GENERAL REPORT. 31 



slopes, we may infer that the condensation of moisture by the higher peaks 

 might make it possible to avoid the necessity for irrigation. Timber is close 

 at hand. 



Salt River Valley is known to produce well, but the fact of there 

 being no market for the crops has driven many of the settlers out. 



The Gila Valley proper, though intensely hot, furnishes many in- 

 stances of good return for labor. 



The San Pedro Valley has already thousands of acres under cultiva- 

 tion, and produces good crops of barley and corn. 



The Sanoita Valley, on the southern border of the Territory, though it 

 has some land which may be irrigated and which is of surpassing fertility, 

 must be regarded as rather a grazing than a farming region. It is well 

 grassed, and has timber close at hand. This (as also the San Pedro) has 

 the unfortunate reputation of being most unhealthy regions. The fact, 

 however, is that the endemic diseases are such as give a low rate of mor- 

 tality, and may be readily prevented. It is fair to make the statement that 

 neither are now worse than were Indiana or Illinois a few years ago. 



The region of the San Francisco Mountains is said by Dr. Loew to be 

 well watered, fertile, and suitable for farming homes. He adds : The " soil 

 is comparatively very rich in phosphoric acid, and therefore most excellent 

 for grain and corn ; for beans, peas, and lentils an addition of gypsum 

 would be an improvement, these requiring more sulphur." 



It is now well proven that almost all the elements of plant life must 

 pass through the roots and thence ascend to the leaves to undergo elabora- 

 tion previous to the final acts of metastasis. Hence it follows that under the 

 dry air and high temperature, where water is given, the processes of plant 

 life must be very active, and that, (as in most of this region) where abund- 

 ant food is supplied, and of proper quality, either directly from the soil 

 or by the water used in irrigating, or by both, enormous returns may be 

 anticipated. Facts do not controvert the conclusion, as a comparison of 

 the yield, per acre, of cereals and of garden vegetables, between say 

 Kansas or Nebraska (or even an older, better tilled State), and some 

 portions of Arizona, New Mexico, or California, would show. 



The indigenous grasses, though somewhat localized in their distribu- 



