Arizona republican., 1908-04-01
RANcHING IN THE
 SALT RIVER VALLEY.

To the Editor of The Republican:
 Sir:-The history of a ranch in this valley for the past twenty years will give some idea of the productiveness of the soil, although in the past water conditions were often very discourag- ing. When water was plenty, we had fat" prosperous years, but the dry lean" years were bad for the spirits of the ranchers. as well as for fine bank accounts. But the ranchers with pluck held on, and from the broad smiles now on their faces. We are as- sured they are looking forward to a fiat" year every year.
 This ranch of 160 acres is in the Cave Creek wash, so called, on Grand avenue six miles northwest of Phoenix It is known among the ranchers of the valley as the Watermelon Smith ranch from the large. luscious melons MT. Smith raised in years long gone by. Eighty acres of it were once in friut, apricots. pears. peaches, nee tarines, pomegranites. and a few oranges and grape fruit. But in the fat years, the market was glutted. and in the dry ones the trees withered and died. till now the fruit question Is almost only a memory. but a memory that can be made useful to prospective fruit growers. Enough of apricots. pears. oranges and grapefruit remain to give us something to show-some- thing that tells of the past that We can brag about.
 The other half of the quarter" was planted in alfalfa. And the alfalfa. how it does grow when given it's proper supply of water! We q have a partner my wife) rave about ninety acres of alfalfa, planted within three years and over fifty acres of old al- falfa pasture planted about fifteen years ago. Forty acres of this and ten acres of old orchard ground will be renewed next season.
 The stock on a ranch like this is considerable. six or eight working. riding and driving horses. eight or ten young horses and mules. twenty-five dairy cows and about hundred young cattle. The latter are sold when in condition. when from two to three years old The cows require the time of milker. He does all of the work about the cows, cares for the cream. and feeds the separated milk to the calves. pigs and chickens. The turkeys and chickens must not be for gottenS They need attention to make them pay. but it pays to have them. My partner says so. at least.
 We have about an acre of land that specially shows what can be done un- der the Arizona canal in the Cave Creek wash. One-fourth of an acre is in oranges and grape fruit. principally the latter. This patch of ground probably receives as little attention as any part of the ranch. It has paid over one hundred dollars a year for each year since we bought the ranch. over four years ago. and the past years crop brought $1516O besides all the oranges and grape fruit we cared to use. About three-fourth of an acre in asparagus has netted from S75 to s125 per year.
 Barley, wheat and oats are profit able for hay or grain. but oue crop of 15O acres this year is principally on leased land and is fine
 After the renewal of the old alfalfa fields next season. we feel that We will have a ranch that will very fully show the possibilities of the Salt River NdlttN. we CdH dSh NuO come to see. to probe us with ques- tions.
 They can dig down in the soil many feet, and it is all the same as on the surface. and can drink bright spark ling water from a depth 0; one hun dred feet. free from any taint of aka Ii. We have now. at the dawn of the new era, what we can brag about. but when we have fully entered upon it, when the Granite Reef diversion dam turns the water of the Salt River into the canals without waste. when the Roosevelt storage dam restraints the flood waters and holds them for prof- table use during the summer months. when our canals and laterals and gates and checks are repaired so that we may economize water. then even our most doubting friends. who come to learn of this rich valley will go away saying: Tt was true report I heard in mine own land. howbeit, I believed not the words, until I came. and mine eyes had seen 1t and behold the half was not told me"
 E. E. JACK.
 Phoenix. Ariz.. R. R. No.3. March. g. 1908.