Arizona republican., 1919-01-01

an indifferent crop now demands from his land more than one crop. and also that each crop be the maximum yield that the land is capable of. There Is probably no place in the United States where the land more readily responds to hard work and proper treatment and the valley farmer is becoming fully appreciative Of this fact.
 More Modern Methods
 More modern and scientific farming methods are replacing those of the years gone by and the increased pro- duction and the greater variety of crops more than justify the effort expended
 In this connection it is interesting to note the process of transformation; better fences are being constructed; better and more comfortable houses arc being built on the ranches; houses with all the modern conveniences, in which the farmer and his family are as com fortable as the dweller in town. Where an occasional silo stood year or two ago and where the use of silage was the exception. rather than the rule, the opposite is now the case and there is hardly part of the valley where one cannot see from one to half dozen silos in the distance, all of substantial and permanent construction.
 Land values have increased the past few years and there are those optimistic real estate men who think that the era of high prices in the valley has only commenced. This view appears on careful thought to be warranted. While | the past year has been perhaps an ab- | normal one, nevertheless. conditions in the valley are more stabilized tran ever | before.
 | More Land Cultivated
 Through the expenditure on the part | of the Water Users Association of over half million dollars in the installation of wells and pumps and the develop ment of the valleys underground water supply. the irrigation resources Of the project are being further advanced and in an irrigated district such as this is. the water supply is the all important | question; the one thing that all others mos establishes permanent land values The wars demand for increased pro 1 duction of food has met with ready le- sponse in Salt River valley; more land | is in cultivation here now than ever before. There are few acres within the limits of the project that are not pro- ducing satisfactory crops at the present | time and with the apparent prospect of 1 abundant water for the forthcoming season. the prediction is made that this uncultivated acreage, small as it now is, will be still further reduced during the new year.
 Not All Under Project
 The addition to be cultivated area of the valley is by no means confined to that portion of it under the Roosevelt dam. Through the activity of the Southwest Cotton company on 3 large scale, and of smaller organiza- tions in a lesser but equally effective manner, thousands of acres of what has heretofore been unproductive desert land. is now flourishing agricultural land. developed entirely by means of pumped water.
 White this may appear to be writer T more from the standpoint of the farxaer than the real estate man, the fact re- mains that the interests of the two are very much in common. When one pros pers so must the other and there can be no question but that during the pass year both have met with a reasonable degree of success in spite Of conditions that have been far from normal.
 With conditions more settled than they have been in several years past with land in good demand at good pric- es. and with every prospect of abEn- !. dant water and good crops, 1t IS not surprising that the real estate men c, . Maricopa county take decidedly cpn- mistic view of the situation for ;ht forthcoming year.