needles it is the hottest place in America
in the summer. The winter climate II
no doubt fine, but it has another great
drawback, the water is very disagreeable
to stranger, dissolve an ounce OF epson
salts in gallon OF water and you have
the taste exactly.
There was an experiment tried las
winter which, il it had succeeded, would
! have been Of immense value to the valley
/. Several thousand head Of stock were driv
> en- from the ranges to fstten for marke
. but II was found that range cattle woult
not thrive on alfalfa, It required too muci
time, the experiment was failnre ans
' all who tried it lost money.
!, A. c. LoNGMoRE
.