Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-08-02
Arizona.
Tucson Citize1


 When the millions of acres of grass covered plain and mesa, now solitary wastes are reclaimed by the aid of artes- ian water, the stock growing capacity will be increased greatly. That this will be done, and at no distant day; admits of no doubt; that the experiment will be a success has already been demonstrated. It Is only within the first half of the pres ent decade that the adaptability of this territory to stock raising has been fairly tested. Before the opening of railroads the business was followed in a small way, the only demand being the local consump- tion; but when the barriers of isolation were swept aside the cowboys received an impetus which promises to place it in the van of AriZonas industries. To the minds of eastern people Arizona Is still the "howing wilderness" they have so of ten called 1t. but if these cratic friends of ours could only pay this territory one visit they would see the folly of their l statements, The once prevalent idea that beyond its conceded mineral wealth AIizona's productive-capacity was limited to Gila monsters, cacti and Apaches, Is being greatly dissipated. Truth is at | last being heard, and the unknown and varied resources of vast region are be- l 1 114,000 square miles embraced within this territory, it is estimated that nearly O. 900, ol more than one-half, is excellent 1 grazing ground. Perhaps no region in the west has been so generally blessed in this respect. From the borders of Utah to the line of Sonora, and from the boun- diary of New Mexico almost to the Colo rado on the west, Arizona Is one grazing range The country is carpeted with rich and succulent grasses. Of the different varieties the gramma is the most widely distributed. It is found in every portion of the territory. and Is the staple food of the stock on the range When green it is exceedingly nutritious and when dry 1t seems to lose none of its qualities. No kind of hay equals the fattening qualities of gramma grass cured and dried by the sun. Cattle like 1t as well in summer
 as in winter and keep fat on it every month in the year. The beef from this
 food IS unequaled for tenderness and
 flavor. Then, again, the climate is un-
 rivaled for cattle growing. Not without
 reason has Arizona been called "the
 stockman's paradise" From January to
 December cattle roam over the extended
 mesas, keeping In prime condition. No
 blinding snow storms, no fierce north
 ers,' no intense cold, rob the cattle
 men of the accumulation of years. In
 the northern portion of the territory where the elevated mountain ranges are covered with their fleece mantle, stock is moved to the lower foothills, where they find an abundance of rich food dur ing the winter months. In Arizona the stock grower Is not compelled to build corrals and barns to shelter his herds from the freezing winds of the winter season. He does not incur the expense ? of putting up large quantities of feed to keep his stock three or four months in the year. In fact, he incurs scarcely any of the risks that attend the business iu less favorable regions. His herds thrive and increase winter and summer and his bank account grows apace. The natural : increase of cattle in Arizona equals that 1, of the most favored section of the range area. Ninety and ninety-five per cent is : not unusual when the maximum number 2 of bulls is kept. This is owing to the ! perfect climate and extreme healthfulness
 and purity of the air. The loss from al sources is estimated not to exceed three per cent. yearly. Epidemic diseases art !, unknown. Arizona possesses one othel great advantage for stock raising. While
 the area of grazing ground in other coun
 tries is becoming narrowed by the stead,
 advance of the farmer. here the immensl
 stretches of plain, foothill and mesa cal g never be utilized for any other purpos, e than grazing. The farming industry vii }, always be confined to the valleys border 7, ing the streams, while the vast area in e cluding the rolling plains and elevated l. hillsides will be devoted to cattle Tn Ii domain of the stock-raiser is closet, l. marked and the former can turn hi d herds oyer the broad mesas and rolling r. foothills without fear that the farmer il e few years will compel him to seek fresl 1T fields and pastures new. This is but d hurried and incomplete sketch of tn st natural advantages that Arizona present l. to the cattle raiser, which may be sum IS marized in perfect climate, rich gras .e and an almost unlimited range. Add t t. these safety, security and ample protec r. ton for property, and what more can tn
 stockman ask? No country in the Unit
 ed States can produce cheaper beef tha
 Arizona and none bring more profits
 the coffers of the cattlemen. On tn ,a broad plains and rich pastures of Arizon r fortunes are awaiting men of energy an ,d enterprise The vast stretches of ric " pasture land will yet be utilized and cov :! l cred with thousands of cattle.