Mining.-Cochise County is the banner mining county of Arizona. The development during the past year has been remarkable in many respects, and immense undertakings are now in progress which will double the population of the county within a few years. The large mines of this county are mentioned under the subject of general mining development in the preceding pages of this report. COCONINO COUNTY. [By Mr. Thomas A. Flynn, clerk of the board of supervisors.] The population of Coconino County is about 6,000. There has been a noticeable loss in the settled population owing to the sale of the Mormon settlement at Tuba to the Government. This, however, will be offset by the proposed erection of a Government school for the Indians on the site of the old Mormon city. The increased activity in the lumber industry has induced a gradual immigration of mill and lumbermen from the Northern and Middle West States, and the infant mining industries that are now showing signs of early and substantial development are a good augury of a further increase in the population of the county. A serious drawback in this respect has been the establishment of forest reserves, which at present embrace a very large area of the county. The Navajo Indian Reservation has also been extended to the loss of many thousand acres, and the withdrawal of lands in the eastern part of the county has crippled the cattle and sheep industry to an extent necessarily affecting the number of people engaged in such industries. The population is centered principally at Flagstaff and Williams, two thriving towns along the line of the Santa Fe Railroad. The people comprise many nationalities, and, together with the "native sons, those who have come from distant States and climes, have shown the same progressive spirit that characterizes the people of all Arizona towns. Finances. The finances of the county are at present in a very satisfactory state, as is shown by the balance sheet for the last quarter, herewith appended: Current expense fund.. Territorial interest fund Sinking fund, district No. 1 School district No. 1.. School district No. 2. School district No. 4. School district No. 6. School district No. 8. School district No. 9. School district No. 10. Total $29, 236. 46 10, 343.36 6,898.39 6, 241.39 4,240.53 1,607.16 199.90 2,287.90 84. 15 56.81 89 465.05 2.00 - 10 824. 10 62, 488. 19 The bonded indebtedness of the county is $159,000, being the proportion of the Yavapai County indebtedness assumed at the creation of this county. There are outstanding also school district bonds to the amount of $15,000, offset by $6,000 in the school sinking fund. The court-house bonded indebtedness, $15,000, has been liquidated during the current year. There is no floating indebtedness. The resources of the county have been and will be diminished by the continued relinquishment of lands within the San Francisco Mountains and Grand Canyon forest reserves. While the wisdom of the Government in establishing such reserves is generally conceded, it has none the less worked an irreparable hardship on this county in diminishing its potential wealth, releasing a vast area of land, a former guaranty for a share of the general indebtedness of the county, from future taxation, casting the full burden of the same on an exceedingly restricted area, and curtailing the industries of lumber, cattle, and sheep. The settlement of lands has, for the causes above mentioned, been reduced to a nullity. Irrigation. Irrigation is not developed to an appreciable extent, though at the Mormon settlements of Tuba, Fredonia, and Lees Ferry, and at Oak Creek to the south of Flagstaff, where the cultivable area is limited, it has been successfully carried out. The limited number of farming lands promises a flattering season by reason of abundant snows and early spring rains, which have also caused the ranges to flourish, and in consequence encouraging reports come from the sheep and cattle men, though they are also hampered by the restrictions of stock grazing within the forest reserves. Mining. Coconino, hitherto unregarded as a mining county, has not lost faith in its mineral possibilities, and the hope of future wealth in this industry will certainly be realized from the present gratifying results in developing the few patented mines and prospects. The Canyon Copper Company is rapidly developing its extensive property in the Grand Canyon. Its claims are patented and will soon be producers. Several deposits of copper ore between Williams and the Grand Canyon are being exploited, also a very large deposit north of the Colorado River in the southern end of the Buckskin Mountains. The Coconino Copper Company, on the west slope of the Buckskins, has a large force of men at work and an immense leaching plant in full operation. The deposits of copper about 100 miles north of Flagstaff, in the Indian reservation, are of immense size and are being explored by several companies. Water has been recently found and a leaching plant is soon to be established. Other mineral deposits should be mentioned. Coal covers thousands of acres in the Indian reservation, and extensive deposits of a fine quality of yellow ocher, lime, sulphur, and gypsum occur near Flagstaff. Molybdenite, silver, lead ores, salt, and great ledges of iron pyrites occur in the Grand Canyon, and the volcanic cinders used as railroad ballast along the main line of the Santa Fe come from a great deposit near Bellemont. Lumber is the leading industry of the county, and while it, too, has been handicapped by the forest reservations, the immense mills at Flagstaff and Willianis continue to market millions of feet of the renowned Arizona white pine, the demand for which seems unceasing and tests the capacity of both mills. Near Flagstaff is the seemingly inexhaustible quarry of Arizona brown sandstone of which the Brown Palace Hotel, of Denver, the Los Angeles County court-house, and other notable buildings in the West are erected. Education.-Coconino County, mindful of the necessity and importance of the education of her children, has provided well in this respect. Besides that flourishing Territorial institution, the Northern Arizona Normal School, located at Flagstaff, there are public grammar schools at Flagstaff and Williams, while at other settlements suitable teaching accommodations are provided. The Academy of the Nativity, a Catholic school under the control of the Sisters of Loretto, is also an important factor in local educational circles. Churches of the various denominations are to be found at Flagstaff and Williams and at Fredonia, and their influence for good is noted in the peace of the communities; and the small element of crime and lawlessness are a standing rebuke to the accusations against the unfitness of the Territory for self-government. GILA COUNTY. [By Hon. Lyman C. Woods, chairman of the board of supervisors.] Gila County has enjoyed substantial progress during the year, and the increase in population has been considerable, principally in the mining camps. Globe, the county seat and the principal city of the county, has expanded in population and improvements. The city now has 3 banks, i electric-lighting plant, waterworks, ice plant, natatorium, 11 mercantile establishments, 7 lodging houses, 2 hotels, 5 restaurants, 2 bakeries, 2 shoe shops, 14 saloons, 2 churches, and 3 butcher shops. Globe is regarded as one of the most substantial mining camps in the Territory, with prospects of a very bright future. The Old Dominion Mining and Smelting Company is making preparations for improvements in their mines and works by putting in new smelters, converters, sampling works, railroads, steam engines, and a new shaft, all of which will cost about $500,000. This will greatly add to Gila County's wealth and prosperity. The Old Dominion Company, the United Globe, the Arizona Commercial Company, the Globe-Boston Company, the Black Warrior Company, the Keystone Company, and the Arizona-Colorado Company all show advancement over last year, and are fast becoming known throughout the world as important copper producers. Globe draws far into the mountain and valley regions for its trade and is not wholly dependent upon the mines. Throughout the county stock raising is carried on in all its branches. Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and hogs are raised for the market. Stockmen in Gila County have been unusually prosperous during the year. The calf crop is better than has been known for years. The cattle shipments out of the county during the year have been exceptionally heavy. ranges provide feed for large numbers of cattle and other stock during favorable seasons, and Gila is among the leading counties in stock raising. (For a list of stock in Gila County and valuations, see the subject of taxation and taxable property which is presented in the preceding pages of this report.) The Among the undeveloped resources of Gila County the most important, perhaps, aside from the mining industry, are the numerous waterstorage sites where reservoirs might be constructed with success and thus bring under cultivation large areas of fertile lands. Scattered throughout the mountains are mining properties which might become most productive should capital take a hand in their proper development. There are at present 15 mining companies in and about Globe, and it will be seen that a market unsurpassed is thus afforded for products. Owing to the mountainous character of the country irrigation is carried on in a small way. In Tonto Basin there are over 1,500 acres of land under cultivation, water being secured by means of ditches which carry it from Tonto Creek. The supply is abundant only after rain storms. However, the valley contains fertile lands that might become very productive with the construction of reservoirs for storing the flood waters. Some irrigation is practiced on Pinal Creek, the bench lands and the small area of the valley through which the creek flows providing excellent agricultural lands. At Kentons a number of farmers own a ditch, but for the most part ditches are owned by individual farmers. The census has not been taken since 1900 and the only method of ascertaining the increase in population since that time is through the increased registration and school attendance. The population in 1900 was 4,264, and it can be safely estimated to-day that the population is over 7,000. The total bonded indebtedness of Gila County is $50,781. The amount of warrants outstanding on December 31, 1902, was $18.778.87, since which time $10,000 have been called in and paid, leaving a balance of unpaid warrants of $8,775.87. The balance of cash on hand July 1, 1903, was $11,337.25. The county owns the following real estate: Nine lots, valued at $3,000, and the improvements on the same, $1,200; lot No. 6, valued at $1,500, and the value of improvements, $3,000. San Carlos dam site.--Gila River is a canyon for about 20 miles below the mouth of the San Francisco, or to within 10 miles of Solomonville. At this point the hills separate, forming a large valley, which has been extensively settled and is now one of the finest irrigated portions of the Territory. This valley extends from a point about 10 miles above Solomonville to 6 miles below the mouth of the San Carlos River, on the White Mountain Indian Reservation. At this latter place the mountains suddenly close in again and the river enters upon another canyon. Seven miles below the Indian agency at San Carlos the canyon narrows to a width of 100 feet, and at this point is located the San Carlos dam site, which was studied in detail by the United States Geological Survey, during 1899, in connection with the investigation of the water supply of the Gila River. The San Carlos reservoir site is located on the White Mountain Indian Reservation, at the San Carlos Agency. The Gila Valley, Globe and Northern Railway, which leaves the main line of the Southern Pacific at Bowie station and runs to the town of Globe, passes across the reservoir site. A dam at this point 130 feet high to the spillway will impound 241,396 acre-feet, while a dam 150 feet to the spillway would impound 377,176 acre-feet. GRAHAM COUNTY. [By Mr. Arturo M. Elias, clerk of the board of supervisors.] Graham County has made rapid improvement in all lines of commercial activity during the year, and especially has the advancement of mining been notable. The older camps, such as Clifton, Morenci, and Shannon, have increased in population, and many new camps have come into existence which have added to the population and taxable wealth of the county. The population at the present time is about 17,000, this representing an increase of nearly 2,000 over last year, and nearly 3,000 over the census of 1900. The greatest growth in population has been during the past year. The financial condition of the county is excellent. At the close of the fiscal year the resources of the county were $21,777.44 and the liabilities $26,228.89, thus leaving the county indebtedness $4,451.45. The bonded indebtedness is represented as follows: Territorial bonds, act of 1890, $147,364.70; funding bonds, act of 1889, $30,000; school district No. 1, $5,500; school district No. 4, $4,000; school district No. 5, $6,000. Owing to heavy shipments of stock from the county during the year the stock-raising industry has decreased in value to the amount of $28.335. Cattle feeding is an industry of importance in the Gila Valley and from which profitable returns are received. Improvement in the ranges by means of rains during the year will no doubt result in increasing the cattle industry during the coming year. Two new school districts were established during the year and schools were conducted eight months. The schools of the county are in excellent condition and the attendance is large. While mining is the chief industry at Morenci and Clifton agriculture is pursued successfully in the Gila Valley. The county seat is at Solomonville. The court-house is a substantial building, affording commodious quarters for the courts and county officials. Thatcher, Pima, Solomonville, and Safford are progressive agricultural centers in the Gila Valley, while Duncan and Franklin are prosperous settlements in what is known as the Upper Gila Valley. The products of the valley find a ready market in the mining camps, and as mining advances agriculture expands to meet the added demands. The county is enjoying great prosperity and is rapidly forging to the front ranks in the development of its great resources. NOTE. Statements of the mining and agricultural resources of the county will be found in the preceding pages of this report; also statements as to the progress made by the schools, churches, cities and towns. MARICOPA COUNTY. [By Mr. John O. Dunbar, commissioner of immigration.] Population. Owing to a policy of several years' standing, based on industrial conditions, there has been no effort by immigration officers and organizations to encourage immigration, and the population of Maricopa County has not altered materially since last year. There is reason to believe that the population has not shown substantial increase since 1900, when the census gave the county 21,353 souls. This, however, fell short then, as it does now, of the actual population of the county by several thousands. Industrial conditions have so shaped themselves that the resources of the county will enjoy tremendous development within the next few years, and the bars to further immigration will be dissipated by these coming conditions. Plans for the reclamation of vast tracts of arid lands admitting of further development and important innovations in agriculture, together with the contemplated opening of various mineral regions, and the arrival of |