Year: 1875

Every mail brings letters addressed to the editor of the MINER asking for informa tion with reference to this country, which of course we are not so competent to answer as our predecessor who has been a resident of the Territory eleven years, while we have been here scarce So many weeks. We have, therefore, in most such such cases enclosed one of MT. Marion's circulars, in the shape of a supplement to the MINER, published some months ago. These we endorse so far as our knowledge of the country extends, and present them in lieu of any answer we might write, as containing fuller and better infor- nation than we have at hand from any other source. Having a large lot of these circu- lars on hand we will send them to those who desire them, free of charge. In addition to what has been published we have formed an estimate of our own, from personal observa- tion, upon which We have been justified in taking our chances for livelihood, and we believed with fair prospect of making mo- ney in the country, by investing such means as we could command in the printing busi- ness. It would seem an idle question to ask a man if lie had faith in country that he had but just selected as home; the fact of such selection ought, it would seem, to carry with it the answer, and yet the ques- tion is continually asked.

 In arriving at an estimate of the future of Arizona we have first of alt paid particular attention to the quality of the ores taken from the various mines within reach of Pres colt, and have found many of the samples exceedingly rich in gold, silver, copper and lead. Owing to the inclemency of the weather it has been almost impossible to ex- anime the locations, but we have the testi- mony of hundreds of practical men that they are extensive. We have seen for ourselves that the grazing facilities of Yavapai county, at least, are very superior, the country abounds in a quality of grass, known as "Grama," which all agree is almost equal to garnered hay of the best cultivated grasses, even in winter.

 The character of the land for agricultural uses cannot be mistaken as there are monu- ments to guide the judgment at every farm house, in the shape of stacks of fodder and hay, cribs of corn and bins of small grain. These speak for themselves as we'll as the vegetables in the markets and on the tables of the people.

 While we have carefully noted these advantages we have not shut our eyes to the disadvantages under which the people labor. We realize and, we think, fully appreciate the isolated position we occupy with reference to the great busy moving world beyond the great desert. to which we must look for capi- tai to develop the hidden resources, to un- lock as it were the strong box that lies bu- ried in Bradshaw and other mountains that surround us. We arc aware also that there arc seasons when the country is subject to agricultural interests, and that there are vast districts where no water flows to render available the almost limitless pasture lands All these difficulties we have weighed in the balance of our feeble judgment in forming an estimate of the country, and but for the eye and ear of faith that sees, and hears the rumbling of, the locomotive in the not far distant future, and the flowing of thou sand artesian wells to fertilize these plains and afford water for tens of thousands of cattle and sheep, We should not now be domi- ciled in Prescott to await the uncertain future of Arizona.