The copper era and Morenci leader., 1920-04-30
DOUGLAS SAFFORD HIGHWAY IS
 DESCRIBED
Geo. H. Kelly, Veteran Editor, Tells of Trip by Auto From Douglas
 to Clifton

George H.. Kelly, veteran Arizona ed ltor of the Douglas Daily Internation al, was visiting relatives and friends in Clifton on Saturday and Sunday last, driving over by auto from Doug las. The Major" came to Arizona thirty three years ago and has been actively engaged in the newspaper business in Pima, Graham and Co chise counties during this period.
 Writing to the International des- crlbing the trip from Douglas to Saf- ford, he says:
 To-day I came from Bowie to Sol omonville, the former county seat of Greenlee county. The trip brought memories of long ago. Thirty years ago last month rode on a stage from Bowie into this town, making the trip in half day. Today I negotiated the distance in two and one-half hours in a Buick.
 Thirty years has not brought many changes in the country over which came today. It was a cattle country
 then, and live stock was visible all lalong the valley, It is still the only
 sign of indusry
 A few mics south of Solomonville
 l encountered few ranches where
 there has been attempts at dry farm 1 ing, with little evidence of success
 But thirty years have wrought won,
 derful changes in the Gila valley in
 Graham county, from San Jose to Sol
 omonville and to Geronimo, the line
 of the San Carlos Indian reservation l Then there was only scattered farms in cultivation; now there is hardly a
 barren acre under the system of ca T nals,, on both sides of the Gila river II for distance of forty miles. Then.
 the farmer sold the greater part of
 his grain and hay to those who held q contracts for supplying the military
 posts nearby and as there was no oth- CT available markets the government
 contractors fixed the price, which
 generally left the farmer in debt.
 Now, the farmer is king and he is be.
 set by buyers for his diversified crops from the time they are planted until , the harvest is over. Prices are obtain : ed that enable the farmer to buy high l powered automobiles, pay their taxes : when due and attract the envy of. the merchants, bankers and all. others g who held their mortgages in the early a days.
 j. Alfalfa, which 25 years ago wa: g sold for .$6 and ST per ton, loaded or r cars, now brings from s25 to $40 pei r ton. ~A Cotton is now coming into muc1 ' prominence in Graham county ant
 big success was scored last year il the production of short staple cotton e This year the acreage of last yea > will be increased as , is to 1. Cottol brings more money to the farmer T bank account than any other crop. f The roads. over which I travelet # f from Douglas to Solomonville, .ar, 1 good and hard The Central Highwa, ,- from Pearce to Wilcox is complet Fl and with summer rains and prope !. dragging will be in fine condition. Tn Q grade for few miles east along tn !. Southern Pacific is complete, bu h very rough, as it has not yet been SUI Q faced. The road to Bowie from Will : COX is a very good country road, witt IT many stretches for fast driving. v. From Bowie to Stafford or Solomor B. vile there has been no attempt ye
 made to grade the road, and while i
 is passable it parmits of no speeding However. it is planned by. Cochis | county, to complete the road iron \ Wilcox to Bowie and thence nortl \ to the Graham county line this year It is also assured by the Graham cour ,rb tys supervisors to- straighten the roa :. from Stafford up the San Simon valle,
 to the Cochise county line, certainl
 before the end of next year. Whel
 these roads are complete then W
 may drive from Douglas over the Ger
 tral highway to Stafford or even t
 Clifton easily, ill one day.