Graham guardian., 1897-12-31
WELCOME, 1898.

prosperity during 1898.
The yield of grain, hay and
other farm products has been al
most phenomenal, the water supply
has been greater than ever before,
more new land has been brought
into cultivation than ever before,
and the farmers generally have
mapped out plans for the future,
which if carried out will help them
wonderfully. Steps have been
taken for the consolidation of old
canals, thus increasing their use
fulness, and the building of new
and larger ones, the completion Of
which will bring this entire valley
into cultivation. There are prob
ably sfewer mortgages on farms
here than in any other agricultural
section of like proportions.
Ninety-nine per cent of our farmers
own their farms, stock and homes,
without incumberance. They own
the canals through which they re-
ceive water for irrigation purposes,
and while some of them have
proven expensive in the past, the
future holds out hopes that these
expenses will be greatly reduced,
and the canals operated on a more
economic basis.
| There have been no business
failures, assignments or closing
out sales during the past year in
the county, and every business
man has bright future before
him. This is partly due to our
constantly increasing population
and partly due to the vigorous
efforts of our old settlers. In SAT-
ford the population has increased
more rapidly during 1897 than in
any other town in the county, and
new and substantial buildings have
been built with proportionate
rapidity, number of new business
firms have started up and business
life generally has been good. The
other towns have also been wide
] awake and built up very rapidly
/ There is not q town in the county
that cannot point with pride to its
} increased population, its new bust
, ness and dwelling houses and its
: increased resources.
The mining industry has not
= been asleep. The old companie:
, have increased their immense
r plants with 8 corresponding in
crease in the output ofthe precious
=
: metal. New mines by the score
| have been discovered and develop
0 ed, more sor less; some at present
f being no more than prospect holes
!. while a great number are developed
j sufficiently SO that their owners
. know they have bonanzas. The
/ old mining camps, where the mines
I are fully developed are Clifton anc
J. Morencl, and the newer ones will
v bright future prospects are, tn,
0 Aravaips, Clark district and the
e Coal Fields, located in the western
: portion of the county, the Lone
], Star, eight miles northeast of SAT
! ford and the Yukon, six miles this
, side Of Bonita. With the opening
3 of the Coal Fields and the exten
sion of the railroad to Globe, which
Z will undoubtedly be accomplished
in 1898, the growth, in wealth and
: population, of this county will be
, greater than any yet anticipate.
The stock interests have been
! carefully taken care of by
: our energetic stock men aud while
the prevailing high prices during
, 1897 have greatly reduced the
> number ofrange cattle, yet they
, will act as an impetus for the stocl
= men to increase their herds, moi
: only IN numbers but also in quality
!, Most of the cattle left on the ranges
: are probably of better quality than
: those shipped during the year, and
Q those being shipped in from other
, ranges are of high grade. This
will compel stock buyers in the
: future, when looking for good
] grade of cattle to come to our
} ranges.
Taking the business interests of
this coanty collectively or seperatc-
Nv, we venture the assertion that
no other community in newly
settled country with the same mum.
4