Arizona republican., 1898-02-28

Seekers ana Tourists.
 A sketch of the history of Arizona, even when kept scrupulously within the bounds of facts, reads like tale from The Arabian Nights. The de- xelopment that has been accomplished within the decade and half which practically bounds the life of the ter ritory as it exists today, is but feebly described when called marvellous. The old simile of desert converted into a garden has been so frequently applied to many localities in the south west that it has become trite; never theless, there is not another portion of the Pacific slope where it is so em- phatically applicable as in Maricopa county, in the territory of Arizona. It is true. wonderful results have been accomplished elsewhere, but Maricopa county stands foremost in the demonstration of her possibilities. The spirit of unrest which now pre- vails in the states east of the Mis- sissippi seems to have contributed to the widespread desire for a change of base, and as the star of empire courses it's way westward many eyes are turned toward the Pacific for some sign of encouragement, and many listen for tidings of the new land of the sunset.
 0f f hn fu of seekers in Arizona inspired multitudes to follow and to try anew their for tunes where success has come to so many. It has recently dawned upon the eastern mind that the amount of good agricultural land in proportion greater than has been properly shown or even supposed. All kinds and branches of farming known to north ern attitudes are carried on more sue cessfully in some parts of Arizona than in eastern or middle states.
 MARICOPA COUNTY.
 Maricopa county lies in the south central part of Arizona territory, and was created in 1871 out of Yavapai. Since that date slices have been cut from it to form parts of Pinal and Gila counties. In it's topography the coun- ty is, for much of it's area, mapped out as plain, sloping toward the Salt and Gila rivers. The county is bounded on the north by the Bradshaw range of mountains and by the Cave Creek hills. On the east of Maricopa, beyond the line of the Verde river, rise the rugged Superstition mountains and the Mazatzals. It is claimed that out of a total acreage of about 5,9S6,500 acres there are 3,O0O,0OG that can be re- claimed by irrigation, by reservoirs, canals. etc. A large area of this coun- ty is adaptable for the cultivation of fruits and agricultural products, and area is rich in minerals, as the in creased mining developments are prov ing. Through the center of the county flows the Salt river, mingling its flood with that of the Gila about twenty five miles southwest of Phoenix. The fame of the marvellous Salt River val ley is extending to every portion of the Union. This valley contains one of the largest bodies of irrigable land in the United States one million acres. Its surface is extremely level and it is walled by rugged mountain ranges and is watered by Salt river, which flows through it's center. From numbering and mining in the noun tains to cultivating the orange and grape in the valley, the range of en- ployment is great.
 CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE.
 The climate is proverbially excel lent, the best, all things considered, in the United States. It occupies a hap py medium, and as fast as people be- come acquainted with these natural climatic advantages they become en- thusiastic in their praise. The phrase rainy season" conveys an erroneous impression to those unacquainted with Arizona, for so far from the downpour being anything like continuous, in tervals occur between the showers of days and weeks. A shower very often occurs in July, but no heavy showers fall until October and some times not until much later. Novem- Der and large part of December are often the pleasantest seasons of the year. In the latter part of December and in January the heaviest rains usually fall. Tn February the rainfall is frequently lighter than in March. A few showers in April and occasionally