Twenty Seventh Annual 



Report 



ADMINISTRATION 



By reason not only of abundant crops, but of high prices for agri- 

 cultural products, and, also, of markets that for the most part readily 

 absorbed the output of grazing ranges and cultivated farms, the agricul- 

 tural year in Arizona has been one of unprecedented prosperity. This 

 has been true not only of grazing ranges from which have been mar- 

 keted a surplus of mutton, wool, and beef, and of irrigated farms whose 

 varied products are gradually establishing themselves in sufficient 

 quantity and of such quality as to win recognition in distant mar- 

 kets, but also to an increasing extent is it true that the hitherto little 

 known dry-farming regions of the State are gradually becoming se- 

 curely established in a peculiar but stable agriculture of their own. 



To some extent this general condition of prosperity is doubtless 

 artificial, being due to high prices for many articles directly or indi- 

 rectly influenced in price by the European war. It is safe to say, how- 

 ever, that the impetus thus given will never be wholly lost since in- 

 creased agricultural areas, better agricultural organization and im- 

 proved marketing facilities will maintain a higher level of agricultural 

 prosperity than would otherwise have been possible. i" 



Among the products that have attracted most attention during the 

 year have been Egyptian cotton which, particularly in Salt River Valley, 

 has been developed to the rank of a leading staple. By reason of the 

 Egyptian shortage and of the increasing demand for this cotton for 

 the manufacture of thread, automobile tires, and other purposes where 

 great strength is necessary, the price of the 1916 crop in Salt River 

 Valley reached unprecedented figures. Wool, likewise, because of the 

 •destruction of great quantities of wool fabrics in Europe and the cur- 

 tailment of importations, has advanced to a very high price, with conse- 

 quently beneficial results to sheep grazing interests on the range. In ir- 

 rigated sections alfalfa seed, although prices have been moderate, has 



