Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-02-08
ARIZONA AS
VIEWED BY
Mr.. GARFIELD

Ndrheiu, secretary OF the interior,
which was made public in Washington
ID. c., last night, apepar number of
matters of considerable interest to Ari.
IONA people
Garfield shows in his report that up
to December 81, 1907, $4,362, 100 had
been expended on the Tonic reservoir
which will cost $6,300,000 when com.
pleted. Garfield says it will be fin
ished in 1911.
On the Laguna project near Yuma
$l,s76,700 had been expended at the
close of 1907. 1t is to cost $4,000, 900
when completed, and like the Tonic
dam, will be completed in 1911.
Garfield states that constantly in
ereasing number of persons are visiting
the national parks and reservations, in
GLIDING the Casa Grande ruins, consist
ing of 4S0 acres near Florence, Pinal
county.
Not including the Grand Canyon of
Arizona, which was created national
monument subsequent to the prepare.
ton of Garfield S report, he shows that
there are three monuments in Arizona
as follows: Petrifed forest, 60,776
acres; Montezuma Castle, 100 acres;
Tonic, 100 acres. Garfield has asked
for an appropriation of $4,000 to main
tain the national monuments.
Interesting sections of Garfield's re.
port are those relating to the devel-
opment of Arizona and New Mexico
which he mentions in the following
manner:
Arizona.
Conditions in the territory are stead
lily improving. There has been grad
ual increase in population, which is
now estimated at 49,, 5000. The financial
condition is better than ever before
Taxable property has increased in the
last three years from s45,000,O00 to
81, 100000, and the rate of taxation
has decreased. There is no difficulty
in more than caring for the current
expenses of the territory and the re-
tirement Of its bonded indebtedness.
The organization and use of the
has been most satisfactory in the en-
forcement of law and order.
The annual school census, taken in
May, gave 33,l67 as the number of
children of school age &c to 81 years.
in the territory. The total number of
children enrolled in the schools was 25,-
$40. This apparently would indicate
that nearly 5000 children fail to at.
tend school; but it is explained that
most pupils finish school at about the
age of Is, although they are enumerated
in the school census until they are 81.
Practically all of the children who at
tend no school are of Mexican parent
age. To remedy the evil of non.at.
tendance at school the late legislature
enacted law which makes attendance
compulsory, under severe penalties for
parents and guardians. There were
293 school districts, employing 626
teachers; l0S men and SIS women. The
average monthly salary paid men teach.
ers was 1880; for women it was
$7l.08.
Not only is the mining wealth of
the territory developing very rapidly.
but the agricultural possibilities have
been enormously increased by the de.
velopment of irrigation projects and
the experiments in dry farming
New Mexico.
There has been an almost unprece-
denied increase in population during
the past year. More than 10000 home
stead filings or over two and one-half
million acres were made. 1t is sig
nifcant that this increase in the agri.
cultural population is not to any great
extent in the river valleys, but is along
the mesas, which until recently had
been given up entirely to grazing. This
fact is due to the success of the dry
farming method. If this proves an ul-
innate success, it is estimated that
nearly 5O,000,000 acres of land in New
Mexico will be available for it.
The population of the territory is
now estimated at almost 100000, gain
of nearly 100 per cent since 1900.
The principal new mineral develop
ment has been coal. The explored
areas cover a million and half acres.
The stock industry next to agriculture
is still the main support of the people
of the territory The reclamation ser
vice has completed two projects in the
lower Pecos valley. In this coming
season the settlers will receive the full
benefit of this improvement.
The financial condition of the terri
tory is excellent.
In education, progress is steady. More
than 1000 teachers are employed and
the total enrolment of scholars is So
900 out of a school population of $4,000
children of school age. The territorial
institutions of higher learning are bet
ter attended than ever before.
There has been some serious diff
Guilty in the disposition by the terri
tory of certain lands granted to it by
the federal government for educational
purposes. 1t has been necessary to in
stitute proceedings to test the validity