Graham guardian., 1898-02-18

The agricultural resources of th
Gila valley are both varid and ez
tensive, comprising an area Q
arabic land Of which there is a
present tributary to canals an,
bitches, 10000 acres which i
capable of being irrigated. TIL,
principalproductss are alfalfa, wheat
corn, barley, oats, vegetables, de
cldious andcertain classes of citru.
fruits.
This is the natural home o,
alfalfa, of which from A to S crops
are grown yearly, yielding from s
to . tons per acre. 1t is not as
stocky as that which comes from
the Salt River valley and is pre-
ferable for either horses or cattle.
Wheat, barley and oats grow
prolificly, the former containing a
very large amount of nutrition.
Yellow dent, white gourd and
other large varieties of corn WELD
productivity, vegetables are large
and solid and come to maturity
two months earlier than In the
eastern and middle states.
The valley and hill lands are
adapted to all of the products of
the temporal zone, and many of
the fruits of the semi-tropical
countries. The apples equal in
size and flavor the prize winners
of the eastern states. The seed
ling fruits are unexcelled in size
and general excellence. Apricots
and apples both grow with a sur
prising rapidity. The peaches in
and taste are identical
with those which come from the |
famous orchards of New Jersey.
Canagrie grows wild, some of
the tubers being as large as good
sized potatoes. Tests now show
that canagrie root, which flourish.
es near Thomas, IN the lower por-
ton of the valley, contains large
er per cent of tannic acid than any
ever sent to the extract works
rom either Arizona or New Mexi-
20.
Farming lands can be purchased
It from $50 to s1OO per acre, in.
improvements and water
lights.
Jncultivated land without water
light is free to any settler under
he United States homestead law.
This class of farms will eventually
become valuable when the canal
ABILITIES have been increased.
The cost of maintaining the ca
lals which are owned by the farm.
rs varies from 80 cts. to S1.00 per
ere per year.
The following are the market
alues of the products of the soil
t the ranch, there being ready
ale for everything raised in the
alley.
Wheat sl.25 per GENITAL.
'arley LOS "
,orn LOO {" r- Il
lay 600 to s8 per
Eton.
logs 4 cts per pound
Dpies 5 q g ,
'otatoes s." &C {"
'attle from s11 to $18 de- .
[livered in Stafford.
[ilk cows S25.00 to $4,000
There is at present about 11S 4,
liles of irrigatlng canals and main |
itches, not including the Lateral :
itches which will make the total
everal times this amount. This
ives ample water to assure crops
II about $4,000 acres. When the {
Enterprise canal is finished it will
vater several thousand acres of Z
ich table and bottom land. 1t
as been estimated that a quarter
million acres of additional land :
ould be irrigated if storage dams
,ere built. This could be done I
l several places, notably at the
arrows about Is miles from SAT-
,rd where box canyon exists I
through which the river passes.
t is from this point the Enterprise =.
are building their canal. |
Graham county covers an area
1000 square miles.
The ella valley is 35 miles from
he narrows to the edge of the res.
rvation, with an average width of
ottom lands of Two miles, the dis
,nce between the foot hills being
tx miles. The valley is fanked G
n the north by the Gila mountains t
nd on the south by the Graham Q
Mount Graham being ,
ne highest peak, with an altitude
{ ten thousand feet above sea level.
Although but little prospecting .
us been done in either the Gila (
7 Graham mountains, the few !
roperties which have been dc. Q
eloped show that the ore body 3
practically inexhaustable; while |
opper predominates, there is both /
old and silver in paying quantities I