Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-05-31

OF the east do not exist in Arizona. The
average rainfall is light and cannot be
depended upon for the raising of crops
except in the mountainous regions. But
| tine mountains accumulate vast bodies
Of snow, which melt on the surface and
| percolate through the hills to springs
below, thus affording water supply
available for irrigation. This valuable
possibility has not as yet been adequate
ly conserved. Tracts are found here and
there which appear like gardens, show
ing that water will do when properly
applied to the irrigation of the soil. In
the Salt river valley in the vicinity of
Phenix these results are especially ap-
parent. Large tracts Of well watered
lands are there TO be seen, formerly COW
cred with sagebrush, but now bearing
orange trees and all other kinds of trop-
ical fruits and producing enormous
quantities of alfalfa and of various
kinds Of grain. The valleys at the south
ern slope of the mountainous region are
all adapted to the purposes of irriga-
tion, and the early future is sure to see
them once more thickly populated.
1.-THE irrigation of the arid regions of
the west is still in its infancy. Its pos
sibilities ale almost beyond human COM
putation. This subject should be taken
in hand at once by the government of
the United States, which still owns
most of the lands. 1t is easily practical
BILE for the government TO utilize the
revenues obtainable by the renting of
pasturage and the selling of timber and
land in the construction of irrigation
works which would fertilize hundreds
of thousands of acres now worthless
and make them readily salable atat least
$50 per acre from the start.
''The chief source of profit in Arizona
has not yet been touched upon. refer
TO its mineral wealth. The mountains
carry frequent veins and deposits of
valuable metals. Many gold mines of
high grade are now profitably worked.
Silver ores abound, and the production
of copper has of late assumed the great
est Importance of all. A vast deposit of
copper ere appears to traverse the en-
eibO lIOiii thO SlduO NdLy oll
of the Colorado on the north to the re-
public of Mexico on the south. 1t is
successfully worked on very large
scale in the vicinity of Jerome among
the mountains; of Globe, about the CEN
ter of the territory, and of Bisbee, near
the southern boundary. From the fa-
nous United Verde mine at Jerome,
northerly across to the grand canyon,
the country is now full of explorers and
prOspectors, all loaded with samples
and anxious 10 open their mines. The
development of copper mine on a
large scale requires much cash, but tbe
results are so attractive that this indus
try is sure to increase enormously in
the near future. The future success of
the transcOntinental railways is assured
by reason of the untold wealth to be
found in the mountains which they
traverse. And in the Judgment of those
most conversant with the general situa-
ton the territory of Arizona is the one
which promises the greatest results.
Mr.. Walker is native of Vermont |
and received his education at Middle !
bury college He entered the Union
army and rose to the rank of lieutenant !
colonel Then he became lawyer and
was associated with the late Elliott F.
Shepard. Mr.. Walker was appointed
1ne of the original members of the in
5erstate commerce commission and re-
signed from that body to accept his
present position with the Santa Fe rail
'Oad. WILLIAM B. RUTGER.