The copper era., 1906-11-22
GOVERNOR KIBBEY MAKES
CONCISE ANNUAL REPORT.
Past Fiscal Year Has Been Most Pros
porous in History of Arizona.

Advance copies of the report of
the governor of Arizona to the secre-
tary of Arizona has been made pub
I lie. The report is dated September
| l, and deals in a clear cut manner
with the conditions of the territory
for the past fiscal year. The report
shows unmistakably that the fiscal
year just closed has been one of the
most prosperous in the history of
Arizona. Its taxable wealth has in
creased about eight million dollars
and its population has been increas-
ing for several years past at the rate
of seven per cent. per annum. Be-
ginning his report, the governor
says, addressing the secretary of the
interior.
"Arizona has had a prosperous
year. In some parts of the territory,
where there are in progress very
active mining developments, the
population is increasing rapidly; par
ticularly is this so in Cochise and
Gila counties. The irrigation works
undertaken by the government under
the national irrigation act are pro-
crossing, and, while neither of them
has yet reached that stage of con-
struction rendering them available
for the actual storage. diversion, or
supply of water, the assurance of
their early completion has served to
encourage and make hopeful the
agricultural interests.
Bountiful rains in all parts of the
territory have kept the ranges in
good condition, and the cattle and
sheep industries are especially pros
porous.
Peace and good will haye prevailed
throughout the territory to a greater
extent, probably, than ever before.
The increase of population and the
incidents of rapidly developing in
dustries throughout the territory
have strong influence to restrain
the vicious and reckless elements re-
garded as inseparable from a new
society, and they encourage and pro-
mote the growth of those elements
essential to the good order and in
tellectuaI and moral progress OF the
community.
No system for the collection of
general statistics has been provided
by the legislature, and detail, accu-
rate statements of the production of
the range, field and mine are not OBJ
tainable and can only be estimated.
POPULATION.
1 estimate the present population
of Arizona to be approximately $780,
600. There is good reason to believe,
as pointed out last year, that the
population of Arizona is increasing
at the rate of per cent. per year.
IMMIGRATION.
The bulk of Arizona's foreign i'm
migration comes from Mexico.
Large numbers of Mexicans living in
the states of Sonora, Sinaloa and
Chihuahua are in the habit of coming
to Arizona in search of employment
in the mines and on the railroads
Many of them return to their homes
after accommodating something, but
not a few bring their families and
stay. 1t has been found that Ameri-
cans seldom seek employment in rail-
way construction, and almost never
in work as railroad section hands, ex-
cept for very brief periods.
LABOR.
The year has been one of great
prosperity for all classes of labor.
In most lines of skilled labor the de-
mand has exceeded the supply, and
there has beena marked shortage in
the supply of unskiiled labor.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The financial condition of the ter
ritory this year is better than ever
before. The cash held by the terri
torial treasurer on June 30, 1906,
amounted to S279, 1880, the largest
in our history, and larger by $6,52l.46
than at the corresponding date last
year. A new record was established
for the general fund also, the balance
on June 30, 1906, amounting to $685.
435. .S4, an increase of $21, ,lOO.21 over
the corresponding date last year.
The receipts from all sources dur
ing the fiscal year amounted to $780,,
GA. SO, and the disbursements to 1884,,
1887.
The "net debit of the territory
was 81, ,O22, ,972.43, a decrease of S10,-
600 for the year, bonds representing
territorial indebtedness to that
amount having been paid.
The total funded debt on behalf of
counties and cities was 81, 100, ,302.8 SO.