Arizona republican., 1896-05-27
ARIZONlAIS GROWTH.
James Damron Tells of the Territory s
 Prosperity.

James Ddmr0n IellS OI the 1eFFltOFy
 Prosperity.
 Los Angeles Express: J. M. Damron of Phoenix, Arizona, but formerly of Los Angeles, has been visiting among his friends here for several days in connection with some business which he had here. Many inquired of him about the country of the Salt River val ley and the city of Phoenix. In view of the interest just now felt by our people in the welfare of Arizona, an Express reporter called upon MT. Dam ron at his hotel and asked him to eX- press his views on the future of Arizona He talked very freely about his new home and among other things said that Arizona had been very much maligned in the past, and is even now referred to by parties in many places in the east as land of outlawry; that noth- ing is produced there but mischief, Gila monsters, centipedes and cactus. MT. Damron said this is all false and there we'll know. He cites as an in- stance of its peace and progress the fact that while the community of Phoe- nix has 12,000 population, its police department consists of city marshal and an occasional deputy; that the city recorder or police justice has but few cases of ordinance violation, and those are mostly vagrants who go there like migratory geese, for the advantage of climate, only to be used in the improve ment of the streets. He says the grand jury, now in session there, will have about three days work and find about three indictments; that he hears less of centipedes, scorpions and rattle snakes in Arizona than he reads of in eastern newspapers.
 He says the Salt River valley is a ripening paradise, full of intelligent and moral people, who are intent on in dustry and economy. There are mil lions to be invested in procuring water for irrigating the more than 5O0OOO acres of fine land in the valley, and the Rio Verde Water company has just placed it's bonds for $2,OOO,OOO with London buyers, and this is to be used in bringing about 160,000 acres under irrigating rights.
 The Salt River valley is long, broad and fertile domain, with a surface and soil especially adapted to irrigation. and capable of sustaining millions of people in luxury Our fruits ripen from three to six weeks earlier than anywhere in the United States and al ready we have marketed in the east our early crop of apricots and straw berries
 The soil and climate bring the peach, almond and strawberry to a rare state of perfection, and other fruits main tain high average.
 1t is a beautiful picture, he says, to see the farmers during the summer season irrigating the vast acreage of alfalfa, grain and fruit orchards. They are independent of rainfall and never fail in abundant harvest.
 MT. Damron boasts of furnishing to our people their fresh meat from the alfalfa meadows of the Salt River val icy and feels very proud that his defeat Of the stock quarantine bill in the California legislature of 1890 has per mltted Arizona to enjoy such business advantages with California as she does
 MT. Damron says his people want statehood more than any other one tnlng, ana that they are getting very impatient at the un-American treat ment by congress. The fact that they have radical faith in silver, or that the new state may be Republican or Demo- cratic are not disqualification to state hood, and to make them so, as congress does, is trenching upon the principles of a republic.
 Phoenix is improving rapidly, by erecting substantial business blocks and residences.
 Had we statehood, said Damron, ant Mckinley for president, it would be but a few years before Los Angeles would be looking upon us with jealou: eyes.
 MT. Damron is very much displeaseC that so many people ask him of the ex treme heat of southern Arizona. Tht heat there, he explains to the reporter is extremely dry; and where the ther mometer carries 1112 degrees in tn, Salt River valley, people are falling with sunstroke at Chicago and St Louis and New York at 90 degrees, ant