Arizona republican., 1899-03-31

In Maricopa county the cattlemen bring in their grown steers from the ranges and place them upon the alfalfa where they are fattened for the Cali fornia markets, and large part of the beef eaten in southern California is supplied from the Salt River valley.
 Cattle raising in this valley has al- ways been a most safe and profitable business and was never more flourish ing that it is at present.
 OTHER STOCK.
 The cattle industry is naturally the largest end of the stock raising in Ari- zona and still the sheep add a large value to the resources of Arizona. They are owned principally in the mountain country in the northern DOT tion of the territory. Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Yavapai counties have the bulk of them. Few sheep are run in southern Arizona; just why no one has ever found out, for large areas of Pima, Cochise and Gila counties would make admirable sheep ranges. The sheepmen of Arizona have had several very prosperous years and with both mutton and wool commanding high prices they are indeed to be congratu- lated.
 The ruling of the interior depart ment that sheep could not range upon the forest reserves in northern Ari- zona for a time seemed a serious men, ace to the industry, but later modified tions have allowed them the privilege for the present and it is confidently be- lieved they will be still further changed and that the forest reserves instead of being a drawback to the sheep will prove a blessing by guard ing the mountains against fire and other evils.
 The proposition that the sheepmen are responsible for forest fires is a great mistake. No one dreads it more than he and the writer has spent many weary days fighting fire with the sheepmen all over the mountains of northern Arizona.
 The mountains are the sheepmen's paradise and he has no desire to burn it up.
 The sheep business is enc that re- quires much more experience than the cattle business, and at the same time requires a great deal less capital. No greenhorn should think he can buy a 1000 head of sheep and go into the and make his fortune with them He will find that like every other business proposition it requires and business foresight. However, no small investment shows such quick returns as does an invest ment in sheep, and under the care of an experienced man large and quick returns are made on the money.
 HORSES.
 Outside of the horses raised in the | Salt River and other irrigated valleys | the horse is a back number. There are thousands and thousands of what | is known as range horses scattered | over the country that are, owing to the | nroads of steam, electricity and the l 1orseless carriage practically without 1 anX value.
 They are hardy and well bred, but | heir day has passed. In the Salt | River valley many high bred horses Ire raised which find a good sale as lrivers and carriage horses. Such lnimals will always bring a good price and be eagerly sought after, but he day of the branded range horse has sone-never to return.
 HOGS.
 In hogs Arizona has a great field for development The hog raisers of Phoenix have demonstrated that there s big money in raising alfalfa hogs nd finishing them with barley. Thou ands are shipped all over the territory md to Los Angeles for slaughtering nd there has been a large profit in it or the raiser.
 Arizona hogs are healthy and the ,bsence of cold winters makes it nost ideal breeding ground. In Tonto Basin where the oaks are plentiful ems of thousands of hogs of the razor ack" variety run wild the year round nd are shot for their meat like any vild game, as there is practically no wnership for them and it is too far rom market to think of utilizing them q any way.
 Taking it all together Arizona's live tock resources are almost limitless nd there is a greater field for develop rent in any given direction than any ther western state can offer.
 Cold and blizzards, deep SHOWS, oofs and ears frozen off, these are Ome of the sorrows that an Arizona tock raiser does not have to contend 7ith, while his cattle can run out of DOTS for 365 days in each year and ever suffer.
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