The Florence tribune., 1898-03-05

advantages, and large increase in populR- tion will follow. Florence is at an elevation of 1858 feet above sea level. situated near the Gila river, twenty-six miles northwest of the railrond station of Casa Grande. with which 1t is connected by an elegantly equipped deily stage line. Going and coming stnges run by the old Casa Grande ruins, and passengers are allowed short time to in spect 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, Commercial Club, news paper (the only one in the countyl, and the hands0nest court house in the Territory. 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 an air of comfort on the warmest days.
 PRODUCTS OF THE VALLEY.
 Unlilke the Salt river, the waters of the Sila are fresh and pure; the soil contains no tlkali, is deep, rich gray ash, especially adapted to the growth of the prune, olive, almond, peach, fig, pear, apricot and fruits of all kinds, which pay largely on the invest ment It is also the natural home of alfalfa which grows in the most Prolhc manner. The grape does exceptionally well in this valley, and wine and raisin culture IS destin- sd to become q prominent industry. Citrus fruits have been cultivated to limited extent; there are a number of orange trees in the neighborhood of Florence which bear their gslden fruit each year without pro- teetion, and a few dete palm trees are also in full bearing: TEe season Is from SIX weeks to two months earl1er than Southern Calitor- nia which gives fruit growers nn appreciat- cd advantage in
 THE EARLY MARKETS.
 Tho absence of fogs and nightly dews is Q formidable obstacle to the destructive and unsightly scale-bug, and the fruits or 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 a succession of crops that double or treble the productive value of the
 PRICES OF LAND.
 Improved lands. with government title and water right, can be bought for from S20 to $50 per acre, according to location and i'm proyements In the immediate neighbor- hood and to tho south of the Casa Grande | ruins there are thousands of acres covered l with heavy growth of mesquite timber vel open to settlement. These are among the choicest in the valley. Water in inexhausti 1 ble quantity Is found at a depth of iron twenty to thirty feet; in fact, river seemi 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 n1s mpRg apyg % 9e beres b5ees for or sh sb 1 purpose Of showing what can be done, and tt magnify the further fact that what was onc' | considered
 AN UNISHABITABLR DESERT
 Is in truth the most productive land on tn, | globe and that there is water in abundance to bring every foot of it under cultivation only waiting for the magic wand of capita to develop it. There is no water-storuS, scheme on the Pacific coast that has one-hal the natural advantages and so few engineer l ing difficulties as the Butte reservoir. Her nature has built the abutments in eyer-liy ing rock, and all that is left for man to do i to put in the headgate. the bluffs which forn the gorge being only separated by paltr, 220 feet. 4 country is drained through thi narrow canyon 200 miles square, representing 4n o00 square miles, or larger than Maine an. Massachusetts combined. The rainfall Is suf ticient to fill the reservoir twice year, ant the land to be brought under cultivation practically limitless. This may read like fairy tale. but it is every word true, and ha been verified time and again.
 CASA GRAspE RESERVOIR.
 ...--,....;,. ,,e +ba Capa GranIa Valia