Materials

ARIZONA IS RICHLY ENDOWED IN RAW MATERIALS. MARKETS, MANPOWER, TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO MANUFACTURER

Industrial Department, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

To Arizona have come many men and women from all over America and the world bringing with them the skills and “know-how” invaluable to new industry. Arizona is not an industrial state. Since the beginning of World War II, and after, however, its growth in population and industry has been considerable; yet the industrial growth during this period has not kept pace with the increase in population. As a result, there are many types of manufacturing needed in Arizona today, which it could well support. The main factor contributing to the demand for Arizona industrial expansion is the market for manufactured goods in the vast Southwest and West. In any business, anywhere, the market is the all-powerful consideration. Arizona is centrally located between the markets in Southern California, Texas, New Mexico and, the seven other western states, for all types of manufactured products. Profit is impossible without ample and suitable markets for goods and services. Arizona has markets.

Arizona is richly endowed in raw materials and minerals. Last year Arizona produced roughly $180,000,000 worth of copper, gold, silver, lead, and zinc, leading nearly all other states in the output of non-ferrous metals. The dollar value of Arizona manufactured products, exclusive of smelting, is now running at an annual rate of $126,000,000 as compared to only $30,000,000 in 1940. Arizona led the nation last year in the percentage increase of new construction over the previous year. Dollar retail sales in Arizona have quadrupled since 1939. One county in the state, Maricopa, of which Phoenix is the county seat, showed an increase of 377%. Retail sales in Phoenix last year amounted to $202,701,738. Anyone interested in locating a plant in Arizona will find adequate dependable electric power and natural gas at rates lower than the rate existing in many Eastern states. As an additional inducement, there is an unlimited supply of skilled and efficient labor. Another point of interest to any manufacturer is the climate, which this area enjoys. Due to the tremendous construction activities during, and since, the war, housing problems have been greatly relieved.

Arizona is one among the most rapidly growing states today. A large number of G.I.'s trained in Arizona during the war have returned to make their homes. Many new residents have come to Arizona because of the climate. Many of these have brought highly technical skills that one would expect to find only in Eastern industrial cities. For example, it was recently found that 250 aircraft mechanics lived in the metropolitan area of Phoenix, where there is no aircraft industry. This example holds true for many of the trades and skills in other cities in Arizona.

Arizona is served by the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads. It is served by the American and Trans-World Airlines, with a group of feeder lines going out to various points in Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and California, and when one is considering transportation, he cannot overlook the many bus and truck lines serving the state.

While it should be understood that Arizona will never have "smoke stack industries," there are some large industries that should find it worthwhile to locate in this state.

Arizona produces approximately 230,000 bales of cotton per year, most of which is superior long staple cotton. Because of the water limitations in this area, it is not advisable that the textile mills produce other than gray cloth. From this gray cloth they should be able to produce in great quantity, sugar sacks, flour sacks, salt sacks, meal sacks, feed sacks, vegetable sacks, citrus sacks, mops, dish cloths, cotton twine, rope and large quantities of gray cloth to be shipped to eastern plants for bleaching and dyeing.

Because of the packing plants located in this area there are adequate tallows available for the manufacture of soaps. There are also within fifty miles of Phoenix some of the largest feldspar deposits in the United States. This feldspar screens 325 and this is rather fine when it is realized that ladies' face powder only screens 160 to 200.

At the present time, there are no oil refineries in the State of Arizona. When one stops to consider that Arizona has a population of over 700,000 plus 1,500,000 tourists who visit the state during the year, they can readily appreciate the volume of oil products required. At the present time, all gasoline and related products are transported in by tank cars and tank trucks at additional expense.

If an oil refinery were established in this area there is a need for one of the by-products of refined oil: asphalt. A large majority of the state highways and streets in Arizona are of asphalt and black-top construction which involves considerable demand for this product. It should also be pointed out that considerable asphalt is used for roofing commercial buildings and plants.

Arizona produces fine long fiber asbestos which could be used in manufacturing brake linings. Generally speaking, there is a shortage of brake lining throughout the United States. Anyone familiar with this industry would find ample raw materials and manpower in this area to produce a very fine product.

The trend in the production and distribution of frozenfoods will probably continue more and more in the direction of regular commercialized methods. The tendency to treat frozen foods as specialty items will no doubt disappear. Most varieties of vegetables which grow well in Arizona will prove satisfactory for freezing. The following listing includes some of the vegetables which may be processed as frozen foods, such as asparagus, green beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, corn, spinach, and squash.

With our increasing population, there is a growing demand for garment manufacturing. The following types of garments are in great demand in this area, ladies' blouses, skirts, dresses, sports wear, play clothes, childrens clothes, and men's shirts. Anyone entering this business in Arizona would enjoy a market area reaching from Southwestern Texas to, and including, Southern California. A recent survey reveals that there are adequate qualified and Eastern-trained personnel in this area to staff such a plant.

In addition to the industries that have been discussed, there are many types of smaller industries that Arizona could support. Such industries would have the opportunity of growing with the state and at the same time make a worthwhile contribution to the economy of the area. To name a few of such industries: ceramics, canneries, assembly plants for household appliances, fertilizer plants, western leather goods. Leather goods, and novelties, jewelry, plastics, sheet metal, glassware, kitchen utensils, toys, furniture, neckwear, chemicals, bamboo products, cosmetics, footwear, tools and dies, press board and insulating materials, glass products, candy kitchens, grain elevators, farm machinery, aircraft parts manufacturers, paint, varnishes, and many novelties or specialty manufacturing.

In addition, Arizona has many non-metallic minerals which should be considered for greater development in the future. These minerals are alunite, asbestos, barite, cement, clay, feldspar, fluorspar, graphite, gypsum, lime, lithium, manganese, mica, mineral wool, perlite, pigments (natural), precious and semiprecious stones, granite, tuff, marble, onyx marble, and volcanic ash (pumice).

As the National Defense Program of the United States develops safeguards against atomic warfare, emphasis may be given migration and decentralization of industry. Should this condition ever develop, Arizona is well located from a defense and distribution viewpoint.

Any plant located in Arizona will find adequate transportation, excellent labor, ample housing, and expanding markets. But most of all, there will be found every cooperation and a hardy welcome from the people of the state. Arizona, the youngest state in the Union, with its growing markets and business opportunities should not be overlooked by individuals or firms seeking new plant locations.

Information relative to business opportunities can be secured from various Chambers of Commerce in Arizona. In this connection, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce has established a well-staffed Industrial Department. This department develops statistical data and conducts research for the purpose of determining many of the types and kinds of industry which Arizona needs and will support. In addition, this department was established for the purpose of assisting industry in making surveys and to perform other services such as finding satisfactory space and industrial sites. There was recently published, by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, a brochure entitled "A Plant in Arizona." A copy of this brochure may be obtained free by writing to the Industrial Department of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.

Allison Steel Co. has grown through years keeping pace with state growth

Reynolds metal firm now occupies former war plant

Production of seed in Arizona is one of major industries