Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-05-17
ARIZONA.
yR.
A Pleasant GIimpseof the Sun
ny Southland.
Its Beauties, Its Pleasures and Its
Resources
n Seen and Graphically Described by o. A..
1usli.
ARIZONA.

Thinking that your readers might be in
terested to know something Of this land O.
flowers and sunshine, have from time t
time made notes of few facts which at
tracted my attention as have travelled uy
and down the Salt River Valley and ovel
the Territory of Arizona, and now collec
them together for your paper.
Arizona is a most interesting portion OF
our great nation. Its historical value has
long been recognized by the leading his.
torians of this and foreign countries. Its
many ancient mounds tell the story of pre-.
historic ages, and their wonderful people.
Its natural resources seem to abound on
every hand but as yet have scarcely begun
to be developed.
The Territory of Arizona was formally
separated from New Mexico early in 1868
and its first government was organized De-
Hon. John n. Goodwin its first governor
who was appointed by President Lincoln.
At this time there was very little cult
waited land in the territory, and the pioneers
who had the courage to settle on these
desert plains were greatly hampered by the
thieving and bloodthirsty Apaches, who
dwelt in the mountains and foot hills, and
when least expected swept across the plains
to plunder and murder any settlers whom
they might find in their path Of destruction.
Mining was well nigh impossible. Every
. industry was crippled and growth conse-
ouently most difficult and slow.
For many years the few settlers were at
constant warfare with the Indians; and
safety was nowhere to be found within the
territory until troops were sent out by the
US. government to subdue them.
Arizona has made its chief growth in i'm
provements during the last twelve or fifteen
years, in fact all that is modern and valua-
BILE has been built and accomplished within
that period of time. While it is true that
there are today millions of acres of unim-
proved land in the territory, it is gratifying
to know that there are many hundreds of
thousands of acres under cultivation.
When we remember that Arizona is $50
miles long and 800 wide and that it con-
talns about l13 900 squafe miles and r.
100000 acres we begin to realize something
Of the size of the territory. A large acre
sgs Of this vast expanse is mountainous
and can never be transformed into tillage
land. use the word, transformed" be-
cause of the almost miraculous change
made by putting water on this desert soil,
to one unaccustomed to such sights it is
truly wonderful.
The largest tract of land "under water"
as they say here, "under cultivation" as we
would say, is in the Salt River Valley,
uhova iu,p,a nf hoy al
ready been expended in laying out, build
ing and perfectiug large systems of irriga-
ton canals and bitches. There is without
doubt 800 600 acres in this valley under
water at the present time and 100000 in
the territory. ert
Of this large acreage in the Salt hiver
Valley on which it is possible to get an
abundance of water there are about 225,-
900 acres already bearing crops.
In this valley there are fully 10000 acres
OF alfalfa which will produce annually from
1000 TO 100000 tons of excellent clover
hay. There are from 80 900 to 10000
acres of barley, this yields about 2000
pounds or 40 bushels per acre. Ten thou
sand acres is a liberal estimate of the wheat
crop the present season. Oats and corn
are not grown to any extent. This valley
without doubt the greatest alfalfa pro-
ducing section of the West. All crops are
promising a rich harvest this season.
! had the pleasure through the kindness
OF friends of visiting few of the many
hne new ranches near Phoenix. We went
iirst to the ranch of Judge j. S. Thompson.
Mr.. Thompson is an Eastern man and q
model ranch man as well as a profound
lawyer. His ranch contains 160 acres and
Bplanted to crops as follows: Grapes, 100
acres; aprcots, 30 acres; oranges, 10 acres
and alfalfa, five acres leaving ten acres
about his buildings which is beautifully laid
out into walks and driveways and artisti-
cally covered with all kinds of the most
beautiful ornamental shrubbery, palms and
shade trees. Here the Judge spends most
OF MS time enjoying one of the best kept
ranches in the territory, which is already
Yielding him handsome income.
we next visited the "Rancho Del
Sahsuro.' This ranch contains GAO acres
and is owned by Mr.. W. II. Bartlett of
lineage, Ill.,, whom | found to be most
genial man. He will build SIS 900 house
on his ranch this season, with view of
spending the winter there with his family.
Thus far Mr.. Bartlett has spent very little
OF his time here, the ranch having been un-
uer the efficient management of Mr.. II. w.
Adams, one of Names sons, who has done
himself great credit in the few years he has
been in this territory.
his ranch is also a most beautiful spot.
Its beautiful drives friuged with palm, ash
and umbrella trees, fill one with admiration
and suggest a thought of Paradise. Here is
seen the largest and most beautiful fig or
Guard IN the territory. A full 100 acres of
isnd is completely hidden from the scorch-
log rays Of semi-tropical sun for eight
months Of every year by the heavy foliage
OF the most thrifty fig tree. Most of the
Hui1 IN this orchard is now nearly full size
ana the trees are bending under their heavy
burden. Other crops are as follows: 81
a acres grapes, 81 of apricots, % of Alfalfa,
~ OF pears, 20 of almonds. ii of peaches,
~ OF olives and Is acres of oranges.
one Of the beautiful sights to be seen
mere Is the thousand and odd rose bushes,
consisting of four or five hundred different
varieties of roses. Six hundred of these
we're planted this present season and are
a1eady loaded with the sweetest perfumed
ana most beautiful flowers ever saw.
Inc next ranch visited was that of Bart
ieu' Adams Co. This ranch also contains
Dto acres and is planted to various crops.
mere we see l6o acre vineyard in full
fearing and very beautiful. One of the
grand sights on this ranch is l2O acre al