The Coconino sun., 1923-03-16
BUSINESS SITUATION
ARIZONA In GENERAL

Arizona business in February did
not show up particularly we'll in COM
| parison with the previous month. even
with full allowance for the shortness
of the period. In most localities the
slight dullness felt was ascribed to
the quiet interval between the end of
the winter and the beginning of the
spring seasons, and renewed improve
ment in the following month was pre-
dicted.
If anything, however, February's
main developments were such as to
warrant optimism. The price of cop
per advanced steadily, and reached IL
cents just after the end of the month,
having started in at Is to 15 1-8. The
Shattuck-Arizona at Bisbee resumed
operations, and there was increased
activity in the mining sections.
The weather was decidedly favor
able for stockmen of the state, storms
bringing needed moisture to the
ranges and leaving good feed pros
poets. There was little change in
market conditions. Preliminary esti-
mates are that there will be about
$4,000 cattle available for spring de-
livery, compared with 10000 shipped
last year. The spring lamb crop is
unusually large, $4,000 head for ship
ment against $4,000 last year.
Farmers of the state are starting
their spring operations. Indications
point to another successful produc-
tion season, and with marketing diff
culties gradually being ironed out by
organization there should be improve
ment over last year.
Complaints about business continue
to appear now and then, but in rap
idly diminishing number. With the
mines hard at work, the lumber in
dustry normal, livestock and agricul-
ture somewhat improved, and the use
of the states products steadily in
creasing, the men who are willing to
work for it are finding plenty of
business. February showed big i'm
provement over February of 1922, and
pesslmists are only giving the state
unwarranted and harmful word-of-
mouth advertising.
Spring activities are getting under
way in the farming districts. The
grain acreage planted probably repre-
sents an increase over last year, all
though even preliminary estimates are
not available. The short staple cot
ton acreage is certain to show a ma
terial increase, particularly in the
Salt River valley.
Semi-official estimates place the Pi-
ma cotton crop at about $4,000 bales,
with an average yield of around ZIG
pounds of lint to the acre. The short
staple crop in the Yuma valley total
ed little more than 5000 bales.
Reports of the U. S. Bureau of
agricultural economics show a slight
increase in the value of farm lands
over last year. All plow lands in
the state are given an estimated aver
age value of SIG per acre, as
against $115 year ago.
1t is estimated 10 per cent of last
years wheat crop is still on hand,
compared with 8 per cent the preced-
ing year.
Storms general throughout. the state
have resulted in marked improvement
in range conditions, and the outlook
is favorable. Cattle have wintered in
good shape, and it is estimated there
are $4,000 available for spring deIiv-
cry, as against 10000 shipped last
year This figure includes about TO-
200 head on feed in the Salt River
valley. Few sales are reported as
yet. Market prices showed little
change over the preceding month.
Figures compiled by the Arizona
Cattle Growers association show that
209,083 head of cattle were shipped
out of the state last year. Of this
number 1892 went to California.
Intrastate shipments Of cattle, for
slaughter, pasture or because of sale,
totaled 96,106 head.
Prospects continue good in the
sheep industry. There are $4,000
lambs available for shipment this
spring, compared with $4,000 last
spring, and 10000 in 1921. The Cal
fornia lamb crop also has shown a
big increase, being estimated at $780,
100 head this spring as against 1885,
100 last spring.