Arizona republican., 1896-01-05
MESA AND HER PEOPLE Development of the Fruit Industry. Some Social Equipments of the
 Week.
A Lecture Upon Odd Fellowship Progress of the Consolidated
 Electric Works.

MESA, Ariz., Jan. 1.-The gay and festive holiday diversions still con- tinue. Tuesday night gave us the masquerade in the Social hall, which ] was thoroughly enjoyed by spectators as we'll as the participants The cos 1, tumes were all appropriate, and dis played taste and skill in their arrange ment. The fair damsels of Mesa, showed us Wednesday evening that they are not a wit behind the times, also not want ing in the ideas and versatilities of the coming woman, by the, unique way in which they arranged and managed the leap year ball. It was a decided sue cess, financially and socially. Usually there are in nearly every district, two girls to every boy, but it will be safe to say, that to every one of the 100 young ladies listed, there were two gentlemen. Yes, it was so enjoyable, that we boys are one and all, looking forward to speedy repetition of the same.
 The many friends of Grandma Evart, will mourn her sudden death on Wednesday last.
 After short illness, which was caused by a severe cold, she quietly passed away at her little home on Mcdonald street Grandma was one of the many who crossed the plains in early days and settled in Utah; after adding her little might to make that state the great commonwealth it is to- day, she came to Arizona. The ten or twelve years she has lived in Arizona. the greater part of which has been spent in Mesa, she has made hosts of friends, by her honest and industrious ways and pleasant words and smiles. Grandma was S4 years old yet up to the day of her death, she always did her own house work and was ever healthy and well.
 The citizens of Mesa are greatly in debted to Prof Laverny and wife for the many enjoyable entertainments they have given us.
 Dr. Weeks, the noted specialist, who has parlors at the Kimball House, de- livered a very fine lecture last Sunday evening at the I. o. o. F. hall, under auspices of that order His subject was taken from the bible, "The Kill ing of John the Baptist by Herod." /" Illustrating by this that things we do come back to us Also stating heaven and hell were conditions and not places. He touched on the I. 0. o. F. order to show the good it does, stating that to every tick of the clock the order paid out $5.30 for the support of the widow and orphan.
 The orange culture will undoubtedly prove a success. Some of the three year old orange trees in George
 Shornick's fine orchard, yielded as many as 108 to the tree. Considering the conditions, this is certainly a flat itering prospect. Geo. has the Parson Brown variety, having gone to Florida for the trees himself. He says the fruit here is even superior to that grown in the native state
 Dr. Alex Trippefs fine young almond orchard of about thirty-f1ve acres, is a sight worth seeing to those who visit our town. These trees are only three years old, yet this year they yielded two tons Considering the fact that a ten-year old tree yielded 100 pounds we may safely say, there is money in the almond culture.
 The electric plant under construc- tion by the Consolidated Canal com pany, at the terminus of the Cross Cut canal, is nearing completion. The power will be used at present to pump water from a huge we'll at the power house. The water will be turned into the Tempe canal If this can be done a great amount of water can be saved