In 1885 there were 50 car-loads of fresh fruit sent east from Riverside. In 1886 there were 500 car-loads sent. The reports from San Bernardino Valley are that 1,500 car-loads have been shipped from there this season, and in all probability a much greater quantity was used in canning than was sent away. In 1886 the crops of wheat and barley in Salt River Valley was 500,000 bushels. This I learned from Mr. Smith, the miller, who handled nearly the whole amount. A Mr. O., in Phoenix, has 750 acres in wheat and barley, which yield about 30 bushels to the acre, and sold from 75 to 80 cents per bushel. The wonderful results of irrigation on these desert lands have attracted the attention of stock and fruit growers to such an extent that there is a great demand for lands that are favorably situated for irrigation. So large a portion of these lands in California which can be irrigated, and the high prices that those which are cultivated are held at, have compelled new settlers to look for cheaper lands, and naturally their attention has been called to the Salt River Valley, Maricopa County, Arizona, as the most desirable locality for stock and fruit raising. There is no one single natural advantage possessed by the wonderful fruit-growing region of Pasadena or Riverside, Cal., that does not exist in the Salt River Valley of Arizona. But this valley has natural advantages which do not exist in Southern California, viz, less variation in temperature and a uniformly dry atmosphere, admirably adapted to fruitdrying, and, what is more important and essential of all, an abundant quantity of water, far exceeding the amount attainable in the irrigating region of California. For nine months in the year the climate of this region is unsurpassed on the continent. There are no fogs, dew, or dampness. Lung complaints and malaria troubles are unknown, and out-of-door lite can be enjoyed all the year round. The hottest portion of the year is in the months of July and August, during a portion of which it was my fortune to be there. I slept out of doors the greater portion of the time, which is the general custom, the houses being built one story high, beds being placed on the piazza at night. For many days during my stay the mercury ranged from 110° to 115°, notwithstanding which I suffered no more from the heat than I do at home with the mercury ranging from 80° to 90°. There is no perspiration to be observed, the atmosphere being so dry that it is absorbed as soon as it reaches the surface of the body. I did not feel the heat in my head at all. There are but few weeks in the year when people feel as though they would prefer to be nearer the coast. Had Mr. Parsons spent more time in the Territory, and examined the results of irrigation upon the lands along the Colorado, Gila, Santa Cruz, and San Pedro Rivers, he would have found that the conclusions he reached in reference to those of the Salt River Valley would have applied with equal force to those of the other localities above named. HIGH MESA LANDS. In the high mesa lands of Graham, Mohave, Yavapai, and Apache Counties, wherever water has been introduced upon them, they are found to be most productive. Here are grown peaches equal in flavor and excellence to the best Delaware product; raspberries, pears, blackberries, cherries, and apples not excelled anywhere. As to what has and can be done in this direction in these counties by irrigation I give the following result of farming in Apache County this year: The value of the product varies in different localities, but a yield of 1,200 pounds of grain per acre is good in any country. IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. To the above facts I invite the attention of the Department, in order to demonstrate the importance of irrigation to the future development of this Territory, and to urge upon Congress the necessity for a liberal appropriation for a hydrographic survey with a view to obtaining water by storage reservoirs in the mountain sheds, and to test the utility of artesian wells for that purpose in the valleys. Under present conditions, of the 72,000,000 acres of land in Arizona there is available to the stock-raiser not more than 20,000,000 of acres, and to the farmer and horticulturist not more than 1,000,000 of acres. The extended valley of desert land stretching from Yuma to the mountain ranges of Pinal and Pima Counties, 200 miles in length and more than 125 miles in width, containing about 15,000,000 acres of land, could, with irrigation, be made as productive as any portion of Southern California. Forty acres of this land in a vineyard, orange, nut, or olive orchard would yield a small fortune every year to the fortunate owner. That a great part, if not all, of it could be reclaimed by artesian wells I think admits of no reasonable doubt. Could capitalists secure this vast domain by reclaiming it I have little doubt but a corporation would be formed to do so; but in that event, if success attended their undertaking, the land would pass under control of a syndicate of millionaires who would reap the advantages that should accrue to the honest settler and worthy homesteader. CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION NECESSARY. It would be better that Congress should, by a scientific survey and practical test, demonstrate the feasibility of artesian wells for giving the needed supply of water, and if the experiment proved successful it could advance the price of these lands and limit the amount which should be entered under the homestead law to 40 acres, and by entry to 80 acres to each individual purchaser. This law should be made applicable to all vineyard and citrus-fruit lands. Congress made an appropriation to the Territory of Colorado for artesian well-boring, which demonstrated the practicability of this method of obtaining a water supply for irrigation in what is now that State. In and around Denver a well irrigates from 40 to 50 acres; if onehalf as good results could be obtained in Arizona we could produce wine, raisins, fruits, nuts, and olives enough to support in affluence a population of 2,000,000 people. In comparison with the magnificent results both possible and probable the outlay to test the experiment would be a mere bagatelle. It is wise for Congress where possible to provide homes for our ever increasing population, and an outlay on its part of two or three hundred thousand dollars would demonstrate whether three or four millions in the near future could make happy homes in this Territory, in addition to the large population which under natural (present) conditions we can provide for. When once the experiment is made, and is proved to be successful, private enterprise will do the rest. Ditches and canals are being now constructed in all parts of the Territory; more and more land is being cleared every year and placed under cultivation. In two years more it is quite likely that all the land which can now be irrigated will be owned and occupied. EDUCATIONAL. Arizona has always been progressive in the matter of public education. By reference to the annual report of the Bureau of Education for the years 1883-84 it will be seen that she expended in that year per capita on children enrolled in the public schools, $35.84, and on average attendance in the public schools, $48.33, which is more than that of any other State or Territory. The facilities in this direction have been much extended during the past year. We have now in successful operation a normal school located at Tempe, in Maricopa County, and in course of construction a Territorial university at Tucson, Pima County. School advantages are so general in the Territory that any child in any locality can obtain a good common school education. GENERAL PROGRESS. The progress of the Territory during the past year has been, considering the Apache Indian war, very gratifying, and with the removal of this great drawback to its prosperity I confidently believe that we shall double both our population and taxable wealth within the next two years. With a climate unsurpassed; a soil the most productive, upon which the industrious farmer can support his family upon a lesser acreage than in any other State or Territory (excepting, perhaps, in Southern California); a rapid extension of railroad facilities, which will open up and develop new industries, Arizona enters upon an era of permanent prosperity. Very respectfully yours, Hon. L. Q. C. LAMAR, C. MEYER ZULICK, Governor. Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO, SIR: In accordance with your direction, I have the honor to transmit this my annual report for 1886, of the resources and development of this Territory. DROUGHTS AND FLOODS. During the first half of this calendar year New Mexico, in common with the West generally, was afflicted with unusual drought, and serious damage was sustained by the cattle industry, especially, from the insufficiency of grass on the ranges and of water in the springs and smaller streams. Agriculture and mining also suffered, though in a much less degree, from the scarcity of water. Since early in July, however, the usual beginning of what is known as the rainy season, the rains have been unusually abundant in all parts of the Territory. Feed on the ranges is good, with stock water in good supply and convenient, and stock is rapidly getting into excellent condition for winter. Agriculture, too, has been equally benefited, and crops of all kinds will be fully up to the average in quality and yield per acre, while the acreage has been largely increased over that of any former year. The rains have, in some parts of the Territory, resulted in disastrous floods, doing great damage to roads and bridges and other property, especially to railroads. Many miles of railroad have been broken by these sudden and resistless freshets, and portions of track washed entirely away or submerged in the quicksands of the streams they crossed or bordered. A LESSON TO BE HEEDED. In these meteorological conditions for the year, and the resulting floods, lies an admonition and a lesson which should not be forgotten, and which pointedly illustrates the need of some effective plan of storing the surplus waters, briefly suggested in my report of last year. A system of storage basins at the heads of the several streams of the Territory, especially the Rio Grande, for which the numerous cañons and arroyas are excellently adapted, would save a vast amount of water, sufficient to irrigate not only the river valley proper but also the mesas or uplands bordering and overlooking it, practically to the foot of the chains of mountains on either side, running parallel therewith. This 927 |