The National tribune., 1909-02-11

tains and abruptly scarped mesas. Moth
| ing grows on these but bunch grass
and scattered. stunted trees. The south
ern part-of the Territory is even more
dry and desert-like, with the noun
tains nearly all of volcanic origin.
1t is believed that Arizona is richer
in minerals than any other portion Of
the United States, but these have been
| inaccessible. owing to the lack of trans
portation facilities over she rugged
mountains and the absolutely waterless
| mesas. OF late years, however, these
mines have been more generally work
cd. and row Arizona ranks next to
Michigan and Montana in copper pro-
duction, producing more than one-ffth
of the total output in the United States.
Gold mining comes next in Importance,
with an average annual output of over
S2,500,000.~ Silver mining was at one
time quite profitable, but has shown
a strong decrease in value of output.
In 1900 it was 1,57s,000 ounces, of a
value of s1,074,000. The Arizona mines
were known and worked By the Span
iards. There are also lead and coal de-
posits which promise much. and there
has been a considerable output of plat
mum, mercury, tin, nickel, iron, salt.
and plaster of Paris, while such
semi-preciouS stones as the opal,
garnet, the onyx and sapphire have at
tracted much attention, and the mines
are worked to considerable extent.
Fine chalcedony and marble are also
found. Stock raising is the leading
agricultural industry, with great herds
of cattle, sheep and horses. In the 10
years preceding 1900 the number of
cattle was 100000, or double that Of
the previous decade, while sheep were
668,000. or treble that of 10 years be-
fore The horses were LOG, 900. also an
inn nf no
lands are mostly in the northern pla-
teau. since the rainfall in the south Is
insufficient to produce grass. Much ir-
rigation is going on, particularly around
Phenix, where there are $4,000 acres
under water, or 81 per cent of all in
the Territory. The farm land is only
about 2.7 per cent of the total area.
All kinds of crops are raised on the
irrigated land, and the cultivation OF
figs, raisin grapes and almonds is par
ticularly promising. and the Agricul-
tural Department has high hopes of
the successful raising of dates. There
is little manufacturing outside of the
smelling and refining of copper.
The Territory claims the largest mile
age of railroads in proportion to its in
habiants of any part of the United
States. The population of Arizona in
1870 was 1858. but this had grown in
1900 to 122,931. showing an increase
greater than that of most of the neigh
boring States and Territories. This.
however, was only IL person to the
square mile. There were 10000 more
males than females.
The largest town in the Territory is
Tucson, with 1881, Pheni;. coming next,
with 5,544; Prescott, 1859, and Jerome,
1851. There were 26,400 Indians in
the Territory, a decrease of 5000 during
the decade. OF these 20,160 were Nav
ajos.
1t would appear from the ruins of
cities, aqueducts and Notifications that
Arizona was once rather densely popu-
lated by a powerful, fairly civilized,
warlike race. The ruins of great towns
and cities and strong Notifications with
important irrigation bitches dot all the
valleys and canyons of the Territory.
Arizona has been seeking Statehood
since 1891, when a Constitution was
adopted by the people. but admission
denied by Congress. The population is
so scattered that education is difficult,
but great attention has been paid to it.
and there is a compulsory education
law. under which 79 per cent of the
children are enrolled in the public
schools, The average length of the
school term has exceeded 125 days. The
ioreign-born population is less than one
in FIVE. and most of these are Mexicans.
The to rate is SIS cents per 500, for
the T. tory has the enormous indebt-
einesa Il s1,07G,5s0. At the last cleo
lion for Delegate TO Congress Marcus
smith, Democrat, received 10,494 votes
% 1921 for Fowler, Republican, and
1913 for Gibson, Prohibitionist. The
Territorial Legislature has 10 Demo-
Gratis and two Republicans in the Sem
ate and IT Democrats and seven Re-
publicans in the House. making DEM
ocratic majority on joint ballot Of 1S.