The Arizona sentinel., 1898-05-07


 much drier than in the parts of Morocco Algiers or Tunis usually visited, and drie than any part of the Valley of the Nil me about the same in quality as the air ol the Nile between Assouan and Wady Halfa, but somewhat cooler.
 ARIZONA.
 Arizona stands at the threshold of a era of wonderful social and industrial de velopment. There can't be doubt abou the fact. The dawn for which she ha waited so long is breaking at last. Ther is every promise of day of great pros perity and permanent upbuilding just be fore her. The impulse of new and ener gizing hope is visible everywhere anon; her people, while the cumulative effect O many things, which made but small i'm pression as they transpired singly, is now commanding for her full share of atten tion and interest abroad among home seekers and capitalists.
 4 lively competition has sprung up fol the possession of things which have hereto fore gone a-begging for ownership. There is a scramble for franchises. Nothing more surely indicates a great industrial awaken ing than this. The rates of interest arc falling to moderate figures. Nothing more surely indicates confidence and competition among the money lenders than this.
 Arizona has reached that climacticel period which every western state has ex, perienced sometime in its history when, after long and weary struggle and doubt, with each side of the balance first up and then down, the clouds of despondency have suddenly rolled away, and sunhurst of energizing hope has thrilled the droop- ing spirits of the people to greater and braver endeavor than before.
 For the last twelve years the subsistence of the great Tombstone boom and the com pletiOn of two transcontinental lines of railroad across her territory-Arizona has rather dropped out of public attention, but in that time she has been quietly ac- cumulating fund of substantial wealth and a force of moral character which qualify her now to rise up and take her destiny in her own hands.
 The population of Arizona is Mexican. This is mistake of great importance fro,h the moral point of view. There is but one considerable center of Mexican population in the territory, the city of Tucson, and even there 1t Is not by any means at pres ent the predominating element. It think 1t Is certain that Arizona has not to-day nearly so large a Mexican population as Colorado and not above one-tenth as much as New Mexico. -"Fitz- Mac," in Denver News.
 FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub feet great interest at present, and will TO ioubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remarkable results that have sprung from very superficial and imperfect culture has de- that the soil and climate of Yuma County are peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural enterprise. The development of these esources IS of the utmost importance and is at racting carefnl attention. Experiments have been made, with care and facts in regard to the culture If different kinds of fruits have been collected which cannot fail to convince, even tbe most skept cal, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County yer Southern California in fruit growing and which must lead to large and varied production, i the most remuneratiye character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his renort ublished in 1886, writes as follows of the rich alleys of the Gila, Colorado and Salt rivers.
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest Il the continent. It is formed of the detritus mich the streams for ages have brought down 'om their mountain homes in their iourney to the ga. By constant overhows and change of channel, | le deposit Of this rich vegetable matter has form soll or extreme fertility, Near tho streams it a dark alluvial mold, we'll adapted to small | rains and grasses. Farther back there is rich | 'ndy loam, mellow and porous, and especially | vorable for fruit culture It has been already l that the productive capacity of these alleys IS not surpassed by lands of equal area in " part Of the United States. So rapid and prolific the growth of the fruits cereals and vegetables at the labor of the cultivator is reduced to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year n be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead California. The farmers plants a cottonwood bling before his door, and within the year he has hade tree twenty-five feet high Alfalfa can be six times during the season, and it is an actual et the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh- en months What State or Territory can make ch showing? The climate, it must be remem- red, is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never Is in these southern valleys. The farmer begins plant in November, and by the middle of May harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit es are blossoming, and the grain fields are sea green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety grains. grasses, fruits and vege ,les grown in the temperate and semitropic e les can be produced in the valleys of Arizona. leat, corn barley, oats and all the small grains e yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to ( acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and 1 the cultivated grasses grow luXuriantly, the q mer giving from eight to ten tons to the acre h year, Every variety of vegetable raised in United States can be grown in Arizona, and d where they found of better quality. Besides the products mentioned, these semi I pical valleys produce cotton, sugar cane, to- i GO, hemp and rice With the exception of the arcane, but little attention is paid to the culti- ion of other staples; but it has been demonstrat that the soil and climate specially adapted | 'heir successful growth. Cotton-growing is no a 'erimeut in Arizona, for it is on record that I en the Europeans first penetrated this region, y found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics de of cotton grown in the Gila valley. But it is their adaptabihty for fruit culture t assures to these valley lands dense popula- s' l and aprosperous future. Almost every var q known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The a ie, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nec- IT