The herald., 1897-02-07
THE PROGRESS OF ARIZONA
Governor Franklin's Eulogy Of the Ter.
ritory
Proposed Change of the Prison From Yuma
to Prsscott-The Railroad Ex.
emption Scheme

PHOENIX, Ariz., Feb. This is one
of the few beauty spots of the world that
remind one much of Southern California
air little drier. perhaps, and slightly
breezier than Los Angeles. 1t is the ia
nous Salt River valley of Arizona,
where a new civilization is rapidly aris-
ing out of the ashes and sands of the
past Phoenix is rightly named and fu-
ture historians will record with admira-
ton how these Phoenicians of the Amer
lean arid zone are now fast converting
a desert into a paradise by the intelli-
gent storage and use of water. Irriga-
ton is rapidly making garden spot of
this heretofore despised region, and pas
toral, agricultural and horticultural
achievements are demonstrated In the
herds of alfalfa -fattened cattle, the
grain fields, the substantial farm homes,
and the orange, lemon and date groves
The Salt River valley is veritable park
To the people here who have partici-
pated In this great work of reclaiming
the waste land, it's possibilities are COM
monplace, but there are still few per-
sons in the country who have gained the
impression that Arizona is a dreary
wilderness, in which cacti and thorns are
the only vegetation and tarantulas,
centipedes, scorpions, Gila monsters and
bad" men. the only inhabitants, and to
quote from Governor Benjamin ] frank
Inns message to the territorial legisla-
ture now in session may serve to change
their views little. Here is what the
governor wrote to the lawmakers:
Arizona. before many years have
come and gone, will be famous for her
great productions of gold. silver, copper
and other minerals: and she Will be rec
ognizeG as a great mineral producing
state, but her vast valleys of the most
fertile land on the globe will make her
a great agricultural commonwealth.
We have all the elements to make a
great state. To be assured of this we
have only to refer to our grand forests,
our great fields of gold, silver. copper.
coal, onyx and other minerals, our vast
agricultural area, our 100000 acres Of
grazing land upon which great herds of.
cattle will be reared, yielding millions
of dollars annually.
THE financial depression that has
prevailed throughout the country has,
Of course, affected Arizona, yet 1 feel
safe in stating that a condition of more
than ordinary prosperity exists within
our borders. There has been large in
crease in the output of our mines; the
population during the last two years has
increased nearly 10000, and the cattle
industry is in a more flourishing condi-
ton than 1t has been for a decade OF
years Our agricultural development
has been more than could have been ex-
pected considering the financial condi-
ton that has prevailed through the
country"
And then this significant sentence the
governor inserts:
I'VE need capital to develop our grand
resources and trust that you will enact
no legislation that will keep it from
seeking an investment within our bor-
ders."
In the following he summarizes the
advantages of the Arizonan as shown
in the past year:
I'VE have millions Of acres of arabic
land that can be made to blossom as
garden. We have the water that could
reclaim them all; what we need is cap
ital, and your legislation should not be
framed so as to deter it from seeking an
investment here
"Our mineral output for the past year
amounts to nearly s14,000,00o and be-
lieve that it is much more. for it is i'm
possible to obtain the exact figures.
LAS a copper producing territory we
will soon rank first in the union, and our
gold production is increasing annually.
THE export Of cattle during the past
year amounts to nearly s3O00,0O0. This
is a grand exhibit of which any Arizo-
nan should be proud.
Our mining industries are in the very
infancy of their development and our
great agricultural lands. which are sus-
ceptibe Of development when water Is
supplied, which will be supplied in the
future. will cause thousands of immi-
grants to come to our territory.
"Our climate cannot be excelled by
any portion of the globe. No portion Of
the Mediterranean excels it, and hope
duce immigration"
The governors message was not all
eulogy of Arizona, however. 1t was in
tensely practical in its recommenda-
tions and suggestions and thoroughly
Democratic in spirit. He gave his reas
onS for not sanctioning the prison labor
contract entered into between the old
board of control and a Colorado river
land improvement concern called the
State of Arizona Improv ement company.
By the terms of the contract the COM
pany was to get all of the benefit and
the territory all the obligation and ex-
pense This is why, says the governor,
he refused to carry out the contract
A measure is up before the Legislature
for the removal of the territorial prison
from Yuma to Prescott, and the people
of the mountain city, led by Buckley"
O'Neill, it's mayor, and Editor Martin
of the JournalMiner are mot over
looking any bets" as they say in Ari-
zona, in this matter of the proposed
prison removal. The prison property is
valued at about Sl50,000, including the
steals" for which the old Hughes board
of control are accused of being respon-
sible. By the way, the Arizonans are
not satisfied with the outcome of the
investigation into the mathematical
methods of the old board of control and
more investigation may be INDUCED in.
Governor Franklin has gone on record
as a reformer in more than one sense,
and he favors every inquiry into the in
iqutes of the past regime for the whole
some effect such inquiries have as de-
torrents upon other officials. Among the
governors reform suggestions this ses-
sion is a recommendation calling for the
adjustment of the mileage" system of
reimbursing the legislatures for their
travelling expenses. The governors idea
is to have every councillor and assembly
man render d sworn statement of his
expenses of travelling, and to have him
reimbursed to just the exact extent of
those expenses. He does not think that
the law-maker who travels on a rail
road pass should get mileage from the
territorial treasury also. The pass, he
says, is courtesy to the territory and
not to the man, and, if accepted at all,
the territory should get the benefit of it.
Just what the legislature will do in this
regard remains to be seen.
The most important measure before
the Legislature so far is the bill to eX
pr1lpt from taXatiOn for twenty wears n