Tombstone epitaph., 1922-07-30
STOCK RAisERs
OF STATE FACE
SERIOUS CRISIS

in Arizona was going through one Of
the most critical periods in its his.
tory. Almost every county showed a
decrease in the number ot cattle as
sessed this year: lack Of rain. inabil-
ity 10 pay interest on debts and the
dullness OF the market were given as
the three main reasons for the poor
showing.
Homer Boyce. president Of the Ari-
iona Cattle Growers Association.
urged the tax commission 70 reduce
the minimum valuation On range cat
tie from s2a50 TO S2o0o 2 head. The
few sales made during the last year.
he said, indicated that the minimum
OF s22.5O was too high Boyoe out
Tired clearly the difficulties with
which cattlemea are confronted and
declared that. while conditions were
shade better this year than last. cat
tlemen are still long way in the
woods"
Supporting BOyces plea Tor re-
duction. 5. p Aplewhite. CT Douglas.
cited one outfit as an example OF con
d;,ions. This outfit. he said. purchas-
ed goo head OF wh;teface cattle at
s3S.00 and. when the Arizona range
became poor, shipped them into Mex
leo for feed. Later. he said. all that
were left OF the cattle, about 500. were
brought back into the United States
and sold for but s245O head
Coehise Conditions Bad
Apache county reported a slight in
crease in the number OF cattle this
year but decrease in their valuation.
Cochise county showed 99,S50 head
for this year. a decrease OF 4,055 head
compared with last year. Much stock
was lost because Of the drought, II
was reported, and many small outfits
in the county had closed out and
shipped their cattle out OF the state
The biggest loss in cattle during
the year was reported from Coconino,
with total of 59.243 this year, de-
crease OF 1915 head during the year.
The Coconino assessor said that near
1y every cattle raiser in MS county
had been forced during the last year
TO sell many head IN order TO get
money to pay debts.
ella county ranges are so poor. &C
ccrding to Assessor Duncan. that the
forest service has cut down the NUN
Der OF cattle allowed 10 g-aze on gov
eminent reserves.
Lack OF rain in Creenlee county
has resulted in the loss Of from co TO
&c Per ccn: c: some herds. :. vas
stated.
Maricopa showed but a slight de-
crease compared with last year.
A slight increase in the number Of
cattle but decrease in valuation was
reported by Mohave county. The best
herds there are on the east side OF
the county. Deputy Assessor Jones
stated He added that next years
showing would probably show a de-
crease in number owing to the poor
calf crop.
Navajo also showed an increase,
due to cattle being brough. into the
county for winter grazing.
Pima Shows Biggest Loss.
The biggest loss during the year
was in Pima county. where only a.
1ss head were listed this year. IL ,o63
less than last year. Assessor Vic
Griffith stated that number Of Pima
county outfits were completely wiped
out during the last two years.
In Pinal county many cattle were
lost during the drought and many
more were shipped out. Assessor
Thad Moore stated. Springs that have
never failed for 20 years are dry this
year. it was said. Moore stated that
Pinal county cattle were the lightest
ir the state
Santa Cruz county reported a loss
on account OF poor ranges and Yuma
a slight gain. Yavapai reported loss
in the number Of cattle, the first time
in years that this county has not
shown a gain. Assessor c. e. Gentry
said that cattle loan companies had
shipped their remaining stock out Of
the state.