Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-08-23
ARIZONA THE LAND OF MANY
 FERTILE VALLEYS.
Millions of Acres of Arable Lands Richer Than New England.
Continued from Page Two.)


 to be hopeless desert, and those who live here are objects of pity and so- licitude. But, while the rocks gre many and the sand covers a large area of the territory, these little valleys have just described are as fertile as the soil of Egypt or the prairies of Iowa. and nowhere can a larger return per acre be obtained if water is available. The reports of the geological survey credit Arizora with 1O,000,000 acres of arabic lands-more than all the New England states combined-and the average yield per acre under irrigation is several times as great as can be har- vested from any farm east of the Al leghany mountains Seven crops of al- falfa are cut in some localities near here, and two crops can be harvested from nearly every farm.
 Nearly all of the land that can be easily irrigated has been taken up, and the development of other districts is dependent upon the construction of reservoirs for the storage of the spring floods and expensive irrigation systems. This can only be done by the federal government, and is now contemplated under the Newlands reclamation act. What is known as the Salt River dam, xrhi ioh ic al I1r construction, will make available more than 300,000 acres of the most fertile land in the world. The system that is planned for the Colorado Desert will bring under cultivation about 100000 acres, and the dam at Yuma, which is soon to be constructed, will add 10000 acres to the farming lands of the terri tory This will bring in large popu- lation, because the new territory thus irrigated will be cut up into farms of ten, fifteen and twenty acres each.
 The present population of Arizona, like that of all the other western states and territories, is a frequent topic of discussion. The boomers claim 5000, which is undoubtedly excessive. If there are 150.O0O here it is enough. The census of 1900 showed 122.2l2, includ- ing 26,4S0 Indians, and 22,396 foreign born, chiefly Mexieans. In 1890 the population was Ss,243, including 2s,623 Indians. During the ten years from 1890 to 1900 36,0OO people were added to the population; mostly Americans, and probably there have been as many newcomers during the five years since the census of 1900. As you will no- tice, the Indians are gradually falling off in numbers. They do not breed rapidly under civilizing influences.
 According to the census of 1900 there were twice as many men as women in Arizona, which is accounted for by the number of miners, prospectors and young men who have come down here to seek their fortunes. If the age limits were taken, the eensns would undoubtedly show that a majority of the population are between 9 and 10 years of age-probably higher av craze of young men than any other state or territory. The number Of women and children and the number Of families has increased much more ra- pidly during the past five years The country is settled now, and there is 10 longer any danger of Indian outbreaks. Mining has become regular business instead of gambling speculation. lies is indicated in the tigures l have given you above concerning the schools of Yavapai County.
 The Indians are mostly living on their reservations, but good, many of them are coming out to work in the mines and on the railroads The Mexi- can immigration is nearly all common labor, attracted over the border by the high wages paid by the railroads and mining eOmanies.
 notice that very few health resorts I are advertised in Arizona. The peO- pie are not encouraging sanitariums. They. do not want tuberculous patients, and the leading hotels will not receive them at all If the managers hear a guest cough they get after him imme diately, and if they find him to he a eonsumptive, they notify him that he must take his meals in his room until he can find some other boarding place, or leave town by the next trsir. Phoenix, the capital of the territory, is the only city that is advertised as health resort, and it has a larg. popu- Iation of "lungers Several distin- euished men have spent winters there. 1. and have been cured of consumption. 1. The climate is much hotter than that 1 of Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Denver. Colo I