The Florence tribune., 1898-04-02

advantages, and a large increase in popula- tion will follow. Florence is at an elevation of 1858 feet above sea level, situated near the railroad station of Casa Grande. with which t IS connected by an elegantly. equipped duly stage line. Going and coming stages run by the old Casa Grande ruins, and passengers are allowed a short time to in- spect them. There are many handsome pri- vate residences in Florence, several brick stores, good hotel, an excellent graded secret societies, a Commercial Club, a news paper (the only one in the countyl, and the handsomest court house in the Terrltorys Here Is held the United States Court for the district composed of Gila, Graham and Pinal counties. The streets are lined with shade trees, which impart af air of comfort on the warmest days.
 PRODUCTS OF THE VALLEY. Unlike the Salt river, the waters of the | Sila are fresh and pure; the soil contains no ilkali, is deep, rich gray ash, especially adapted to the growth of the prune, oiiye, almond peach fig, pear, apricot and fruits l of all kinds, which pay largely on the invest ment. It is also the natural home of alfalfa, which grows in the most prolific manner. | The grape does exceptionally well in this valley, and wine and raisin culture is destin- [ cd to become prominent industry. Citrus fruits have been cultivated to limited extent; there are number of orange trees in the neighborhoed of Florence which bear their golden fruit each year without pro- lection, and few date palm trees are also in full bearing: The season is from six weeks 1 to two months earlier than Southern Califor- mia, which gives fruit growers an appreciat- cd advantage in ..
 THE EARLY MARKETS.
 The absence of fogs and nightly dews is Q formidable obstacle to the destructive and unsightly scnle-bue. and the fruits of the valley are all bright and clean. All the agri- cultural products of temperate and semi tropic zones are easily grown here, the long seasons giving succession of crops that land.
 PIECES OF LAND.
 Improved lands, with government title and water right, con be bought for from so tc $50 per acre, according to location and i'm, hood and to the south of the Casa Grands ruins there are thousands of acres covered with heavy growth of mesquite timber yei choicest in the valley. Water in inexhausti ble quantity is found at a depth of iron twenty to thirty feet; in fact, a river seem to be flowing underneath. Here is splen did opportunity to take up and improve land with pumping system of irrigation which Is said to be successful on small tracts However, with the completion of the Butte reservoir, pumping will be thing of thu past and 1t is only mentioned here for tn, purpose of showing what can be done, and tt magnify the further fact that what was onc' considered
 AN UxINHABITABLR DESERT
 Is in truth the most productive land on tn, globe. and that the~eis water in abundance to bring every foot of it under cultivation only waiting for the magic wand of capita to develop 1t. There Is no water-storag, scheme on the Pacific coast that has one hal the natural advantages and so few engineer ing difficulties as the Butte reservoir. Her, nature has built the abutments in ever-liv ing rock. and all that is left for man to do I to put in the hendgate, the bluffs which form the gorge being. only separated by a paltr, 220 feet A country isdrained through thf narrow canyon POO miles square, representing 400O0 square miles. or larger than Maine an. Massachusetts combined. The rainfall is sui fcient to fillthe reservoir twice year, ana the land to be brought under cultivation l practically limitless. This may read like fairy tale, but it is every word true, and ha been verified time and again.
 CASA GRAsDE RESERVOIR.