develop oil. Two local companies have been trying to locate oil in localities said to be very favorable, but no material results have so far been obtained. One of the companies is operating in the southeastern portion of the county and the other in the northern portion. County roads.-The roads of the county are in very good condition. A large steel bridge across the Santa Cruz River near Tucson has been completed at a cost of $4,000. Undeveloped resources. The undeveloped resources of Pima County are very extensive, the mining districts holding out the greatest possibilities for investors. It is a recognized fact that the mineral resources of Pima County have never been developed, there being at the present time but a very small number of producing mines in the county. Wherever development has been prosecuted to any great depth upon ore bodies, excellent results have invariably been the reward. The county is rich in mineral, and will some day rank with Cochise, Yavapai, and Graham in production. The chief drawback at present in the more remote districts is the lack of railroad facilities for transportation of ores, supplies, and equipment for the mines, which is carried on now at enormous expense to operators. A railroad passing south from Tucson to Nogales would be the means of opening up and developing a rich mineral and agricultural country. Mr. C. O. Rouse, clerk of the board of supervisors, who has provided me with much of the valuable information contained in this description of Pima County, submits also the following information, which shows the prosperous condition of the county: The amount of the tax roll for 1901 was $114,116.20, on a $3.70 per hundred county and territorial levy. Of the above amount the delinquent list was $11,339.84, of which amount all but $1,184.76 remains uncollected. Of the amount of the delinquent list remaining uncollected, at least one-half will yet be collected before the time for redemption has expired, and the other half will be the uncollected tax on property sold to the Territory. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. Santa Cruz County contains some rich mining districts, notably Patagonia, Harshaw, Washington Camp, and the Santa Rita mineral districts. There has been during the year considerable development in mining in these districts and extensive improvements have been made in older producing camps. The county is notable principally for its great cattle ranches and is regarded as one of the most profitable counties for stock raising. The condition of the county has not been reported, hence I am unable to present a detailed statement of the increased population, stock interests, and other subjects showing the progress made during the year. Irrigation is carried on near the towns of Nogales, Calabasas, Patagonia, Crittenden, and Lochiel. The supply of water is obtained chiefly from the Sonoita and the Santa Cruz rivers. The latter, rising in the Canille Mountains, flows south into Mexico and then northwesterly through the central portion of the county. The Sonoita has its source in the northeastern part and flowing southwest unites with the Santa Cruz at Calabasas. The largest irrigation system that has been reported is that of the Calabasas Irrigation, Land, and Water Company. The water for the canal is taken from the Sonoita and Santa Cruz rivers, and is diverted by three or four temporary dams into the main canal. The canal is 12 miles long. The cost of the system was $10,000, and the number of acres designed to be irrigated by it was 3,000. The supply is not sufficient for the land already under ditch, and this scarcity is especially noticeable in the months of April and May. It is estimated, however, that by the expenditure of $25,000 for the construction of dams to impound the flood waters, 10,000 acres could be brought under cultivation. Other small ditches owned by individuals and taken from the Sonoita River are in operation. The soil is very fertile, and with plenty of water could easily produce two crops a year, but the supply of surface water is not sufficient for the land already under cultivation. The flow in neither the Sonoita nor the Santa Cruz is continuous. Reservoir sites are reported in which the floods which result after the rainy seasons, from late summer to early fall, could be cheaply stored. The supply of underground water seems to be plentiful. YAVAPAI COUNTY. Mr. J. H. Robinson, clerk of the board of supervisors of Yavapai County, submits the following comprehensive report of the progress of Yavapai County during the past year: Population. The census of 1900 gave Yavapai County a population of 13,799, but it is safe to say that at the present time the population will exceeed 17,500 souls, as the gains in this county, especially in Prescott and the mining districts, have been enormous. In 1890 the population of Yavapai County was 8,685, and at that time Yavapai County included all of Coconino and a small portion of Gila counties. In 1900 the combined population of Coconino and Yavapai was 19,313. The present combined population shows a gain of 10,628 souls from 1890 to 1900, but the growth in population for the two years just passed in Yavapai County has been considerably greater than at any time in the history of the county. The new population consists principally of those interested in mining, and is distributed among the various mining districts of the county, although the main growth has been in the city of Prescott, the population of that city having increased wonderfully since the census of 1900. Most of the new population consists of Americans. Taxable property.—In 1901 the assessed valuation of Yavapai County was $4,346,826.34. In 1902 the same is $5,220,735.91, which shows an increase in taxable property of $873,909.57, the increase being largely among the mining districts, and is augmented by the assessment of patented mines. Financial condition. The financial condition of Yavapai County on the 31st day of December, 1901, was as follows: BONDED INDEBTEDNESS. Yavapai County redemption bonds, 7 per cent, January 5, 1908 Territorial funding bonds, 5 per cent, dated July 15, 1892, redeemable after 20 years; mature in 50 years Territorial funding bonds (under litigation now; declared valid by United States court), 5 per cent, dated July 15, 1896, redeemable after 20 years; mature in 50 years.. Total bonded debt... $128,000.00 52, 163.00 258,000.00 438, 163.00 Besides the above $90,952.18, there was in the county treasury at the above date $32,082.80, the same being available for current expenses. Since December 31, 1901, there has been $15,000 of the Yavapai County redemption bonds bearing 7 per cent interest paid and redeemed. The county is not incurring any new indebtedness, and is paying off the bonded indebtedness at the rate of from $15,000 to $20,000 per year, and will increase that amount with the increase of the assessment roll. The tax rate for 1901 of this county was $4 on each $100 valuation. The property owned by the county is distributed as follows: County property (real and personal): Block of land in Prescott, known as the "Plaza," on which the county courthouse is situated... $75,000 Value of school property in Yavapai County December 31, 1901. 62,000 200, 300 Total value of all county property Of the untaxed property, but which will become taxable after certain dates, is the following, to wit: Railroads (narrow gauge) ..miles.. 25.8 do... 168. 3 These roads were built under acts of the legislature exempting such roads from payment of taxes for certain periods. The roads were built and have aided very materially the growth in this county, and have opened up mineral sections, enabling mines to get their products to smelters and markets at lower rates, and which could not have been worked without the railroads. Of other property in this county which is not yet paying taxes, but will be in the next year, are several unpatented mines, the process of patenting such claims now being under way in the land offices. Of the above railroads, the narrow gauge will become taxable in 1903, thus increasing the assessment roll of this county considerably. The tax rate of Yavapai County for all purposes per $100 valuation for the year 1902 is as follows: 1. Territorial general fund (par. 3831, R. S., 1901) 2. Territorial insane asylum interest fund (par. 3615, R. S., 1901) 3. Territorial normal-school fund (par. 3702, R. S., 1901) 4. Territorial school fund (par. 2246, R. S., 1901) 5. Territorial reform-school fund (par. 3762, R. S., 1901) 6. University fund (par. 3652, R. S., 1901) 7. Northern Arizona normal-school fund (par. 3718, R. S., 1901) 8. Prison fund (par. 3601, R. S., 1901). 9. Ranger fund (par. 3229, R. S., 1901) 10. Redemption fund (par. 3615, R. S., 1901) 11. Capitol building fund (act No. 35, Laws 1901) 12. Interest World's Fair bonds (act 103, Laws 1891) 13. Territorial interest fund (R. S., 2047, and act of Congress 1890). $0.35 .10 .05 .03 05 · 06 .025 . 12 .05 .02 .035 .002 .14 14. Territorial prison-improvement fund (act 14, Laws 1901) 15. Normal school of Arizona dormitory fund (par. 3699, R. S., 1901). 16. Northern Arizona normal-school fund (par. 3719, R. S., 1901) 17. Insane asylum improvement fund (act 62, Laws 1901) 18. University interest fund (par. 3663, R. S., 1901) .. 19. Interest on St. Louis international bonds (act No. 86, sec. 10, Laws 1901). 3. County road fund... $0.035 .02 .01 .03 .005 .005 1. 137 0.50 .95 .32 .053 .63 4. Interest on $52,163.60 funded indebtedness 5. Interest on other funded indebtedness 6. Interest Yavapai County bonds, 1888 7. Redemption fund, Yavapai County refunding bonds, 1888 Total county purposes Total county and Territorial purposes... . 13 .28 2.863 4.00 Also a special tax of 24 cents on each $100 valuation of all taxable property in school district No. 1, "Prescott" (bonded). Grand total for Territorial and county purposes is $4 on each $100 valuation. Grand total for Territorial, county, and school district No. 1, "Prescott" (bonded) is $4.24 on each $100 valuation. Agriculture. While the principal industry of Yavapai County is mining, it is not without a large agricultural area, which includes the fertile valleys of the Verde, Skull, Kirkland, Walnut Grove, Williamson, Walnut Creek, Thompson, and Chino, with such bottom lands as stretch along the foothills of the mountains and along the small water courses. All these valleys produce large quantities of alfalfa, all kinds of grain, vegetables, and all fruits, except tropical. The fertility of these valleys can not be surpassed. While there has been no startling growth in the cultivation of lands in this county, there has been a steady one, and with water storage a large area can be reclaimed which is now dormant. Settlement of lands.-The settlement of lands in this county has decreased very materially in the past few years, which is attributed to the closing up of large areas of land. A great deal of this land, and in fact most of it, is untimbered, and in several instances the closing of such tracts have worked hardships on the settlers or squatters, as some of such land being unsurveyed it was held by squatter's rights, which became void after the setting aside of the reserves. The reserves in this county are to a great extent on nontimbered lands and the closing up of this land not only retards the growth in population, but also in wealth. Water storage.--With proper water storage in this county thousands of acres of land can be reclaimed and brought under a high state of cultivation, to say nothing of the increased population such reclamation will add to the already increasing population. The dry beds of creeks and table-lands contain more or less gold which can be worked to a profit with proper water storage, but can not be worked at the present time for the want of such. After water storage is provided, the output of placer gold will exceed that of California in the early days. Railroad building. The past year has witnessed the completion of the branch road from Huron Station on the Prescott and Eastern Road to the Poland mines. This road runs the entire distance through mining districts and is destined to open up a large mineral belt. There is now under way a tunnel from Lynx Creek to the terminal of this road, which, when completed, will be over 8,500 feet in length. This tunnel has several high grade mineral veins. The distance of this branch road is 7.7 miles. There is now under construction from Mayers to the Bradshaw the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad. There has been completed of this road about six miles, and at the present time several hundred men are employed, and by spring the same will no doubt be completed and will then open up one of the largest and richest mineral sections in the West. Stock raising. The entire surface of the county is covered with certain grasses, which afford pasture for all kinds of live stock, and while the past year has witnessed a very dry season, the same has not affected the raising of live stock, as the various shrubs and different kinds of oaks have furnished excellent browsing. The past summer has witnessed several very heavy rains, which caused the grass to spring up and afford pasture for all stock. Cattlemen look for a large increase in live stock during the next year. Building stone.-Yavapai County has within its borders an unlimited supply of all kinds of building stone, such as onyx, lithograph, tufa, granite, sandstone, pipestone, and several other varieties. It has not only furnished the same to build large buildings in the East and in California, but also furnished the stone for the capitol at Phoenix. Cities.-Prescott, the county seat, has a population of 5,000 souls. The business portion of the city is of brick, and since the fire of 1900 the city has increased in taxation over $800,000. The residences of the city are among the finest in the Territory. There is now under construction a brick schoolhouse (public) which, when completed, will cost $50,000, and the school system is unsurpassed. The Sisters of St. Joseph have also purchased lots and have plans under way for the building of a schoolhouse and convent which, when completed, will cost about $20,000. Churches are well represented, and all denominations have fine buildings. The water system is unsurpassed. Water is pumped a distance of 20 miles from Del Rio, the supply coming from springs. The system is owned and operated by the city. The main streets are graded, and the city has a volunteer fire department. Electric lights are in all buildings and are lights on the corners. There are two telephone systems, the "Independent" and the "Sunset." All fraternal organizations are represented in the city. The Odd Fellows own their own lot and building, and the Masons and Elks also own lots and intend building in the near future. There are two daily papers and one weekly paper published. Prescott is the center of the mining district of Yavapai County. Jerome has a population of about 2,000 souls, but that does not include the people working for the United Verde Copper Company. The works and town together have a population of over 4,000. The business portion of the town is of brick and the residences are of frame. The district has a fine frame schoolhouse heated by hot air. Jerome has several churches. Water is furnished by the United Verde Copper Company, and the town has a volunteer fire department. The town is lighted by electricity. There are two telephone systems. Congress is unincorporated; the town is mostly of frame and has a large school building. |