Graham guardian., 1896-08-14

Si1 Ni "" Va
arabic land of which there is at
present tributary to canals and
bitches, 10000 acres which is
capable of being irrigated. The
principal products are alfalfa. wheat,
corn, barley, oats, vegetables, de-
cidious andcertain classes of citrus
fruits.
This is the natural home of
alfalfa, of which from 4 to 5 crops
are grown yearly, yielding from 5
to 8 tons per acre. 1t is not as
stocky as that which comes from
the Salt River valley and is pre-
ferable for either horses or cattle.
Wheat, barley and oats grow
prolificly, the former containing a
very large amount of nutrition.
Yellow dent, white gourd and
other large varieties Of corn yield
productivity, vegetables are large
and solid and come to maturity
two months earlier than In the
eastern and middle states.
The valley and hill lands are
adapted to all OF the products of
the temporal zone, and many of
the fruits of the semi-tropical
countries. The apples equal in
size and flavor the prize winners
of the eastern states. The seed
ling fruits are unexcelled in size
and general excellence. Apricots
and apples both grow with a sur
prising rapidity. The peaches in
appearance and taste are identical
with those which come from the
famous orchards of New Jersey.
Canagrie grows wild, some of
the tubers being as large as good
sized potatoes. Tests now show
that canagrie root, which flourish
es near Thomas, In the lower por-
ton of the valley, contains large
er per cent of tannic acid than any
ever sent to the extract works
from either Arizona Or New Mexi-
Leo.
Farming lands can be purchased
at from $50 to 800 per acre, in
Guiding improvements and water
rights.
Uncultivated land without water
right is free to any settler under
the United States homestead law.
This class Of farms will eventually
become valuable when the canal
facilities have been increased.
The cost of maintaining the Ca
mails which are owned by the farm
ers varies from 80 cts. to S1.00 per
acre per year.
The following are the market
values of the products of the soil
at the ranch, there being ready
sale for everything raised in the
valley.
Wheat s1.35 per GENITAL.
Barley 1.25 F."
Corn 100
liz o.oo W 90 per
Hogs 4 cts per pound
Apples B F" "
Potatoes 8" q
Cattle from sl1 to S18 de-
[livered in Stafford.
Milk cows $25.00 to $4,000
There is at present about 118
miles of irrigatlng canals and main
bitches, not including the lateral
bitches which will make the total
several times this amount. This
gives ample water to assure crops
for about $4,000 acres. When the
Enterprise canal is finished it will
water several thousand acres of
rich table and bottom land. 1t
has been estimated that quarter
of million acres Of additional land
could be irrigated if storage dams
were built. This could be done
in several places, notably at the
narrows about Is miles from SAT-.
ford where a box canyon exists
through which the river passes.
1t is from this point the Enterprise
company are building their canal.
Graham county covers an area
of 1000 square miles.
The Gila valley is 35 miles from
the narrows to the edge of the res
ervation, with an average width of
bottom lands Of two miles, the dis
tance between the foot hills being
six miles. The valley is fanked
on the north By the Gila mountains
and on the south by the Graham
mountains, Mount Graham being
the highest peak, with an altitude
| of ten thousand feet above sea level.
Although but little prospecting
has been done in either the Gila
or Graham mountains, the few
properties which have been de-
veloped show that the ore body
is practically inexhaustable; while
copper predominates, there is both
gold and silver in paying quantities
1t is a virgin field for both the
minor and capitalist and one which
promises grand results.
The two principal mining COM