Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-01-11
PROSPEROUS YEAR.
The Year 1889 Has Done Much For This
 Valley.
tPhenix Gazette.

The Year 1889 Has Done Much For This
 Valley.
 tPhenix Gazettej
 The people of southern Arizona have abundant reason for congratulation upon this, the first day of the year 1890. In the Salt river valley during tho past year, many acres have been added to the productive area. Many thousand acres have been planted in fruit trees and vines; many thou. and acres more have been added to thu al- falfa lands.
 The growing of oranges, olivesTand dates is no longer considered aTA ex- pertinent, and nearly 1,500 acr of these trees have been planted in the year just closed. The spirit which has made the Salt river to blossom, has transferred its arid wastes into alfalfa fields. Every place through which water flo WIS has felt the inspiration. Pima, Pinal and Yu- ma are waking up to the great future which awaits them, and capital with its ready hand is supplying the means to spread the life-giving fluid over the desert areas of these counties.
 In the Gila valley, from Florence to Yuma, more has been accomplished in the past year than ever before. The Florence Canal, which heads some ten miles above the town of Florence, is completed. Its length is about for ty miles, and it will reclaim 10000 acres. Along the Gila ill this county are the Buckeye and Enterprise, which cover 35,000 acres, and Wills ditch which covers 5000 acres the Toltec, in course of construction, 12,000; the lower Gila Bend, 1000 acres; the St Louis, 10000 acres; the South Gila Irrigation Co.,, 60,OO0 acres and the McPherson canal, which is intended to be fifty miles, is to cover 150,000 acres, all under way in Maricopa county.
 In Yuma county the Purdy and the Mohawk canal both under con struction, will reclaim some 90,O00 acres. These and other canals, all of which will be completed the present year, will add 100000 acres to the arahle area of Pinal, Maricopa aud nun a counties. It is not too much to say trat the irrigating canals that have been built during 1889 and that are now in course of construction, will reclaim one million acres of the best fruit and garden land on the conti- nent, making homes for 50,000 fami- lies; for 20 acres of land, such as is to be found in the Santa Cruz, Gila and Salt river valleys, planted in citrus or certain deciduous fruits, Is fortune to any man.
 In raisin grapes or fruit, certainly will yield an income of $25O per acre per annum. Experience has proven that the longer lands are irrigated the less water is required the soil, which in all our valleys is rich alluvial, from eight to twenty feet deep. mex haust.ble in it's durable fertility, holds the assfef which grad h5f eeFca- latiQa finds itz way back to the besl sssff| sl1s g treana. | is quite possibse Ihez e- lore, that the canals ssilI appropfjete tic pressnt supp Y of @atsr i5l <hs Glla, but it IS more oaftain 8ith two years of fri g lion sfpon the lands ufa- der them, there will be a large quanti- ty of water for new irrigating enter l pfises.
 With suitable reservoirs for the i'm pounding of the water that fall in our mountains, millions of acres can be brought under cultivation. When it is considered that one-third of all the lands of India are cultivated by stor- ing the storm waters for irrigating purposes, some idea of the importance of this survey to the people of Arizona can be formed. The conditions are favorable to such enterprises. Here nature has given us adual rainy sea son.
 The precipitation being very great both in winter and summer in all ou1 mountainous regions, and has provided deep canyons, where at small expense water, in time of swollen streams, can be stored for better use.
 Let the government give us scien- tific engineering survey, pursue a lib eral policy in reference to the settle; ment and~-recffamation Of the arid lands, and five years will bring us five times the population and more than five times the taxable property we now have.
 The large valleys of the territory both in the north and south will be settled and cultivated for all they are worth. Railroads will come to us, and our commerce will be worthy of a great and growing commonwealth where nature with lavish hand has spread out to the industrious husband man every opportunity for wealth health and happiness.
 The northern railroad, which is now being surveyed, will add millions to the taxable wealth and prospects oi our county and lnaugurate an era oi progress in this valley which will bring the bloom of thrift to the homes oi our farmers. All in all the year 1890 opens with great promise of success for grand old Maricopa county, we look forward to prosperous year with every hope of success.