Arizona republican., 1910-01-16
SELECTED THIS VALLEY
 FOR BIG INVESTMENT
j. Q. MORGAN OF CALIFORNIA
 BUYS M'oRATH RANCH.
The Price Is Quoted at $32, ,00o-The Deal Was Made by "The
 hustlers."

The biggest ranch sale of the pres ent year was consummated yesterday. It was the sale of the Thomas Me Grath ranch of 160 acres. four and half miles north of Phoenix. to John D. Morgan of Escondido. Cal. for s32.O00. The sale was negotiated by Costley & Thompson.
 The ranch is about a half mile west of Center street and so near town that it has become very valuable in the last few years. It is highly improved. has a house, windmill and barns on. it and is planted in alfalfa. It has been oc- ! cupicd by McGrath for over a year but was purchased by him about six years ago.
 Morgan decided to purchase the ranch after he had made thorough investigation of lands in the Imperial valley and Yuma valley. He came here about a week ago and picked it out as the most desirable property for sale in the valley. Then he went back to Imperial to take a second look at some property he had in mind there; but finally deciding for the Salt River valley. he wired Costley & Thompson that he would return. He came back to Phoenix few days ago and closed the deal yesterday. He will now re- turn to Escondido for his family and move on the ranch Feb. 1.
 Morgan has been a successful fruit and grape raiser in California for many years. He is just the sort of
 citizen that the valley needs, as he has been successful in everything he
 has undertaken in the past. He came originally from Fresno county, where
 he raised grapes. Then he went to
 Escondido and bought an orange and
 lemon grove. and has realized profits from that industry for some years. He has disposed of his holdings at Escondido. partly on account of the high price of water. Down there it costs sI0 or SIP a year per acre for irrigation. and this precludes the pos sibility of raising alfalfa. which he wants to try in this valley.
 Morgan said yesterday that he was sorely tempted to locate in the Im- perial valley. There is but one fault with that district he said yesterday; and that is, l could not get myself ! to drink the ditch water they have there. One well which is being dug is now down 1900 feet and still dry. I guess you don't have to go quite that deep for water in this valley, do you?" He was told that he could hardly dig a hole for a telegraph pole here without striking a spring.
 In regard to the Yuma valley he said that he had no criticism. In fact he purchased a 40-acre tract of land there just out of the city for an investment. They have more alkali in some parts than you have.' he said. but in gen. eral l think Yuma is coming place, and that is why I invested there also"
 There can be no greater compliment to this valley than that paid by MT. Morgan. who selected Phoenix as the place out of all others in the south west. He is thorough judge of the soil and also knows conditions. as he has lived in the west all his life. Nor gan's father was a forty miner and his mother. when fourteen years of age, made the overland trip by prairie schooner from Dallas to Los Angeles.
 Until his recent visit here he had not been in Arizona since 1881, when he worked in the mines at Tombstone and hauled ore He says he is glad to Stt DdCh NO liit dIlU IS ltlt for the rest of his life For the pres ent he will raise alfalfa on the ranch but later may introduce the grape in dustry as he feels confident that cer- tain varieties will flourish here. He thinks grapes can be raised here just as successfully as at Fresno. and he may be the first to attempt this on large scale.
 The sale of this ranch is one of the largest deals that The Hustlers" have been concerned in of late. Neither Costley or Thompson, however. expect to take vacation on account of it. but are going right after more busi- ness.
 Thomas McGrath and his family will move to town on the return of Mor- gan from the coast. McGrath has some mining interests and will devote his attention to that branch of his busi- ness.