Arizona republican., 1909-12-22
As Set Forth in Annual Re
 port of Gov. Sloan
THE RIGHT OF STATEHOOD
Governor Believes Will Be Conceded When the Ter ritory's Rate of Progress is Made Known-Popu- lation and Schools

Washington. Dec 21 Governor Sloan. of Arizona in his report to the interior department made public today. says:
 Tt is gratifying to be able to state that the year was one of general pros perity throughout the territory and was marked by substantial growth in the output of our mines and the pro duct of our soil None of our industries suffered diasters of any kind. On the contrary, nearly all of them, especially mining, farming and stock growing. prospered There was, therefore, a satisfactory increase in the wealth of our people. Labor found employment at good wages. and there was shown gratifying tendency on the part of vrage-earners to establish permanent homes where they may be employed. In some of our older mining camps larger proportion of married men ap- pear on the pay rolls than heretofore. and there has been, consequently, a corresponding demand for houses. which led to the erection of better and more SuDSl3nilai DuiluinSS diid siii III creased interest in local affairs on the part of both employers and employees. The assurance that our great copper deposits are practically inexhaustible encourages home building and the making of permanent improvements.
 The people of the territory are a unit in their desire for statehood. They not only desire it, but confidently expect to receive it at the next session of the present congress. This confi- dence is based on declarations made in recent political reforms. the favor able consideration hitherto given to the efforts of the territory to obtain admission by the house of representa- tives and the seemingly growing senti- ment in favor of early admission on the part of the senate, and particularly upon the ground that in the light of the precedent congress has hitherto set in the admission of new states. statehood is due us as a matter of fair and just treatment.
 "I feel sure that such opposition as there may be to our immediate adr11is- sion will be overcome and in a large measure withdrawn with fuller infor- nation as to our fitness for statehood. and a juster apprpeciation of the pres ent rate of growth and progress we are making in every element necessary to constitute a great commonwealth and still greater and more wonderful growth and progress which the future promises
 The governors estimate of the pop ulation of the territory. based on the school census, the vote at the last election. city directories and the post office records is not less than 2e100O. the latter population being made up Of immigration for the most from the eastern and middle states.
 The schools of the territory have ex- perienced a remarkable growth and there has been a steady raising of the standard There is a description of the agricultural conditions in the large fertile valleys of the territory; of the influence of reclamation and of the growing industry of raising sugar beets. Dry farming is successfully carried on in both the northern and the southern part of the territory.
 There has been an increase in min ing activity and a wide development of copper properties. The gross value of the products of the chief metals is more than s42,OOO. 900 for the year. The cattle and sheep industries are in a nourishing condition and free from contagious diseases, an immunity largely due to the vigilance of the ter ritorial authorities. The report recom- mends the encouragement of sinking desert wells, a bill for which is now before the house.
 Considerable space is devoted to the ostrich industry. It is said that there are more than 5000 birds in the Salt River Valley more than eighty per cent of all in the United States. The report describes an active good roads movement for which the last legisla- ture made provision. and which is al- ready well under way.
 Of the new railway commission created by the last legislature. the re- port says:
 During the short time the commis- sion has had since its organization to determine it's worth. it's work has been such as to warrant the belief and ex- pectation that it will prove a most useful agency in supplementing the work of the interstate commerce commission in the territory"
 The territory derives a considerable revenue from incorporation fees, the favorable laws of the territory having attracted many corporations But the governor recommends the enactment ol