The Florence tribune., 1895-06-15
UNDER THE RESERVOIR. The Prosperous Farmers of Arizola
 and Casa Grande.
The Miners and cowmen Turned AsricuI-
 turaIists.
Section of the Great Casa Grande Valley Where Scarcity of Water Is
 Unknown.


 the Southern Pacific railway in the. vicinity of Casa Grande and Arlzola is at present, and with good reason, con- sidered one of the most desirable DOT tions of this magnificent southern Arizona. Great changes have been made in the appearance of this part of the valley during the last four years. It was about that long ago that the Florence canal was completed and the work of actual improvement begun. Up to that tine travellers on the rail- road looked out upon dry and dreary desert all the way from Tucson to Yuma. The only living green to be seen between these two points was at
 THE wATrR TANK
 in Casa Grande, where 3 few encalyp- tus and cottonwood trees were an ever welcome sight to those who had passed that way. The town of Casa Granaes it is true, was at that time a more fourishing point in the line of business than it is to-day. It was the shipping point for all the freight to and from Silver King and all the numerous mines that were lines of industry when silver was tin it" Along in the eighties, great mule trains laden with timbers and provisions, machinery and merchandise, bound for the mines, and with ore and bullion from the mining camps, were daily seen in the streets of Casa Grande. The town was run "wide open, ? and the tenderfoot often found his first introduction to wild life in the west in some of the numer- ous gambling dens in the little burg that is now so quiet,
 PEACEFUL AND UNAssuMINe. Then there was no thought of any thing but mines as means for the development of the country. The man who thought of the country hereabouts as possible agricultural or horticul- tural country, and made bold to put his thoughts into words, was looked upon as crank and fit subject for ridicule. It was mines and talk of mines in all the talk of business, though of course the man of cattle was factor in the country then as now. But the cowboy was always second to the miner and was considered side issue.
 The writer does not know the exact date, but it was about four years ago that the Florence canal was completed to the railroad about five miles east of Casa Grands, and extended to a point two or three miles beyond the road. Mr. D. S. Thonas located the
 TOWNSHIP or ARIzoLA on the railroad, two and a half miles southeast of Casa Grande, built brick hotel and commenced the work of im- proving a half section of land adjoin~ ing. Old timers merely smiled and re- marked that mining was all that the country was good for and nothing would grow in this land Other ten derfeet came and settled around and made improvements in small way. The old timer smiled and said nothing Trees and vines planted by MT. Thom- as began to grow. The old timer came and looked at them and didn't even smile. The grain and alfalfa fields seeded by the other settlers brought forth rich harvests and great stacks of hay dotted their fields. The old timer came and looked at them and went away with an uneasy feeling under his epidermis For the life of him he couldn't see how it could be so. He had always said that mining was all that would pay here, and yet still he the miner, was actually loafng his time away and
 DYING OF ENNUI.
 These foolish fellows were actually go ing ahead with their farming a' though there were no mines on earth : He studied over the thing. That th'
 old timer is no fool is amply proven b, the fact that every one in the neigh borhood of Casa Grande has taken ul land, and many of those who were dis 3 believers now believe, and are loud il !, their declarations that this is the bes spot on earth.
 !, The farmers and fruit growers abou 9. Arizola and Casa Grande have beel :, more favored in the matter of wate s than have those in the same calling il :. other parts of Arizona. While it is
 fact not to be denied that a shortag 7 of water has resulted in a shortage Q