New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-24
CONDITIONS IN ARIZONA.
GOVERNOR BRODIE's REPORT TO THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
TIE NEED OF IRRIGATION TO DEVELOP
THE GREAT AGRICULTURAL TERRI
CONGRATULATIONS FOR
STATEHOOD.

STATEHOOD.
Faosnix. Ariz.. Nov. % (speciaD:-The annual re-
mort Of Governor Alexander O. Brodie NJ Arizor.
- The Secretary Of the Interior was recently made
public. The report is somewhat more dieested
have been the reports OF former years and has
ben trieted to great an extent as nossil,Ia
though particular attention has been paid to all
data that viii show the condition and industrial
progress OF the Territory. The population of the
territory IS estimated at about 10000. of which
. 1863 are Indians There are sixteen incorporated
cities, four If which Phoenix. Tucson Prescott and
Jerome, have over two thousand population
Especial attention is paid to taxation and taxable
property The total official assessment Of the Terri
tory amounts TO S590S3l III. The tax rate is eener
ally excessively high, due TO many causes but
mainly 10 the inadequate method of listing and
assessing property, which throws the greater part
Of the burden on the small holder and does not
provide returns from the larger and more extensive
holders. This allows the great wealth producing
mining industries to escape on a comparatiyelv
small assessment Besides this It is impossible 20
make accurate lists of range cattle and horses
for assessment proper and just listing of all the
property IN the Territory will result in lowering
The tax rate, the securing Of the necessary funds
for the proper maintenance OF the Territorial gov
eminent without unjust burdens on any and give
added encouragement to the investment OF capital.
\ just and equitable listing and taxation OF all
large producing add valuable mines would work no
hardship all then would bear their share in
securing revenue to the Territory in which their
work progresses and in which they gain their large
returns in cash income.
The assessments by counties are: Apache. $50
~: Cochise. $4O504S4; Coconino. s4456.475: ella
a 0so; Graham. s3.SSS75 Maricopa, So SIS $50; No
hsve, s9s9,l5l; Navajo sos2.so5: Pima. s8725.55I;
PinaL 81 6S0.95e: Santa Cruz. Sl.S035l1: Yavapai,
E220735. Yuma, S,059.342
The valuation placed on railroad property aggre-
gates 81 9sS l34 on 1.o52 miles The Pullman company
Is assessed at S55G4S There 462 miles OF rail-
ways exempt from taxation for periods OF years.
The net gain Of taxable property during the year
has been S229346. The main item of taxation is
town Improvements. which exceeds S5,000.0C0. The
1sl patented mines are assessed only 81 s57 s25.
end their improvements at sl749,237 Railroad land
grants are assessed at an average of 90 cents
acre broad gauge railroads are assessed at $4,szt
p mile. and narrow guage at $S.5S3. The tax levy
for territorial purposes is S157 each 800 OF val
uation, the amount being divided between nineteen
several funds. The net Indebtedness Of the Terri
tory is $l055 46l 60 At the date Of the report the
Territory had hand Sill O75 81 deposited in four
Territorial banks and with New-York trust com
pany.
Concerning irrigation, the Governor states that
n Arizona the terms irrigation and agriculture
should be indissolubly linked together. all sue
cess in agriculture depends on irrigation enter
prises carried TO success sful conclusion Arizona
contains within her borders 100000 OF land
susceptible TO irrigation, Of which 100000 acres
have been utilized for farms and homes and for the
reclamation of which the available water supply,
the natural flow Of the streams. has been applied
L ste fullest extent In many instances an en-
deavor has made TO reclaim too much land
for the natural surface flow. which. notably with
the drouth Of the last few years has brought
about new condition Of affairs in the agricultural
interests the Territory, giving rise TO the ques
ton OF how best TO secure added water supply
which will not only furnish the required amount
properly to rrigate those lands already reclaimed.
hut which will in addition allow the reclamation
Of thousands Of acres lying dormant.
This condition will be met in the future by the
enforcement of the law passed at the last session
Of Congress and approved by the President. com
monty known as the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Act
This law will ultimately be Of the greatest benefit
70 the arid West, by its application new homes
will be esta bIished by the reclamation of the major
portion Of that arid region now valueless as
source Of revenue or for homes. At time in the
history of the country has so beneficial law 70
the arid West been placed upon the statute books.
and as the years 90 by It's benefits will be appre-
ciated to a greater extent Arizona lays claim to
generous share Of the benefits to accrue from the
application Of the act for the reason that nowhere
IN the United States can be found a more produc-
soil large areas that can be made
ready for irrigation for so small an expenditure.
and q climate mild as 70 allow the successful
cultivation Of all semi-tropical plants, which pro-
duce so large return an
Irrigation has been carried on in Arizona since
prehistoric times. is attested by the ruins Of
ancient canals. and villages once peopled by
extent on agriculture. There is reason why
in the future under a proper system Of reservoir,
the State should not be again peopled by prosper
Gus and contented citizens benefited and enriched
BY the products Of the soil. Government aid 70
irrigation enterprises is entirely untried. IS
witnessed by the system established in India
under government control. and that great system
lately begun in the valley Of the Nile.
Railway building in the last year has been more
active generally than in any other year IN the
history Of the Territory. TIE FL Paso and South
western Railway has been built from FL Paso TO
Bishee. and through trains now running 10
Bisbee this line. Freight and passenger rates
have been materially lowered owing 10 competing
lines entering southeastern Arizona. The Tomb
stone branch Of the FL Paso and Southwestern
Railway is being constructed, running from
Fairbank 10 Tombstone. This road Will be ex-
tended 70 College Peak, where connection VIII be
made with the main line. Extensive improvements
have also been made on the Santa Fe, Prescott and
PhoeniX Railway. The Phoenix and Eastern Rail
way, which construction work has just been
begun, Is TO connect Phoenix with Benson. the
Southern Pacific a distance Of $50 miles. This
road viii give additional eastern outlet to the
mining and agricultural products OF the Territory.
The report refers TO the fact that in the northern
part Of Arizona lie the largest pine forests in the
United States. covering almost unbroken area Of
tel thousand square miles Reserves or the forests
ssye been made by the government thus providing
md the cutting of without the consent Of the
In Arizona commercial affairs. education. society
eA Lle cites ana tOHIS ali receive lielT
OF growth because Of the development OF some rich
mining district which makes II possible for other
industries 10 thrive. Few counties IN Arizona pre-
sent exceptions to this rule studied II VIII be
FOUND that scarcely a community in Arizona has
not sprung up more or less directly through the in
huence of the mining development Therefore, II
must he conceded that mining stands first and fore
most IN planting the outposts of civilization In new
districts and in unnhabioed mountains and adding
each year TO the taxable wealth OF the Territory
snd 70 individual prosperity, There is scarcely
mountain range in Arizona Of any Importance that
IS Tot highly mineraIized. Mining camps are now
found from one end OF the Territory TO the other.
Al heir