Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-06-11
BY v. D. johnson, Former Secretary
Mesa Commercial Club

The town of Mesa in the lusty baby
state of Arizona has a unique setting
giving TO it charm unpOssesscd even
by many towns equally fortunate in
business. social and educational adj
vantages. 1t is the last town one pass
eS through on the eastward journey
to the great Roosevelt dam, holding
in leash the vast lake the waters of
which make glad the valley of the
salt river. Leaving the capitol city, a
city of which any new born state may
well be proud, one crosses the splend-
id bridge over the Salt river and en-
tiers the charming little school and
home town of Tempe, and then seven
miles further to the east one reaches
Mesa. Mesa lying in the midst of
fields so fertile that the net profits of
their crops for two or three years
equal the selling price of the yet I'M
appreciated land. Then on past the
wide flowing canals until scarce five
miles to the east the desert rim is
underneath ones feet And such a des-
ert, wide stretching in its glorious level
lOneSOmenesS, save that here and there
the hardy pioneer spirit has dared
plant home, and digging down to the
lneXhaustible supply of water underl
meath, is disturbing the desert still
ness with the sharp Staccato bark of a
gasoline pump, lifting the life giving
fluid to Spread it on barren soil and
make yet another portion of the Won
derfuGy fertile Salt river valley. And
yet the desert for all that, the desert
loved by every Mesa resident, the
desert with its haunting mystery, its
brooding stiffness. its breath of health
and whisper of God. Thus hes the
thriving little town known throughout
the state as The Gate City to the
Roosevelt DAM" and located as it is
on the line of the Apache Trail"
travellers coming from Globe and en-
tering the irrigated section five miles
10 the east, are found expressing their
surprise and delight at the tree Dor
dered streets, the handsome home like
residences and up-to-date business
section.
Mesa is peculiarly advantaged in
another respect. The misfortune of
many agricultural communities is that
the town will outgrow the country
surrounding it. Too many people in
the town and too few producers on the
farms. The opposite has been true in
the Gate City While there has been
steady immigration to this section
for the past five years, yet the low
price of lands and the satisfactory
profits obtained. per acre, the ease
with which to stock a small ranch,
has caused a steady increase in the
rural population and the gradual
breaking up of large ranches into
smaller farms. while the population of
the immediate town has increased
more slowly. A recent school census of
Mesa shows about three thousand
people. However, the area of the cor
porate limits is unusually small and
there are the Cuber and Evergreen
additions and also a large portion of
the residence section just across the
railroad. enjoing the benefits of city
water. gas and electricity. the families
of which are not included in the city
census. A recent distribution of cal
endars by the Mesa Trade at Home
league. securing the names of every
householder furnishes basis for an
estimate Of $500 population in Mesa
and additions and four thousand in
the adjacent territory Naturally the
above conditions make for a prosper
GUS community, for while every branch
of mercantile business is represented
and while for the present there are
sufficient stores to supply the needs
o the trading territory. yet there is no
such heavy overcrowdng as to pro-
duce a general stagna ton of business.
1t perhaps is for this reason that trav-
cling statesmen state frequently that
Mesa is one of the best business
towns in the state.
In addition to the prosperous trad
ing territory contiguous to the town,
the long stretch of desert ranchers.
cattle and sheen headnua rtnrS and tho