Arizona republican., 1917-06-17

River Valley this year will be about
when the acreage was about 5000 acre
Cotton this year will take first ra
Arizona. The climate here has prove
rieties, or long staple cotton. which {
kets of the world. Long staple has
ent estimates on the crop now CROWN
pound.
Cotton as an experiment was first
planted in Arizona about twenty five
years ago. Not until 1916 did cotton
have it's first commercial test in the
Salt River valley, unhampered by
ignorance, laziness. prejudice and a
sack of money. Many of the growers
last year averaged a bale and a half to
the acre Makers of automobile tires
found that Arizona Egyptian cotton
with its long fiber was valuable in their
business.
This fact led to the organization of
6he Southwest Cotton company. with
+. A. Soldering as president Mr.
Soldering is also president of the
Goodyear Tire & Rubber company of
Akron, Ohio.
The Southwest Cotton company pur-
chased or leased approximately $4,000
acres in the valley. This acreage is
divided as follows: 10000 acres of de-
sert land four miles south of Chand-
Ter; 5000 acres of leased land between
Mesa and Chandler. supplied with pro-
sect water and heretofore cropped to
Ter; 5000 acres of leased land between
about four miles north of Avondale
and known as the Aqua Fria ranch,
this land being desert.
Water systems are being developed
on the desert ranches at the presnt
Tim
The lands brought to crop this year
are about 5000 acres
The equipment at present used con-
sists of about 1900 mules and eight
caterpillar tractors. The total num-
Der of men at present employed is
about 1900.
The Southwest Cotton company
started work January 2, 1917. The
company has an oil mill at Phoenix
and gins at Phoenix and other towns
in the valley.
This company will shortly begin the
construction of two model towns, one
in the center of the Chandler ranch and
the other on the Aqua Fria ranch.
These towns will contain warehouses,
garages, machine shops, club house,
hospital, school, general office and
store buildings and model dwellings
for employees.
Officers of the company are:
+. A. Soldering. president, who is
also president of the Goodyear Tire &
Rubber, company. Akron. Ohio; Ed
ward f. Parker, vice president and
general manager; John p. Conduit
manager of operations; f. J. Carrillo
manager of construction; E. w. Hud-
son, agricultural adviser; Quinton
Code & Hill, consulting engineers; E
d. Vincent, engineer in Charge Robt
c. MetZler. secretary and treasurer;
Chas. G. Steele, gin manager; A. B
Hinkle, Jr., cotton buyer
In an interview with Edward F
Parker, vice president and genera
manager of the Southwest Cotton COM
pany. Mr.. Parker stated the following
1--WE have three problems before u!
here:
Flrst-InSectS and bugs.
Second-Keeping this valley int
long staple cotton.
'Third-Labor.
These three problems are the mai
factors that will determine whether o
not this is logical place to grow cot
ton of this character. We must compel
with those other lands of the worl
which are capable of producing thi
grade of cotton or a similar grad
adaptable to the manufacture of tir
fabric or other products requiring tn
highest class of cotton.
Abnormal Market
AT the present time prices are alb
normally high, due to causes wit
which we are all familiar. Under sue
prices, of course, the valley can profit