Arizona republican., 1917-02-15
Mesa Second City in Importance in Salt River Wall

southwestern sections.
 As throughout the valley. thc~ chief Industry about the city is farming and the many varied industries which accompany this big scheme. Dairying, poultry raising cattle fat teninS, and the other branches of the farm industry are represented. Fruit and berry raising, melon raising, and deeidIors truit culture are aIready firmly established industries In the past two years the Egyptian long staple cotton culture has become one of the greatest of the Mesa dis trlet crops, and this fall one of the largest harvest of cotton in the en- tire Salt river valley will be made on the lands lying about the city of Mesa.
 In the city is cotton gin for the handling or the Egyptian product and a mill for the handling of the seed from the lint. These are among the largest of their kind in the valley, and it is possible that they may have to be enlarged inside the coming sea son for the handling of the crop. During the past cotton harvesting season the capacity of the mills was taxed throughout the picking sea- son, and the output of the district rivalled the remainder of the valley districts where cotton was grown. Large additions to the acreage de- voted to cotton in the district have been made this year and it is eX- peeted that the crop will be core l spondingly large. | A flour mill in the city. of Mesa is one of the largest and best in the entire state, and is in constant opera uon on grains supplied by the farm CTS of the district. Several large wholesale and retail dry goods, hard ware, farming implement, general supply and clothing stores go to make up large portion of the busi- ness district. There are several good hotels and restaurants firmly estab- hshed and growing banks. garages, 1 accessories houses, theaters and drug stores. The heart of the city is com pact and most of the business dis t1ict is centered inside a few blocks directly in the middle of the city and but short distance from the Ari- zona Eastern railroad station.
 The business blocks are good struc- bures ard permanent. The churches throughout the community are gen. erally large, commodious and well built. A high school, obtained at a cost of approximately S45,000 and equipped with full four year curriculum. including manuel training, domestic sciences and several courses of value to the future farmer and rancher. is located in the southeastern section. of the cltN, within lew minutes walk of the business district and within view of the railroad station. The city graded schools are placed at con Venlent places throughout the dis trlct and, are all of substantial and pel manent character
 One Of the largest outside business es Of the city i.. in the direction Of the Roosevelt reservoir and the Tonto basin district. east of the city some sNty miles or more. During the period when construction work was progressing on the dam, Mesa was the chief shipping point for all sup plies and the government constructed from the city q highway to the dam at cost Of approximately Sl.e0h. .00o Since the dam has been completed residents of the district and govern ment employees use the government constructed highway for the trans toitation of their supplies from Mesa tally large freighteis operated by independent owners wend their ways 1at ol the city across the desert and are eneuifed in the gap north of Super stition mountain. Tneii des- tlnation is Fish creek. Roosevelt. or Payson. Their business Is freighting ef hay, grain and other supplies into these remote districts and Mesa is their mecca.
 lnS to view the beauties of the Apache trail have as their last SHmrse Of the valley on leaving the beautiful homes and ranch lands of the Mesa district. On entering the valley, their first view of the re claimed desert is in the Mesa dis trict. Desert such as the Mesa which Morrnons made to flower in 1878, reaches out for twenty miles between the present city and the hills where the ascent to the Roosevelt reservoir is begun.
 Mesa is far enough distant from Phoenix and has enough industries and outlets for industries to assure the city future of it's own, grow ing and prosperous future wherein the progressive and aggressive set tiers of the district will share in the lanor expended and the benefits reaped. The large acreage about town, the ready market for the acre town and reached by the Arizona Eastern railroad. the open market. almost without competition into the Roosevelt and Tonto districts. anc the freight and rail facilities to the out side world assure the city a ! constantly growing field for their | products.
 At the same time the city is within | few moments ride of the Capital | city and is .n constant touch with Phoenix. Automobiles as stages run | between the two valley cities ever; fey minutes throughout the day, and l train service is frequent enough to | care for all shipments and similari necessities. The proposed extension l Of another railroad through the city | Will give it another outlet to the | world and will add even more 10 the | value of the district from the stand i, point of farm and home property. l
 The town is remarkable for the | width of it's streets, 125 feet Each 1 block Of ten acres was cut into eight 1 blocks. and each settler holding one share of stock in the Mesa canal was ] entitled to four lots. Pars and high ways gre numerous and many homes | have been beautificd by the cultiva- l ton of the lands about them and the planting of roses. semi-tropical plants | and trees