Graham guardian., 1896-07-17

Gila valley are both varid and ex
tensive, comprising an area o
arabic land of which there is a
present tributary to canals anc
bitches, 10000 acres which il
capable of being irrigated. TIL,
principal products are alfalfa, wheat
corn, barley, oats, vegetables, de
cidious andcertain classes of citru.
fruits.
This is the natural home O.
alfalfa, of which from 4 to 5 crop.
are grown yearly, yielding from
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
prolifcly, 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 Dor
ton Of the valley, contains a large
Ell per cent of tannic acid than any
ever sent to the extract works
from either Arizona or New Mexi-
co.
Farming lands can be purchased
at from $50 to 500 per acre, in
cluding 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
nails which are owned by the farm.
ers varies from 80 cts. to $1.OO 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 Sl.35 per GENITAL.
Barley 1.25 {" {"
Corn LOO Z" I"
Hay 900 to sS per
ton.
Hogs cts per pound
miles H U
Potatoes s." % %
Cattle from s11 to s1S de-
[livered in Stafford. |
Milk COWS $25.00 to $30.00I
There is at present about 1l8|
niles of irrigatlng canals and main |
litches, not including the Lateral
litches which will make the total
several times this amount. This
gives ample water to assure crops
or about $4,000 acres. When the |
Enterprise canal is finished it will |
water several thousand acres ofI
'ich table and bottom land. It'll
las been estimated that a quarter
IF million acres of additional land
could be irrigated if storage dams
we're built. This could be done
n several places, notably at the
narrows about 1S miles from SAT-
iord where a box canyon exists
through which the river passes.
1t is from this point the Enterprise
are building their canal.
Graham county covers an area
Of 1000 square miles.
The Gila valley is 80 miles from
The narrows to the edge of the res
ervation, with an average width of
bottom lands Of two miles, the dis
5ance between the foot hills being
six miles. The valley is fanked |
On the north by the Gila mountains
md on the south by the Graham
Mountains, Mount Graham being
he highest peak, with an altitude
If ten thousand feet above sea level. |
Although but little prospecting
las been done in either the Gila
'r Graham mountains, the few
properties which have been de-
veloped show that the ore body |
S practically inexhaustable; while
copper predominates, there is both
gold and silver in paying quantities
It is virgin field for both the
minor and captaitlst and one which
promises grand results.
Tho tun nrin ninol rninirnr nn,,n