Bisbee daily review., 1910-12-27

ever. 1fW
 The reclamation service during 2e year began the construction of the si- phon under the Colorado river, which is needed to carry the water from the Laguna dam on to the Arisona de for use on the lands below Yu- ma This worK is proceeding some what slowly, but it is hoped that it will be completed early during the year 1911.
 Crops generally throughous he ter ritory have been good, especially in the irrigated sections. Prices of farm products have been high, with a tsa- dency to increase rather than as- crease. so that farmers have greatly prospered. Prices for land under ditch with water rights rave fasreas- ed somewhat. yet, on the whole, ev- erything being considered. have not
 been inflated beyond their true value. measured by their earning capacity. l Fruit Growing.
 | The winter os 1909-1e was the eeld-
 est for many years. Some damage
 was done to the young citrus trees and to the fruit, but on the whale
 the territory suffered less in this re-
 spect than did the citrus growing sec tions of California The experience Iof the year has demonstrated that in
 the Salt River Valley the eraAge T 1o,+;<x is r,,r,cs Toy-<,c~ .ul ..c~> ~ tensive than was heretofore thought
 to exist. Owing to the early frost, a smaller crop of oranges and grape fruit was harvested than in 1909, but . the prices received were satisfactory. large acreage was planted during ] the spring, and this acreage world ! have been largely increased had it : not been for the difficulty in secur- 5 ing trees for planting Year by Q year the mountain valleys and up- ! lands adapted to apples. pears and r other fruits are being utilized so :. that the fruit industry continues ts h increase in importance and to be ] more generally followed as a nes.s
 of profit throughout the territory.
 Ostrich Raising.
 The past year has shown ma ak ed
 increase in ostrich raising in the
 territory, there being now consider able over 5000 birds in the Salt River Valley, consisting of more than @
 per cent. of all the ostr.ches in the United States,
 The fact that ostrich raising vas
 begun in the territory fin 1892 by tue importation from California of about : 20 birds and has in less than twen-
 ty years grown to such vast proper-
 tions demonstrates the adapeabilAy of climatic and feed co1d tions ts ! this industry. The record of hatch5ns during the past few years has equal
 cd any reported from South Africa aad has thus far surpassed that of any other ostrich distriet
 The profits cf the business unSAr
 such conditions are large. The birds are plucked every eight nbonths, with an average yield from full grown birds of one nnnnd ns feather. =.= b.rd to each piucking, a value ia tss market of $25 to the bird The an- nuai cost of rrnning ostriehes fin He Salt River Valley is about 31e Fer
 bird. The principal food is alfalfa,
 and at least five birds can be sup
 ported to the acre of alfalfa. This promises to be one of the
 most important industries in the
 Salt River Valley and other Localities
 similarly situated, and the profits re
 alized are such as to attract capital
 to the business.
 The Livestock Industry.
 The livestock industry of the ter.
 rftory has had a satisfactory year
 particularly as regoris prices. h
 some parts of the territory range
 conditions have not been good. owing
 to the unusual cold of the winter. ex.
 tending late mto the spring, with
 light rainfall. This condition va.
 especially hard on those sheep me.
 who brought their fiocks from the
 northern part of the territory onto ] he desert north and east of PAoenix. The live stock sanitary board in , its report voices what believe to be ] the prevailing sentiment among , range stock men of the territory .n favoring the leasing of public grazing ] lands by the United States govern ment under such terms as will sa init of and encourage the improve : rent and conservation of the range tg lease holders.
 It is gratifying to be able to report : that through the concerted action Of the interior department and the de.
 partment of justice a satisfactory : adjustment and arrangement has . been made permitting the mainten- ance of the quarantine fence around what is known as Slaughfers range } in Cochise county.