Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-06-13
ARIZONA.

just how long some eastern fool edi-
tors will continue to harp on their IA
vorite theme the "Arizona DESERT" We
are unable TO tell; dime novel literature
has no doubt infused touch of romance
TO their temperament, and occasionally
they attempt to depict cur section of
the "woolly west" as wild and sterile
desert, where long-haired men find
suitable camping ground. Doubtless
these scrlbes themselves believe the
truth OF the slanderous assertions they
make, and do so in the honest belief
that they are benefting mankind with
their advice. If such is the case, they
are of that ignorant class who more de-
serve pity than abuse.
Arizona, in the opinion of all intelli-
gent men who have crossed its border,
has resources, soil and climate surpassed
by few states in the Union. Our indus
tries are all in their infancy, it is true,
and our exports comparatively small.
yet this is no reason why Arizona should
be dubbed a barren land. Let one of
these addle headed misrepresentation
Of Journalism take trip through this
territory and view the fertile valleys
carpeted with a verdure of fruit and
cereals; it will do his eyes good even il
he does not possess the intelligence to
profit thereby. In these valleys may
be found orchards teemIng with every
species of semI--tropical fruit, and
fields producing two, and in some cases,
three crops a year. Far from being q
desert. Arizona has a soil richer than
the famed Golden State OF California,
and will show herself formidable rival
ere many years have passed. In the
matters of timber, grass and area of fer
tile land, Arizona exceeds Utah, Nevada,
and, in some of these respects, Idaho
and Wyoming. We speak from extended
personal observation regarding the
places named. We might add that our
rainfall exceeds all of them, and surely
the glorous rains we have in July and
August. which renew our vegetation at
a time when elsewhere it is parched and
stock suffering, will dispel the illusion
that our territory is a parched DESERT.
Four-fifths of Arizona is today covered
grass and other vegetation, and the grass
remains nutritious even when dry. No
territory, and few states, have better or
fatter beef and mutton than Arizona,
and cattle and sheep are at Nd time fed
anything but grass. Probably in not
state in the nation does the farmer get
such price for his produce as in Arizo
ma, nor is the certainty of crops greater
elsewhere. All this country needs is
an immigration of men willing to earn
their bread by manual exertions; they
will not here make fortune In the first
year, Lor in the second, but by their in
dustry they can certainly lay the foun-
dalton Of a prosperous future, and when
when a man is so far advaHced in his
own welfare he has an easy road TO
travel.
As for the climate Of this "barFen
desert" suffice it to say there is no other
place in the United Statee to equal our
winter days. Warm, dry, clear salu-
brious, invigoratiug, delightful. Italy
may do for the effete of Europe, but for
bright skies, glorious sunsets, and
glorious winter weather, Arizona has no
equal.
The timbered lands OF this ter
rItory cover an area Of $4,000 acres,
and is of the finest grade for lum
boring purposes. Within a very few
miles Of this city are mountains denseiy
iimbered with the finest Kind Of pine,
and throughout northern Arizona forests
of timber are seen everywhere.
Our eastern friends have not, how
ever, discovered any "barrenness" in
our mineral ores, and strange as it may
seem, concede our territory to be good
country for a man who has physical
ability to manipulate the rotations Of
a pick handle.