The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-02-27
THE SOUTHLAND
ANDITS PRODUCTS
A Colony of Hand County People
In Arizona


was very little to interest the way
farer from Elpaso, Texas, until w
reached this capital of Arizona, wit
its orange groves and pre-histori
ruins.
Just out of Elpaso, however, o
the Rio Grand river, is located on
of the great smelters owned by tn
Guggenheim interests, and the rive
crossing is over one of the worlfs
high bridges. The Rio Grandis
muddy, and like the Missouri, its
current is as variable as the loy of
a high school maiden.
In the main, we passed thr an
other desert waste in New iexlco
and Arizona more sage brush,
palms, cactus, sand plains, e., SIM
liar to Texas. Here and tere ap-
peared patches of bunch gtss, with
small herds of cattle feedig. They
were mainly white faces, vith their
horns on, and rather scrWny look
ing-in fact they put or in mind of
our own cattle 20 years ago, when
we thought the sciece OF cattle
raising consisted in getting them
through the winter N snow broth
and prairie scenery
These cattle looFlike an eXagger-
ated edition of tn razor back hogs
we saw running through the brush
of Arkansas andMississippi.
Yes, we we we're told by fellow
travellers that this desolate waste is
a fine cattle chntry. If it is-why
Hand county IS a cattle heaven. In
200 mile run we noticed only one
stock yards corral for the accomo-
dation of this industry of shipping
cattle. g..
The Southern Pacific R'y. is the
whole thing in this southwest coun-
try. It's engines are run by crude
oil instead of coal; its track work is
all done by Mexicans, who live in
cars along the track like our dagoes
in the north; its trains of refrigera-
tor cars carrying California fruit to
the east. But a traveller wonders
how any one ever had the hardihood
to build a road through such a coun-
try.
Arizona's Capital
In the center of this immense tract
of apparently useless country lies
the Salt river valley, surrounding
Phoenix, capital of the territory, a
pleasant little city of some 10000
people.
Here we were met by our former
townsman, Chas. Miller, and taken
to his home, where we enjoyed a
few days visit. He is nicely located
with his wife and two babies, in a
building owned by Mr. H. H. Far
rington. Mrs Miller's parents, Rev.
VIM Bates and wife, arrived from
Tacoma a week ago and will stay
with them. Mrs Miller's health is
greatly improved here. after win
ter in this warm climate, and they
will stay a year or SO.
This valley is an oasis. By the
use of irrigation bitches it has be-
come very fertile, and grows every
thing found in the far-famed south
ern California soil. such as oranges,
lemons, grape fruit, almonds, olives,
pears, peaches, dates, etc. in fact
everything possible in a semi-tropi-
cal cline. The water for this irri-
CATION comes from rivers from the
nearby mountains.
But Phoenix is an oasis in more
than one sense to the tourist from
Hand county who happens this way.
We have had the pleasure of meel-
ing over thirty people who have
been in Hand county and at Wes-
sington.
The first citizens from our county
to locate here were A. V. Van Dorm
and wife, also his son William and
family
Mr. V. will be remembered as
pioneer of Bates twp, and promi-
nent in the early politics of the
county.
Mr. H. H. harrington and family
are here, and own considerable prop
erty. Mr. H. was also an early day
resident of Bates twp. and county
commissioner of Hand county. With
his estimable wife and widowed
daughter, Mrs Roberts, he occupies
a fine two-story brick home. Three
other married daughters and their
families are also here. They are Mrs
A. Stafford, Mrs c. Richardson and
Mrs James McNair. Two Young