Arizona silver belt., 1894-12-01
IMPRESSIONS OR sALT RIVER VALLEY
 AND puGNTx,

Entering Salt River Valley over thI
 desert from Florence, the impression
 received by the traveller is pronounced
 and inspiriting; he passes from des
 ert to an oasis, from waste of sand into region clothed with verdure and
 inhabited by an industrious and fru-
 gal people who have made for them
 selves comfortable homes, "framed in
 the prodigality of nature" What
 could be more pleasing to the eye oi
 the visitor from mining district than
 the broad alfalfa fields, bordered with
 eottonwoods and the gracefully droop
 ing pepper trees, where the lazy kline
 graze contentedlyF
 Passing into Mesa, the entrepot for
 the rich country roundabout it, we
 noted the progressive spirit evidenced
 in the cozy homes, well kept grounds
 and thrifty orchards and vineyards,
 Dropping down over the bench or
 mesa from which the town takes its
 name, we enter the older settled coun-
 try tributary to Tempe 1t is less at
 tractive looking than the environ
 ments of Mesa but has the advantage of a more certain water supply and of years of cultivation and there are fewer barren tracts than arc seen above. Tempe is an old fashioned town, which has hardly kept abreast of the progress of the valley, yet it has energetic business men and its future prosperity is assured, There has been no attempt made to boom the town and values are on a healthy basis.
 Continuing on toward Phoenix the road crosses the Salt, under the shad- dow of the railroad bridge and then for mile or more runs through a broken, barren tract not susceptible of irrigation, and again emerges on the level valley, extending for many miles on either side and stretching away far Co the southwest of Phunix, al- most interminable in it's hatness. However, there is fall, to the south west, of about 10 feet to the mile, just enough to facilitate irrigation, and there is scarcely square rod of ground under ditch which can not be flooded by water. As we near PhWnix the
 farms become smaller and improve ments more noticeable until we enter the suburbs and note the attractive little cottages, Quilt mostly of brick which line the roadway on either side.
 Night had thrown her sable mantle over the earth ere we reached our des- Jination and we drove down Washing ton street in the glare of the electric lights, into the heart of the city, pull sating with life. The electric cars by, almost taking our breath away; the stores and saloons were iblaze with light, people of every caste ostled eacn other on the sidewalks, md the shrill notes of the concert singer and the harsh voice of the poli- " sharp, announcing the lucky mum lers, foated out through the sur ,harged air We wondered ''where we were at'-in Chicago or New York? We had never seen anything ike it in Arizona. There is one thing lhout the average Arizonan, he catch ss on'' as quick as any one and adapts himself to things as he finds them, and gre twenty-four hours had elapsed we were viewing our surroundings in a and critical way.
 Phoenix is modern town with an energetic, quick-witted and hospitable people The pioneer has given place Q younger and more progressive citi- .ens, and Mexican customs ana front CT usages have been superseded by an advanced civilization It can hardly 1e said that morality has gained by he change, as Phoenix is certainly the 3omorrah of Arizona, but this phase s transitory, common to Che evolution ,f all prosperous iron tier settlements, md will pass with the increase of pop llation and the ascendency of the amily as a controlling force in the 
 Phpnix presents a pleasing appeor- lnce, with it's handsome public build 1 ngs, attractive stores, tasty residen- .es, broad, level streets and shaded It is seldom one sees a vacant store or dwelling, and many new houses are in course of erection. ohnnix, like other towns, has suffered | rom the hard times and competition s sharp in almost every line of busi- less, but the greatest drawbacks to urther progress are the scarcity of. water for irrigation, and lack of trans oortation for the products of the val ey to market
 The latter deficiency will be partial y supplied by the completion of the North and South railroad, now within fifty miles of Phoenix. and which it is expected will be finished by February lext. This rond will give them an outlet for portion of their hay and | grain, in exchange for lumber and | 'oal from the north, and furnish some | business from the mining districts ad- acent to the road. The most import | mt benefit expected, however, is the between the A. T. &S. F., md the s. P. railroad companies for he business of the valley, and which IS confidently hoped, will result in a | material reduction of freight rates,
 The water question is more difficult