Arizona republican., 1919-10-20
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 IF NEW TOWNS
This Infant City's Booming Growth Is Stable, Howev- CT, for Agriculture Is the Attraction-Town Devel- oping Rapidly

Arizona may well regard Litchfield as its child prodigy. Born in the desert and scarcely out of it's swadling clothes, it's rapid development and growth is marking it as a boom town of unusual characteristics. Unlike most towns of this class, Litchfield is enjoying healthy growth It depends in no way upon the narcotic like stim- ulus of the oil fields and mining com munities which leaves a deadening after effect. Litchfield is unique in that it's rapidly increasing population IS attracted by the surrounding agri- cultural development Cotton is the magnet which has drawn more than 500 persons to the town within one year.
 Litchfield is r miles west of Phoe- nix just across the Agua F>ria river, and the town has been established on a part of 15,000 acres of land owned by the Southwest Cotton company. The first ground of this extensive acreage was broken in January, 1917, and now there are 10000 acres in cultivation. Twelve hundred acres of this is plant ed in cotton this year. Alfalfa, barley,
 
 and extensive pasturage lands have been leased, where 6,000 head of cattle are being fattened.
 Taking Care of Soil Although cotton is regarded as the principle product, the grazing lands will be retained for a few years and other crops planted to properly fer tilize the soil.
 In addition to the 10000 acres of land already in cultivation, 2,200 more acres have been cleared four miles west of Litchfield, preparatory for next sea- sons crops. This leaves 5000 acres ready for future development
 To irrigate this land, 45 electrically driven pumping plants have been in stalled, the most important one five miles northeast of Litchfield near the Agua FNria river. An intake has been installed at that point and when the river is at flood its waters are diverted to irrigation.
 Upon this sound foundation of pro- ductiveness the town of Litchfield has been established and it's phenomenal growth has been the subject of wide spread comment. The development is marked by a civic interest entirely lacking in the ordinary boom town.
 Cotton the Magnet
 Oil fields have boosted of attracting sufficient number of people over night to establish a town of consider able population. Mining communities have similar records while fair sized cities sprung up like mushrooms wher- ever the government established muni- tions factories during the war How ever, the uncertainty of these trans itory places of habitation proved a h oi iuin ir1fa E1,tf T 1I1 is proving that it believes in the per- manency and development of it's popu- lation by rapidly improving it's en- vironments. The town has two sprin- klers in operation, is improving all its 1 streets, putting in curbing and sides It has grade school of four buildings, all modern, and is how building an auditorium which will be used as' a | theater and dance hall. A Catholic school is under construction and plans are being made to build a hospital and Methodist church.
 At the present the town has a plain ing mill, garage, machine shop, gro- cery store, pool hall, drink stand and public swimming pool 40 by 100 feet. Members of the Southwest Cotton company have located their organized Sahuara club in the town, the company | lul LilC Oullulli6y anu | library.
 "The Wigwam"
 One of the features of the town is a nine-room modern house called the Wigwam which is used as the confer ence house of the company officials The house is built on the rustic plan of rough redwood. Its unique and at tractive structure make it one of the show places of the town. Directly in front of this house is a desert plot in which representative plant specimens are grown. In striking contrast about this plot is a carefully kept green lawn The house faces a park of six acres in which flowers, shrubbery, trees and tropical plants grow. The town site is now shaded and ornamented with 1S,- 900 trees and shrubs and an order has been placed for 30,000 more to be used there.
 Developing Town L. A. Willxie the town superintend- ent, who has been with the Southwest Cotton company since it established Litchfield, is working 800 men on the streets planting trees and shrubbery