Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1916-01-19

Probably one Of the best develop
ment articles on the Salt River Val
ley that has ever appeared in any
magazine came out January II. in
ElOard's Dairyman. one of the best
dairy periodicals published
The article. which is by Professor
George l.. Mckay. one of the worlds
leading dairy experts, deals with
many Of the problems which are pc
culiar to the dairy business in the
valley. Professor Mckay was in
Phoenix last fall and lectured before
the Maricopa Dairyman's associations
The article in part follows:
There are two or three things that
have brought fame to the state of
Arizona. First Of these is the Grand
Canyon. called the Titan of Chasms 81
Thousands of people come annually
Ia view this wonderful geological
and spectacular phenomenon. The
next object of attraction is the petri-
fled forest. This. like the Grand
Canyon, is the result Of the myster-
ous workings of nature The third
attraction is the result of mans in
genuity and according to my est
mate far exceeds the other two in
benefiting mankind. | refer to the
Roosevelt dam. This stands out as q
lasting monument to eXPresident
Theodore Roosevelt. The Salt River
Valley is forty miles long and twenty
miles wide In this fertile valley
there are about 1000 irrigated farms,
comprising about 225 900 acres The
Roosevelt T. S. Reclamation project
cost $11.771.O0o. and irrigates with
its water $4,000 acres of hand The
body of water formed by this dam is
about three miles wide, twenty-five
miles long and $50 feet deep. forming
u lake for pleasure launches and is
q good fishing resort
1t was said there was enough wa
ter in the dam 10 flood the valley five
feet deep. The farmers are allowed
3G inches of water per acre to he
let in as they need it. The Salt
River Valley is very fertile and it is
supposed to have been covered with
water ages ago Evidently some kind
Of civilization existed there before
the arrival Of Christopher Columbus.
as bitches and old dams testify that a
form of irrigation was used by The
Indians or Aztec tribes. Ruins of old
forts are still to be seen. Most all
varieties of citrus fruits are found
there i'm abundance. Within the last
six or seven years dairying has made
wonderful progress in this valley. ow-
ing to the prOductivenesS Of the soil
ana the abundant supply Of water.
The writer recently had the privi-
lege Of talking in Phoenix, Arizona
to an audience of between 4O0 and
800 farmers ana their wives. these
peonle are very anxious to be leaders
in darying ,as they are making it a
special business. A great many OF
these farmers are college educated
men from he eastern colleges Not
with standing the fact that during
the months of July and August the
temperature goes MP in the sun rs
high as 100 and 125 degrees f., they
make g0od cheese, butter and ice
cream.
Alfalfa is the principal crop. and
they grow five crops year. They
also pasture alfalfa. The farmers
there seem to be turning very rapidly
from beef production to dairying. II
Phoenix. Arizona, there are three
creameries. One of these creamerieS
the Maricopa. makes about 100000
pounds of butter per year. in addition
TO selling a lot of sweet cream. TIL,
other creamery ! believe, makes {
little less, but has a good big make
In addition to these creameries, there