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SALT RIVER HERALDKKIII WKKH LV FIMTIOX. Ufdnrida^ January St. IH7«.H.\ l.T It IVKK VAI.LKY.The t-nrricn Hpol of ArUona Terri lor.v., This section of country lies at the junction, and in a measure forms the delta of the Gila nod Salinas rivers.I What i$ now known as the Salt river country Is n valley nlout fifty miles in extreme length and varying in width from sis to ten miles. At leastone•third vf this vast bottom, containing ;».■ rich soil as 1 have ever seen in my life, io or can be irrigated, and is or can be placed under culti. ration. The main irrigating canals have no superior in Calitornia. Thu nearest approach to them are the Uaggin Carr canals in Kern county; but none ol them cam* the vol.| times of water carried by these stupendous aqueducts in the wilds ot Arizona. 1 am informed that the smaller canals arc more than a hundred miles in length, and that nearly 30,000 acres of choice amble land* tire under cultivation or in process of improvement. The first settlement in this valley took place atamt ten years ago, although the Pima Indians had for many years liefore 1868 irrigated these lands and raised wheal, which was hauled to the Gila river, nearly twenty miles away, and ground into flour by a man named White, who lind a place on the Tucson road about half way between Maricopa Wells and neat on. I his mill and cast are now in ruins. I drove from WhlieV place’with Governor R. (’. McCormick, twelve years ago, to Wickenburg, taking iu a part of this same valley, crossing the Salt river nt or near where Phenix now stands, and never saw n white man for sixty miles. Now, Phenix contains n't tails! 800 inhabitants, while the wholevalley, Including the Tcnipc, has a imputation of 2,500.misnx and its stTutonxDixo*.Phenix, the county-seat of Mari, copa county, and the trading place of the country above described, I* situated near llie river, and contains pretty closely upon one thousand in-liabitantF, half of whom are engaged in the pursuits generally fi»l-luwcd by tow DH|eoplc. It docs not NM-m like a town only ten years old, with it- wide -street* and large, over-hanging tms It*a name was suggested oa account of its erection at nr near the site of some fnnucr community. which probably flourished in the days of the Aztecs. Surrounding'tlu- town upon all sides arc or-| chards of till kinds of truits. vinr-yatfta, grain, grass and alfalfa fields* All kinds of fruits, vegetables and ccrer.b arc raided and have a ready market. Wheat doc* exceedingly well, and keeps tlire2 mills constantly running. However much the Territory may grow, this valley will raise enough corn, wheat, bnrlrv, linv. vegetables and fruit tlt;» supply all demands. The houses ni Phenix and throughout the valley are all. or m arh all. built of ndobe. There is an abundance of shine in the mountains near by. Fuel is abundant— the mountains arc full of cedar, pine and kindred woods, the rivers arc all fringed with willow mid cottonwood, while the bottoms ataund in me*, qastc. Phenix is desirably .situated as an agricultural feeder. Ii is al»oiit 100 mile* from Prescott in a direct way, 50 from Wickenburg. 38 from Maricopa, 0U from Florence, 2tX) from Yuma ami 130 from Tucson. Ail ol these distance*, except that Ix-tween Prvscoit and Phenix are actual •'nes.It will ta* seen by tie* r1k»vo that Phenix will have a good portion of the Territory as .1 market, particularly for its fruit and grain. Near Phenix te a (louring mill in perfec t running operation, owned by Major Vail, formerly of the First Cavalry. When r was at Tucaon. twelve veors 1 ngo. Vail was a bachelor lieutenant lighting Indians- now he is a miller, with a while hat; i- married nnd has one of the most tieuuliful places in the Territory. Hi-* residence is o;»|K. site his mill. :tml Is in fart a perfect mansion, with great Inroad hulls roomy piazzas, shaded by stately ('Hiking ornamental trees, and a gnr-den and orchard Adjoining of many acres, with ditches of cparkling water coursing through them in nfl directions.A MORMON SETThKMKXT.A few miles from Phenix is a Mormon settlement, and tlic inimbi-t ints thereof arc earn ing out an excellent system of agriculture. They have a very superior body of land under cultivation, have erected substantial homes, and carry on tho dairy business with success.SALT fUYKH V.UJ-ET.The climate of Phenix and Balt • River Valley is very 00 1 able tl»c year round. The days arc never cold, and the nights are cool nnd agreeable nino months in the year. ~ During the summer mouths the days are very warm. There are two rainy seasons ' —July and August, nnd from December to March. Two crop* of beans, potatoes and com can be raised. I inquired carefully regarding tho lienlthfulucso of tlii-* country, and my information was all to the effect that, with the exception of a little fever and ague (or chills and fever, as it is ciilleil), the entire valley was a healthful one. The soil (humus) is very rich, and Is similar to the sandy loam and adobe deposits that arc found in the better portions of Southern California. Mark my prediction: In fiveyMars this v*lkv will tnntain 12,000 people, and rticnix will iiar.i Income tho permanent capital of the Territory.
Newspaper Details
Phoenix Salt River Herald
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Wed, Jan 22, 1879
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Karyn L.
USA 14 Jan 2021
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