1890 Arizona
Below are excerpts from Arizona, The Land of Sunshine and Silver, Health and Prosperity, the Place for Ideal Homes, by John A Black, published in 1890.
Page 47
The possibilities of agricultural development in Yuma County have been demonstrated at the ranch of H. W. Blaisdell, about eight miles east of Yuma. Mr. Blaisdell upon a bare piece of "desert" land has for a number of years been engaged in the cultivation of hundreds of varieties of trees and shrubs with special reference to their adaptability to the locality, and has so improved a thirty-acre tract as to make it one of the sights of Yuma. Irrigating water is furnished in abundance by a well, fitted with a centrifugal pump of a capacity of about forty miner's inches flow. One of the four Agricultural Department experimental stations has here been established, and under the superintendency of Professor Gulley, of the University of Arizona, valuable results may be expected from the critical observation of the details of vegetable growth.
Page 49 – MINING.
The first mining operations ever conducted in Yuma County were by Colonel
Snively on some placers located on the Gila river, about twenty miles from
its mouth, in 1858. These are now being re-worked. Excellent placers were
found at La Paz, on the Colorado, four years later, and in many of the
washes gold digging has been prosecuted with success for many years, during
the rainy season. Several millions of dollars have been extracted from the
auriferous sands of the County, and the industry is still flourishing.
Should any of the many "dry washers" prove effective, there is no portion of
the world where their use would become so general and profitable as in
Southwestern Arizona.
The major portion of the great expanse of Yuma County, occupying the
triangular space between the Colorado and Gila rivers, is occupied by rough,
parched and barren mountain ranges, generally of but inconsiderable heighth.
They are unique for the most part in the fact that they rise abruptly,
without foothills, from the level plain and have no connection with any
other similar elevations. They are buttes, rather than mountains or mountain
chains.
As might be imagined, the difficulties of prospecting in these waterless
hills are many, yet the research that has been made has disclosed many
bodies of ore that will become valuable whenever reached by any adequate
system of transportation.
The most important mining district is located in the northeastern part of
the county, in the Haqua Hala mountains. In a recent issue of the Yuma Times
the following excellent resume of operations in this district was given:
"The Haqua Hala mines were located on November 11, 1888, by Harry Walton,
Robert Stein and Mike Sullivan. C. H. Gray bought Sullivan's interest,
Walton sold to R. F. Kirkland and Tom Cochran, and Stein sold his interest
to A. G. Hubbard. Two or three other parties acquired interests. About a
year ago one Horne jumped the Golden Eagle claim, since which time thousands
of dollars have been spent in lawsuits. The principal claims are in two
camps, Harrisburg and Bonanza. They are all free-milling gold quartz, and
run from $5 to $500 to the ton. It is said that Horne took out of one small
hole in the Golden Eagle claim $5000 in a short time. About two months ago
A. G. Hubbard and George W. Bowers bought the interest of C. H. Gray in the
Bonanza group for $50,000 cash. The interests of several others were
acquired at the same time. Litigation ended and the district took a new
lease of prosperity. A twenty-stamp mill was at once contracted for together
with the necessary pipe to supply water from a point six miles distant. The
mill will be constructed so that forty stamps can be put in if necessary. In
addition to the mill will be two hoisting plants capable of working 1000
feet depth. The deepest working at present is 200 feet. The present owners
have taken out about $80,000, and the completion of their mill, water works,
road making and purchase of claims will involve an expenditure of $275,000.
It is believed the cost of mining and milling will be about $3 per ton.
"Harrisburg has a postoffice and several stores. A ten-stamp mill is also
located here, which does custom work. The water works supply the needs of
both camps. Harris & Bates and Major Clay are among the principal owners.
The point of supply for this district has heretofore been Phoenix, but as
the distance from Aztec, Yuma County, is only about fifty miles, as against
one hundred from Phoenix, supplies are now going that way. The Yuma
Supervisors recently authorized some money to be spent in improving the road
between Aztec and Haqua Hala and the mine owners also contributed enough so
that the road could be put in good condition. There are now employed in this
district over one hundred men, which number will soon be increased. Those
interested in Haqua Hala have great faith in its future."
South of Haqua Hala is Centennial District, containing many excellent
properties, mostly of free-milling gold ore. Water and wood are easily to be
had, and an early development is probable.
Up the Colorado river are a number of mineral deposits of large extent, the
best developed being in Silver District, about forty miles north of Yuma.
The ores are silver and lead, and somewhat refractory. There is one mill in
the district, but it is idle, the ores being brought to Yuma and shipped to
a California smelter.
There is no mining boom on in any part of the County, but development is
active in all parts. With the accession of an agricultural population along
the rivers mining will not be neglected, but will contribute in a most
appreciable degree to the prosperity of the County's residents.
Page 51 - SETTLEMENT.
There is but one considerable settlement, the County seat, Yuma, located
below the junction of the Colorado and Gila, at the point where the Southern
Pacific Railroad enters the Territory from California. It has now about 1200
inhabitants, mostly Americans, of an excellent class. From the issue of the
Yuma Times of January 1st the following description of the town and its
industries is taken:
"Owing to the high prices of lumber the principal building material is adobe
(sun-dried bricks), which is well adapted for this climate, where little
rain falls. With few exceptions the buildings are one-story, with thick
walls and flat roofs, giving a somewhat oriental appearance. The court house
is a large one-story adobe building constructed about thirteen years ago.
The school district owns a fine, large lot, but the present building is too
small, and will no doubt be replaced by a roomy brick building soon. The
Catholic is the only church organization represented with a building, and
has also a convent school conducted by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The
Ancient Order of United Workmen is the only secret benevolent order having
an organization, and it also owns a comfortable building containing a lodge
hall.
"The Southern Pacific Railroad Company makes Yuma its division headquarters
for this portion of its line. It has a large freight yard and keeps great
quantities of road supplies, such as ties, rails, coal and ice. The company
also owns the water-works, which supply its own needs and a good part of the
town. A pumping plant on the bank of the river keeps a large reservoir
filled, where the muddy water of the Colorado settles and becomes clear and
sweet. The company has a twelve-stall round house, freight depot, cottages
for employees, also a reading-room for employees, together with water tanks
and a number of other buildings.
"The Arizona Territorial Penitentiary is located at Yuma and disburses
between $50,000 and $60,000 a year in the town. This institution is located
on high ground, having the Colorado on the north side and the Gila on the
east. About three acres of ground have been leveled o f for the necessary
buildings. The buildings are made of stone and adobe and are surrounded by a
high, thick wall of the same materials. Outside the walls are the
superintendent's residence, office, stables, etc. The prison has its own
water-works and electric lights. The average number of prisoners is about
150. Blacksmith and machine shops, carpenter shop, tin shop, shoe shop,
tailor shop and laundry, together with grading give employment to the men
most of the time. Many of them have become very skillful in the manufacture
of fine laces, canes and inlaid woodwork. A proposition is now on foot to
employ prison labor in preparing wild hemp for market. This plant grows wild
over thousands of acres south of Yuma and has a fibre superior to manilla.
"Yuma carries on considerable trade with the country to the northward by
means of the steamers of the Colorado Steam Navigation Company. The business
is carried on with two large steamers and a number of barges. Monthly trips
are made as far north as El Dorado Canon, in the State of Nevada, 600 miles
from Yuma. At Needles connection is made with the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad. Steamers take provisions, mining machinery and various supplies to
the different points and take away their bullion and ores. A voyage up the
Colorado is a delightful recreation and can be recommended to those who are
tired of the worn out lines of travel. The scenery is magnificent, and many
places of interest can be seen.
"Yuma is a port of entry and a custom-house is maintained, though little
business now passes through it.
"Nearly every branch of business is represented in Yuma. Everything in the
necessary line can be obtained at reasonable prices, considering our
remoteness from general markets."
There are two able weekly newspapers published. The Yuma Sentinel was the
pioneer of such enterprises in Arizona, having been established in 1871. It
is published by Hon. John Dorrington. The Yuma Times is a sprightly sheet
that made its appearance a year ago, and appears to prosper under the
management of the Yuma Publishing Company.
Ehrenburg, in the northwestern part, in early days was the ferrying point
upon the Colorado river for the greater portion of the traffic of Northern
and Central Arizona, but since the coming of the railroad, has lapsed into a
small mining hamlet. The canal operations in the Gila Valley have caused the
starting of a few stores at different points along the Southern Pacific, but
they can as yet hardly be termed any more than stations.
A description of the county would not be complete without a reference to the
Yuma Indians, who in sparse raiment form an important and picturesque
feature of the landscape. They are as peaceable as a like number of whites,
and, though not energetic, except when in chase of the fleeting jack-rabbit,
are not averse to earning an honest quarter-of-a-dollar by the performance
of the many odd jobs around the local residences. They live along the
bottoms of the Colorado river for many miles, a large reservation occupying
the northwestern part of the County, set aside for the benefit of the Yumas,
Mojaves and Cocopahs. The latter tribe are far superior to the generality of
the Territory's Indians. All are self-supporting.
The town of Yuma is ambitious in the extreme, relying much upon her
position, at the "Gateway of Arizona," for future prominence. In addition to
the railroad it now has, there is a line projected to connect the Atlantic
and Pacific with the Southern Pacific, another to Silver District, another
to Port Isabel, on deep water at the mouth of the Colorado, and another, the
Cuyamaca road, from San Diego. The last named is now in process of
construction, and there is little doubt of its completion within a few
years. It is proposed to extend it, on the line of the old Scott survey, up
the Gila and Salt rivers, through Phoenix and eastward to Silver City, and
the project may eventually be consummated.
But, aside from these, the capabilities of the County for agriculture will
alone place her upon a high plane of prosperity, and upon the tillage of the
soil does she found her greatest hopes for success.
