Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/23

ARIZONA. in 1899. There was a decrease in 1900, when the production was 118,317,764 pounds, which was due to accidental causes and not to an exhaustion of the mines. Gold mining is next in importance. The output of gold for the five-year period ending with 1900 had an average annual value of over $2,500,000. This was nearly three times the output for l889 and twelve times that of 1880. The output of silver during the same period, on the other hand, has suffered a decided decrease in point of value, and a small decrease in volmne. In 1889 the output amounted to 1,812,000 ounces; in 1900 it was 1,578,000 ounces, value $1,074,000. The mining of both gold and silver was begun by the Spaniards. In addition to the metals mentioned above, lead and coal deposits are worked to some extent. Platinum, quicksilver, tin, nickel, iron, salt, gypsum, and such precious stones as the opal, garnet, onyx, and sapphire, as well as chalcedony and marble, are also found, although they are not as yet worked on any large scale.

Isolation and aridity have held Arizona in a backward state of development. Railroads and irrigation, however, are overcoming these obstacles. Stock-raising has been heretofore the leading agricultural industry, and the absence of climatic extremes, such as are common to the regions farther north, is very favorable to this industry. In 1900 the neat cattle in the Territory numbered 607,000; sheep, 668,000; horses, 106,000; the first of these doubled in number during the decade, while the two latter increased threefold. The pasture lands are confined principally to the northern plateau, the rainfall of the southern portion of the Territory being insullicient for the growth of grasses, except on a few favored mountain slopes.

With the development of irrigation, mixed farming is becoming common. The most favorable region for irrigation is the valley of the Gila River and its tributaries. The most extensive irrigated district is that surrounding the city of Phœnix. During the last decade of the century the irrigated land (outside of Indian reservations) increased from 65,000 to 185,000 acres. This constitutes 81 per cent. of the improved land of the Territory. The farm land aggregates but 2.7 per cent. of the total area. The rainfall is so small that the ordinary flow of water in the streams supplies but a small portion of the irrigable area, and the further extension of irrigation is dependent upon the construction of storage reservoirs. Alfalfa is the most important crop. The acreage devoted to its cultivation (including the reservations) increased during the decade 231.4 per cent. Wheat and barley are next in importance, and the acreage of these and other cereals is rapidly increasing. In the soutliern part of the Territory many of the semi-tropical fruits—figs, raisin-grapes, almonds, etc.—are successfully raised, ripening earlier than in any other part of the United States. Recent experiments seem to show that Egyptian cotton can be successfully grown in this region. The more distinctively temperate zone crops—potatoes, apples, and various kinds of fruits—flourish in the northern covinties.

Manufactures within the limits of the Territory are confined largely to the building trades, to car construction and repair shops, and to the smelting and refining of copper.

The lower course of the Colorado constitutes the only navigable waters of the Territory. The Southern Pacific, running across the southern end of the Territory, the Santa Fé Pacific across the northern end, and the Santa Fé, Prescott, and Phœnix connecting the two, are the principal railroads. The mileage has been steadily increasing, having risen from 349 miles in 1880 to 1094 miles in 1890, and to 1465 miles in 1899. There are 1.28 miles of line for every 100 square miles of territory, and 204 miles to every 10,000 inhabitants. The Territory has a larger mileage, in proportion to its inhabitants, than has any of the States.

In 1900, eight national banks had been organized in the Territory, only three of which were in operation. The capital stock amounted to $400,000; circulation outstanding, $213,000; and deposits, $2,061,000. On June 30, 1900, there were fourteen State banks, with total resources of $2,762,000; capital stock, $373,000; and deposits, $2,296,000.

(See paragraph on Government under ). The total valuation of property in the Territory for the year 1900 was $33,732,465. The tax rate for the year was $0.85 per $100. Net indebtedness, $1,070,850.

Arizona has been diligent in maintaining a high educational standard. Although the sparse population of the Territory is so widely scattered, public school advantages are brought within the reach of almost all. The education of all children is compulsory under the law; and in 1900, 79 per cent. of the 20,833 diildren between the ages of and 18 were enrolled in the public schools. For a few years the average length of the school term has exceeded 125 days. There are two Territorial normal schools, one being located at Tempe, the other at Flagstaff. The Territorial university at Tucson includes courses in agriculture and in mining.

The Territory has an insane asylum at Phœnix, and a prison at Yuma.

The Catholics were first in the field. As early as 1687 the Jesuits had established missions and schools in the Territory, and were always active in the propagation of their faith. This sect still constitutes a large percentage of the church membership of the Territory. In recent years the Territory has been colonized by Mormons, who now rank next to the Catliolics in numbers. Nearly half of the population of the Territory are church members.

The population of Arizona by decades is as follows: 1870, 9658; 1880, 40,440; 1890, 59,620; 1900, 122,931. Nevada, Wyoming, and Alaska are all behind Arizona in population. There are only 1.1 inhabitants per square mile. The foreign born constitute less than 20 per cent. of the population, and are mostly Mexican. The excess of males—a phenomenon common to the Western States—is marked, being more than 20,000; this is attributed to the mining and frontier character of the Territory. For the populations of Arizona by counties, see back of map. The following are the largest cities in the Territory: Tucson, 7531; Phœnix, 5544; Prescott, 3559; Jerome, 2861. Phœnix is the capital.

At the census of 1900 the Indians numbered 26,400, those taxed only 1836. This was a decrease of over 3000 during the decade. Twenty thousand one hundred belonged to the Navajo tribe. There are five agencies in the