The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-31
col. POWELL INTERVIEWED.
Says Statehood Would Help Arizona.
Talks of Mines.


Il was very much pleased during
my trip east to learn how much in
terest has been created by the state
hood fight i'm Arizona and New Next
CO." said Col. l.. w. Powell of Arizo-
ma. TO the Duluth Nows-Trbune.
Everyone whom l met, who was
not already acquainted with our Sec
tion OF the country, wanted 20 know
about it. was equally surprised,
however, In some instances, at the
small amount of information some
people have of Arizona, and the pecu-
liar ideas entertained regarding that
territory. one man wanted To know
II there We're as many train robberies
as there used To be, and another asked
| If we had many Indian outbreaks.
When l assured them that the only
way we ever heard of bad men any
more was by reading of them in story
books, and that the Indians had
ceased TO paint their faces, and array
themselves i'm gaudy blankets and
eagle feathers but so about wearing
store clothes and working like other
people. they seemed surprised. Com
paratively few eastern people realize
what great resources are possessed by
Arizona. and the development that IL
going on there.
THE annual mineral product Of !
Arizona alone amounts to approxi- |
mately 100000 The greatest de-
volopment work now going forward in |
Arizona is the reclamations of arid |
lands. In the Salt river valley, which |
is supplied with water from the Roose-
welt dam. there are now over 100000 |
acres under cultivation. and large
additional acreage is coming under the !
plow every year. There are also other
smaller irrigation projects operating
and others i'm contemplation. These
lands are marvelously productive be-
ing rivaled only by the famous valley
of the Nile. The almost semi-tropical
makes farming possible, rrac-
tically throughout the year, and six
crops from the same land during the
year are of common occurrence.
Besides raising alfalfa, wheat, bar
ley. oats, sorghum, sugar beets etc
the Salt River valley is fast becom
ng an important factor in the produc-
ion of citrus fruits-as oranges, lem
ons and grape fruit-the latter form Is
I very profitable industry. Phoenix,
ii oil Il. 1arptan in tho ppnfpr
If the Salt River valley, and is pros
porous. 1t is growing rapidly The
territorial fair, which is held annually
here, is one of the best held in the
United States.
ARIZONA has begun the construc-
ion of a system Of territorial roads
md many miles OF splendid highway
rave already been built. This work
$ being pushed as rapidly ms funds
IRE made available. When the sys-
EN- is completed, Arizona will have
rood roads north, east, south and
vest. This, in my judgment, is one OF
he best things ever undertaken by the
erritory
ARIZONA has perhaps the most per-
ect winter climate in the United
states. and with fine roads for motor
ng. and the variety of magnificent
scenery. l predict that in the near flu
ure il will rival California and Flor
da in popularity with people seeking
winter homes.
THE mineral industry continues ac-
i've. and I think II absolutely safe to
say that for 10 years past Arizona mas
yielded more wealth as a result of de-
of it's mines than any sec
ion of our country. unless 1t be the
great iron ore work of Minnesota.
1--WE expect statehood because we
deserve it. and believe congress and
the president will give 1t to us. 1T
will benefit us in many ways"