Arizona republican., 1890-06-15
ON THE CURBSTONE.


 ON THE CURBSTONE.
 "WHAT are termed special products will yet be relied on in the Salt River Valley to furnish the major part of the profit derived from agriculture" said an old resident to me the other day. By the term special products l mean those crops, peculiar to and successfully grown in but few localities. This valley offers favorable conditions of climate and soil to many such. Olives are being given thorough test and will no doubt do we'll though the tree is a slow one to come into bearing. Pomegranates, de- licious and large, can be produced cheaper than apples in Missouri. This fruit is deservedly popular wherever known, sells at high prices and has the advantage of not needing to be marketed when picked. Indeed, a pomegranate is best when it has been off the bush for a month. Prunes, especially the Golden Drop, are decided success, while almonds and walnuts have done well in every instance tried. Oranges, lemons, bananas, figs, are all well adapted to the valley. Pampas grass, semi-tropical shrubs for ornamental purposes, etc., will yet form notice able export. These, and many more products that are not now in mind, are no more difficult to raise than crops of wheat or barley, while the profit is vast by comparison. I don't understand why more attention is not given to their cultivation"
 OLD timers, when in the vicinity of the City Hall have curious habit of stopping, plunging their hands into their pockets and looking in medita- tive way at the temporary Capitol and its grassy environment. They take pleasure in the contemplation of the beauty of the scene and feel the interest of ownership in the work being prose- cuted. But their thoughts are with the past. They are thinking of the days gone by, when to the cottonwOods on the corner hung the victims of the vigi- lantes they are thinking of the old band stand that occupied the center of the square and of the speeches, good and bad, that were poured from it to the audience below. The old town pump comes into memOry's view and the spot is noted where Ryland's occasional circus pitched its tent. The SdRdiHd corner is viewed and the fact observed with pleasure that the fruit vendors no longer Obstruct the way, nor does the air reek with the odors of decaying vegetables. No Pima ponies are hitched around, for the cottonwood trees are no more, and litter and leaves and cater pillars have departed with them. The days of the past are gone forever, the present prospect is beautiful, and any person who seeks to deface the plaza or to relegate it to its former condition should be put down as an enemy to the community.
 FIND the best way to find a man in Phoenix is to lean against a post on Eschman's corner and wait for him to come along. It never fails.
 
 TIE folks on the other side of tn political fence are getting restless. note five candidates for treasurer but tonholing the influential voter and
 
 lawyers who banker after the office of district-attorney.
 "THE superior advantages offered by Salt River Valley for dairying are now being properly understood" said an old rancher to me yesterday. "A few years ago the curious spectacle was presented of large arrivals from California of butter and eggs. Now beside supplying an abundance to the local markets dairy men are working up quite demand for their butter in the southern part of the Territory. Large shipments are sent off daily by Wells-Fargo express"
 In no part of the world can dairying be conducted more cheaply than in this valley. The cost of feed for the cows is an insignificant item, for one acre of alfalfa will furnish abundant pasturage and hay for two animals the year round. Labor is no higher than in most parts of the Union, the winters are mild and the summer heat no more in- tense than in the dairy regions adjacent to New York City. With these things taken into consideration it is singular fact that there is no large creamery in the valley where farmers could sell their milk, where it would be worked into but ter and cheese. The only institution of the kind now here is located at Minors ice works. It's product is limited, how ever, and Mir. Motfatt, the owner, states that the demand for his butter annually exceeds the supply. The price obtained is now thirty cents per pound but usually is higher. The manufacture of cheese should receive especial attention The only cheese factory in Maricopa county is located at Syvester's ranch on the "desert," about half way to Florence. but the product is the pale Mexican article, rather flat to an American palate. There is no reason why tirst-class cheese should not be produced here and sent abroad for a market. There is money in the scheme.
 Now THAT melon-time is approaching and the vendors of that delicious pro duct will be soon looking in vain for the shade of the lost cottonwoods, would it not be well for the City Fathers to con sider the proposition of establishing city market? All that is necessary is roomy shed, centrally located, under which farmers and dealers could drive their wagons, and where buyers would | naturally gravitate for their supplies of fruit, vegetables, poultry, butter, eggs and other farm products.
 
 THE implicit faith placed by the citi- zens of Phoenix in their town clock has somewhat weakened. l was shocked |