Arizona silver belt., 1899-03-09

Mir. Pursley who is the active man ager of the concern. lie has capa- ble assistant in Bert Frye who is we'll known ts many of our readers. The mill is kept running day and night to supply the demand for their several brands of flour, which have high rep utation. Globe is one of their best may. kets, consuming six or eight carloads Os' four, bran and grain per month.
 Stafford is soon to have one of the largest and most modern roller flour mills in Arizona. now being built by J. T. Owens. The mill proper is three stories in height. The sales room, bin house and engine house will be construc- ted of brick also. The capacity of the mill will be l25 barrels per day, and 1t will be completed before April 20.
 B. Schoenbaum, of the Stafford Mar ble and Stone Works, Is building up fine business. He Is an expert in de- signing monuments and working mar ble. w. H. Moffett, late of Globe, Is now associated with him.
 Stafford has two hotels, the Groesbeck and Stafford House, both good hostel cries where guests are well cared for.
 We spent pleasant half hour with J. J. Birdno, editor and proprietor of the Guardian, who gave us much in- formation about Stafford and the valley. Tie Guardian is we'll supported by the people of Stafford, and Is prospering. MT. Birdno contemplates making many improvements in his office.
 The Arizoniau is now conducted by A. D. Webb, and the improvement in the paper since he took charge of it, Is very noticeable.
 The crop prospects in the Gila valley are excellent. The acerage of grain has been increased about twenty per cent. A failure of the grain crops in the valley was never known. The fruit crop also, promises well.
 We were cordially greeted by Tbos. T. Hunter, an old friend of our senior editor. Mir. Hunter is the town mag istrate.
 Rev. F. W. Downs, who was at one time pastor of the Globe M. E. church, has a fiourishing chuich in Stafford. His family is at present is in San Diego.
 The Gila Valley telephone line, con- meeting all the towns from Solomon vile to Pima, greatly facilitates busi- ness-,iu fact is almost indispensable. The line will probably be extended to Clifton at an early date.
 The Arizona Smelling Co. is grading for 40 ton furnace to be erected on the opposite side of the river from Saf- ford, to work copper ores from the Lone Star district.
 The most important new project in the Gila valley is the Enterprise canal l which taps the river six miles above | and when completed will ! be 35 miles long, and is expected to re- claim 25, ,0O0 acres of land. The head and one mile and half of the canal has been constructed. It will require several years to complete the canal.
 Pima, Thatcher and other towns in the valley are growing.
 Alexander Bros. with stores at Fort Thomas and Geronimo, are doing 8 arge business. Robinson & Co. have to the business of J. N. Por- ter at Geronimo, and are getting 8 arge share of the trade.
 At Geronimo we were pleased to meet Mir. and Mrs. J. B. Magruder, of Globe. Mrs. Magruder md her daughter Miss Huxley have charge of the dining room Of the Simp. son hotel, and Mir. Magruder is dis Densing liquid refreshments to thirsty The hotel is well patron Zed.