The Florence tribune., 1898-03-26

advantages and a large increase In p0i5ula- tion will follow. Florence is at an elevation of 1858 feet above sea level, situated near the Gila river, twenty-six miles northwest ot the railroad station of Casa Grande, with which 1t is connected by an elegantly. equipped run by tho old Casa Grande ruins. and passengers nro allowed short time to in speet them. There are many handsome pri- vate residences in Florence, several brick stores, good hotel, an excellent graded school employing four teachers, churches secret societies, a Commercial Club news paper (the only one in the countyl, and the handsamest court house in the Territory. Here is held the United States Court tor the district composed of Gila, Graham and Pinal counties. The streets are lined with shade trees. which impart an air of comfort on the warmest days.
 PRODUCTS OF THE VALLEY.
 Unlike the Salt river, the waters of tho Gila are fresh and pure; tho soil contains no adapted to the growth of the. prnne, oliye. almond, peach, fig, pear, apricot and fruits Of all kinds, which pay largely cn the invest l ment. It is also the natural home of alfalfa, which grows in the most prolihc manner. Tie grape does exceptionally well Tn this valley and wine and raisin culture IS destin- [ cd to become prominent industry. Citrus fruits have been cultivated to a limited 1 extent; there are number of orange trees ] in the neighborho9d of Florence which pear their golden fruit each year without pro  1 full bearing. Tho season Is from six weeks to two months eariier than Southern Cahtor- nia, which gives fruit growers an appreciate cd advantage in
 TIE EARLY MARKETS.
 The absence of fogs and nightly dews Is q l formidable obstacle to the destructive and l unsightly scaie-bug. and the fruits or tne valley are all bright and clean. All the agri- ! cultural products of temperate and seml- troDic zones are easily grown here, the long seasons giving succession of crcps that double or treble the productive value of the land.
 Improved lands, with government title and ! water right. can be bought for from $40 to $50 per acre, according to location and inn provemeuts- In the immediate neighbor- | hood aud to the south of the Casa Grande l ruins there are thousands of acres covered with hea7y growth of mesquite timber yet open to settlement These are among the choicest in the valley. Water in inexhaustl. ble quantity Is found at a depth of from twenty to thirty feet; in fact, river seems to be flowing underneath. Here is splen- did opportunity to take up and improve land with a pumping system of irrigation which is said to be successful On small tracts
 However, with the completion of the Butte reservoir, pumping will be a thing of the past and it is only mentioned here for the purpose of showing what can be done, and tc magnify the further fact that what was once considered
 AN uSrNHABITABLE DESERT
 Is in truth the most productive land on tht globe. and that there is water iu abundanct to bring every foot of 1t under cultivation only waiting for the magic wand of capita to develop it. There Is no water-storagt scheme on the Pacific coast that has ne-hai the natural advantages and so few engineer ing difficulties as the Butte reservoir. Hers nature has built the abutments in ever-liy ing rock, and all that is left for man to tio Il to put in the leadgate, the bluffs which form the gorge being only separated by paltr, 20 feet. country is drained through thi narrow canyon POO miles square, representing 40, 600 square miles. or larger than Maine ana Massachusetts combined. The rainfall is sui sicient to fill the reservoir twice year, ant the land to be brought under cultivation i practically iimitless. This may read like fairy tale, but it is every word true, and ha ) been verified time and again.
 CASA GRAxDE RESERVOIR.
 The reservoir of the Casa Grande Valle. , Canal company is the largest in the territory It covers a surface of 1699 acres, with an aver , ege depth of F feet, and contains about eigh thousand million gallons of water It is sit uated fifteen miles southwest Of Florence A levee of earth has been thrown up aeros depression in the plain II 600 feet in length