Arizona republican., 1920-08-12

markets first and therefore to com mand top prices.
 The soil of the Casa Grande valley is equal to that of any of the earth's garden spots-the valley of the Nile or the Folders of Holland. The soil
 is of several types-Gravel1y loam, sandy loam and a black silt or loess type. Each of these have some type variations, but all are extremely rich and wonderfully productive.
 The gravelly loam is best for citrus fruits. such as oranges, lemons and grape fruit It is found closer to the foothills that bound the valley, and is easily worked.
 The sandy loam has a little gravel. less than 10 per cent. It is also easily worked
 The black silt or loess type is quite Mississippi valley. It is highly de- composed material and shows on an-
 alysis that it contains much lime, potash and phosporic acid.
 Nearly Free From Alkaii
 Taking into consideration the size of the valley 1t is remarkably free from alkali. The soils are very deep. Often going to 100 feet or more. while the land is almost perfectly level The slopes are just right for irrigation, as has been demonstrated by experience and average about seven feet to the mile. Inere are no TOChS
 Tn Southern Pacific railroad system traverses the valley from end to end, while the Arizona Eastern passes through the northeastern end of the valley at Florence The valley as a whole is tributary to six great railway systems the Southern Pacific, the Arf- zona Eastern, the Southern Pacific Of Mexico. the Santa Fe, the San Diego and Arizona and the El Paso and Southwestern.
 Because of these railroad connections the valleys position is an enviable | one. California points are only Is hours travel away. On all the lines, l north. south, east or west, there arc
 markets.
 In addition to the railroads. auto mobile highways permit of easy truck
 hauling and motor car traffic to all points.
 The water supply for the valley is | being obtained from the surface flow
 of the Gila river and also from an fm- mense underground supply furnished | by the Gila and Santa Cruz rivers. | The flood waters of these two rivers
 are also available for irrigation pur- poses, being conserved in reservoirs | and led therefrom through a network
 of canals throughout the valley. The
 slope of the valley, mentioned before, | is such that there is a natural dram age and this problem, which Is so lm- | DOTTanL III all I6Cl1Ll1bAOaA PkOJC~SSs presents here no problems or diffi- culties.
 Underground Water Supply The average water lift in the valley | is from 20 to 60 feet, and from the
 vast underground reservoirs a gooo
 supply is obtainable when and where i it is needed The pumping plants
 that raise this water to the surface
 are not only doing a great work now | in furthering needed water, but they will be of assistance in another man
 ner. perhaps, in the future, should II | ever be necessary to control the water | table or level of the underground
 waters. The underground flow of the Cila parallels the course of the sur- II face flow of that river and also ex- | tends some distance from the bed ci
 the river underneath the soll. Here
 wells produce an abundant supply oi
 water and experience has shown thai
 nunnps never have to be installed here
 at any great depth. Wells furnishing
 from 15O0 to 2000 gallons of water 3
 minute, from moderate depths. are not
 infreQuent.
 The Casa Grande valley has few
 cities or towns as yet The only com
 munities of any size are Florence
 Casa Grande, Toltec and Picacho.
 All of these cities and towns art flo1lrishine growing centerS Of popu-
 lation throughout the valley Casa
 Grande and Florence have many pusi-
 ness opportunities, they have iodges ol all the leading fraternal organizations and churches of all the leading de- nominations In addition, both Flor
 ence and Casa Grande have fine schoo
 systems. .
 Many Valuable Crops Possible
 The crops which may be raised ID
 the Casa Grande valley are, in the
 main, cotton, alfalfa, lettuce, fruits and garden truck, cantaioupes, grapes citrus fruits and grains, while dalryihs stock raising and poultry farming are more than profitable
 Initial experiments in the commer- cial growing of long staple cotton were first made in the valley just few years ago. They were successfu beyond the dreams of the experl- mentors and 1t was found that tnis valley was equal. as cotton country to the Salt River valley
 In the Casa Grande valley, where practically all the land is cotton land there were only about 2000 acres 1T cotton in 1919, due to the undevelopec condition of the valley. In 1920 there are about 2,00o acres, and the acreage will increase continually as settle nent increases. The cotton of thi. valley and of the Salt River valley i! the finest grown in the world and top' a the worlds markets. As an instance during 1919, when southern cotton wal selling for 42 cents pound and Cali fornia Imperial valley cotton was sell ing for 62 cents a pound. the cottoI of the Arizona valleys sold in the sam markets for s1 3-4 cents pound. The yield is from one-half bale t the acre for a first year crop to bale or more thereafter.
 Other Profitable Products Alfalfa yields five or six cutting of hay, haking eight to 12 tons to th' r acre, or, if preferred, it produces ver- profitable crops of seed, and provide two or three months paSturage, con a vertibIe into beef, mutton or dairy pro ducts. It is a very durable plant fl the Casa Grande valley, 1t enriches th' soil for other crops and it is wei adapted to the needs and conditions o the region.
 sl While lettuce is only an experinenta