The National tribune., 1909-03-25
ARIZONA.
Bright Prospects for the Soon-to be
State.


Hobart Smith, Bisbee, Ariz., rs a
bright, able young man, brim full of
energy and know-how, an excellent
type of the State-builders Of the Far
West. His father was an officer in the
Navy under Farragut. Mr.. Smith grad
uated from a scientific school as min
ing engineer, and settled In the South
west. He is now leading spirit among
the copper producers, and competent
and vigorous in his work OF building
up the future State OF Arizona. He is
Chairman of the Republican Territorial
Committee, and has been among the
most effective workers in promoting
Statehood. The past Congress failed to
give the boon of Statehood to Arizona,
but there will be no relaxation of eff
fort, and much confidence is felt that
the present Congress will accede to the
desires of the people. Mr.. Smith Is elo-
Quent as to the future of Arizona. 1t
now leads all the rest of the country in
copper production, with Montana sec
ond and Utah third. The copper is
found inform of sulphids and oxids,
with much silver and gold intermixed
with ii as well as free ore. The produc-
ton of silver and gold is increasing.
There are now four great copper camps
in the Territory, at Jerome, Globe, Cliff
ton and Bisbee, but It is felt that this
is only the beginning of copper produc-
ton, and other deposits of equal rich
ness are liable to be found at any time.
Arizona produces more than one-fifth
of the copper mined in the United
States, and this proportion is constant
ly increasing. In 1888 there were only
23,S74.963 pounds produced in Arizona,
but this leaped up to 33,054,S60 pounds
in 1899, or more than five times as
much. The production Of gold is about
twelvefold what 1t was a quarter of a
century ago. Lead, coal, platinum,
quicksilver, tin, nickel, iron, salt and
gypsum are found in the Territory. and
such precious stones as the opal, garnet,
onyx and sapphire.
Mr.. Smith is particularly enthusiastic
about the prospects of agriculture.
Heretofore stock raising has been the
leading agricultural industry, and ow-
ing to the absence of climatic extremes
has been found very profitable. With
the development of irrigation mixed
farming is coming rapidly to the front.
With the completion of the great dams
Arizona will have more irrigated land
than there is in southern California. Of
which we have heard so much. The
great Roosevelt Dam will irrigate about
100000 acres. the Laguna about 100.-
900. and the ella River has now from
$4,000 to 10000 acres under irrigation,
and when the improvements are COM
pleted this will be raised to 10000.
Everything can be raised in the great
est profusion on this irrigated land
Alfalfa alone is a great wealth bringer
Where only three or four crops can be
raised in Colorado, seven crops can be
harvested on the Salt River and six on
the Gila. In the lower valleys, owing
to the greater warmth, more crops can
be gathered than on the higher lands.
During the past 10 years the cuitivata-
BILE area of Arizona has increased 231.4
per cent. Everything that can be raised
in any other part of the country grows
in an abundance. with many special
crops, such as figs, raisin grapes, al
monds and dates, ripening there earlier
than anywhere else.