252 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



the belief that a climatic "Utopia" does not exist anywhere. 

 Personally, the writer would infinitely prefer the dry heat 

 of Arizona to the summer heat of the Atlantic Seaboard or 

 middle western states. Against the bold statement that it is. 

 hot, as is borne out by official records, must be set the fact 

 that people are continually emigrating from the so-called 

 "temperate zones," taking up their residence here, surviving 

 the summer heat, working in the fields in fact in broad day- 

 light, and continually adding to their store of health and 

 vitality; and that the nights are refreshingly cool. Everyone 

 familiar with the effects of humidity or its absence upon 

 radiation will grasp the reason for this and the fact that the 

 sensible temperature is about 20 degrees less than the official. 

 One of the pleasantest features of life in the Salt River Val- 

 ley may be found in the slight wind movement. Cyclones 

 are unknown and dust storms practically so. A light and 

 almost constant breeze serves to mitigate the severities of the 

 summer heat. From the agricultural standpoint climatic con- 

 ditions are perfect, the heat with its largely imaginary 

 terrors, is an undisguised blessing, its effect upon citrus 

 fruits, alone, are manifest in the surpassing quality and flavor 

 of Salt River oranges. 



Observations of the U. S. Weather Bureau covering a 

 period of many years, give the range of temperature as fol- 

 lows: "22 degrees to 117 degrees. Average humidity 35 per 

 cent average wind movement Z l / 2 miles per hour; average 

 percipitation 8 inches; average of daily sunshine 80 per cent. 

 As to health fulness there is no room for two opinions. Heat 

 prostrations and enteric diseases are unknown. The valley, 

 in common with all of Arizona, is a vast sanitarium, es- 

 pecially suited to the cure of pulmonary and bronchial af- 

 fections." For further data consult "Climatological Sum- 

 mary of Southern Arizona," United States Weather Bureau, 

 Washington, D. C. 



SOIL. 



The soils range from heavy adobe to gravelly river wash. 

 Loess and sandy loam soils of great fertility constitute more 

 than half the area, while gravelly loams and sands and less 

 easily cultivated clay soils make up the remainder. The chief 

 need of all these soils is organic matter and nitrogen, both 

 of which are supplied by the principal crop alfalfa. Alkali 

 salts have been concentrated in a few isolated localities where 

 the drainage is poor and where sub-irrigation has occurred 

 through the action of irrigating waters. These districts are 

 all susceptible to drainage, either by sumps and pumping or 

 by tile and will be reclaimed, ultimately (the legislature at 

 date of writing has before it a "Drainage District" law 

 rendering possible co-operative drainage should it ever be- 

 come necessary). An exhaustive soil survey has been made 

 by the Bureau of Soils, and this, together with the topo- 

 graphic map of the Reclamation Service permits accurate de- 

 termination of kind and quality of all lands in the valley. 



FARM PRACTICE. 



Land surfaces are very smooth, requiring little leveling 

 and slope from less than 10 to as much as 20 feet to the 

 mile. The average cost of bringing land under irrigation is 

 therefore minimum. Alfalfa is thus far the most important 

 crop. It yields five to six cuttings of hay, or, if desired, 

 produces profitable crops of seed, or afford two to three 

 months' pasturage, convertible into mutton, beef and dairy 

 products, endures well both extremes of temperature and, 

 with all this, enriches the soil for other crops, and therefore 

 is perfectly adapted to the conditions and needs of the region. 

 With alfalfa at $10 per ton in the field, under present 

 methods a net profit of $40 to $45 per acre per annum may 

 be safely relied upon, the margin of profit at times being 

 susceptible to great increase. Because of high prices for 

 baled hay, often ranging to $15 per ton in early spring, much 

 is sold in that form although a large part of the crop is 

 fed and handled in the form of beef. Dairying is profitable 

 also and several creameries and one condensed milk factory 

 afford markets for the product. Range sheep are prepared 

 for market in increasing numbers on alfalfa, bees forage upon 

 it for hor.ey and even ostriches are satisfied with it as their 

 main food staple. Citrus culture, orange, grape-fruit and 

 lemons prospectively the most important fruit growing in- 

 dustry of the valley, is best suited to the slopes where 

 frosts do not occur. The early ripening of oranges in the 

 region is a very favorable circumstance, the first shipments 

 often reaching eastern markets in time for the Thanksgiving 

 table. The bright color and excellent quality of the fruit, 



due both to climatic conditions and the absence of citrus 

 pests, is another reason for the high prices which have been 

 received for this product. The culture of oranges and pom- 

 elos, with assured water supply under the Roosevelt reservoir 

 will expand greatly in those parts of the valley where winter 

 temperatures permit. Cantaloupes are an established and re- 

 munerative crop and are marketed mainly in eastern cities, 

 through growers' associations. Ostriches are an interesting 

 and profitable novelty of recent development. 



In brief, with an assured water supply, a remarkable 

 diversity of profitable crops possible, and scientific and in- 

 tensive agriculture already well under way, Salt River Valley 

 is certain to make rapid advancement in agricultural prac- 

 tice and development. 



Lands under the project are purchasable at $75 to $250 

 per acre, according to condition, character and locality. The 

 present tendency is towards small farms and more intensive 

 cultivation.* 



Not the least important of the products of the valley are 

 its famous horses. "Phoenix" light harness horses are known 

 throughout America for beauty, speed and stamina. 



MARKETS. 



An almost perfect monopoly of the market throughout a 

 radius of .distribution of several hundred miles, due to natural 

 geographic conditions, assures the valley a permanent and 

 profitable market for its staples for all time. For its more 

 remunerative products there is practically no limitation as 

 to scope. The mining districts of the state, already great and 

 continually expanding, together with the great range cattle 

 industry will provide a market for an enormous amount of 

 foodstuffs and forage. Melons and citrus fruits are marketed 

 through the medium of Growers' Association in the large 

 eastern cities, at top prices. Alfalfa and dairy products are 

 in continual demand throughout southern Arizona and Cali- 

 fornia. 



DISTRICTS AND TOWNS. 



The immense area embraced in the project (roughly 

 about 10J/2 townships) permits a diversity of topographic and 

 soil features worthy of mention. No description of the 

 valley may be regarded as complete which will ignore these 

 facts or omit a mention of the various communities now 

 established. The largest city in the valley, in the state in 

 fact, the seat of the state government and of that of the 

 county of Maricopa is 



PHOENIX. 



The population of Phoenix is now estimated at close to 

 18,000, with about 3,000 visitors added to this in the winter 

 months. The remarks anent winter climate in the valley as a 

 whole, throw light upon the reasons for this extraordinary 

 influx of tourists. It has many attractions for the traveler 

 and tourist and much to interest the archeologist and student 

 of ancient races. The city has all improvements to be found 

 in any well-developed community of the highest tipe; electric 

 lights, adequate urban and interurban car service, sewer sys- 

 tem, water supply of excellent quality, pumped from deep 

 wells, paved streets and cement sidewalks. Churches of all 

 denominations exist, many of them housed in extremely fine 

 structures. The schools are modern and splendidly equipped. 

 The Arizona School of Music is located here and is the 

 means for supplying the needs of music lovers. Excellent 

 hotels of the highest standard vie with a great number of 

 handsome public buildings as attractions to the eye and as 

 vehicles for dispensing comfort. The Y. M. C. A. of 

 Phoenix is housed in a splendid structure costing $125,000, 

 with swimming pool and gymnasium completely equipped. 

 The Carnegie Public Library is well stocked and much fre- 

 quented. Among club buildings may be mentioned that of the 

 Womens' Club, the Ingleside Club and the Country Club with 

 their fine golf links, tennis courts and well-appointed grounds, 

 and the Elks' Theater where many of the standard attrac- 



*Note: For the above data upon "Soils" and "Farm Practice," 

 the author is indebted to Professor R. H. Forbes, director of the 

 Arizona Agricultural Station. A tabulated list of all fruits and vege- 

 tables adapted to be grown during each of the 12 months of the year 

 as prepared by Prof. Forbes may be secured from any of the com- 

 mercial bodies of the various districts enumerated herein. The list 

 includes, besides the products named, strawberries, mulberries, black- 

 berries, plums, apricots, peaches, figs, tomatoes, melons, lettu'ce, spinach, 

 radishes, cauliflower, beets, turnips, cabbage, asparagus, carrots, onions, 

 peas, green corn, potatoes, squash, string beans, apples, pears, grapes, 

 almonds, dates, pomegranates, quince, olive, oranges, chillies, egg-plant, 

 celery, together with a fair average yield of each per acre. 



