W. W. Lane Chosen State Engineer

DECEMBER, 1928 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Page Seventeen History, Aims and Ambitions of Arizona Explained to Nation by Governor Hunt in Chicago Radio Talk

TRADITION, history, legends of van ished races of the southwest, hopes, aims and ambitions of Arizona for the future, together with recent and con templated developments of the state, were defined by Governor Hunt in a ra dio message to the nation broadcast over the radio station of the Chicago Daily News Dec. 1.

The Governor penned a picture of Ari zona that gripped not only Arizonans but hundreds of thousands throughout the other states. He told of the gigantic mining operations near pre-historic cliff dwellings, of high buildings adjacent to ancient pueblos, villages and old Span ish missions, of modern boulevards built over Indian war trails, and the construc tion of huge irrigation projects on courses followed by canals of centuries gone by.

The Governor told particularly of roses in bloom at Christmas and of mountains capped with snow during July-all of which was within the borders of Arizo na.

The Governor's address follows: Arizona is the fifth state in area-113,000 square miles, and the forty third in population-475,000 people. It is more than twice as big as New Eng land and larger than New York and Pennsylvania combined. Yet, fourteen cities in the United States have a larger population than Arizona. Still, it is one of the fastest growing of all states, for between 1910 and 1920 it recorded the largest percentage of increase in popula tion of any state, and between 1920 and 1928 its percentage of gain was exceeded only by Florida.

While Arizona is the youngest state in admission to the union, it is one of the oldest in its history. Many of its valleys were irrigated and farmed before the time of Christ by a cultured race which has long since vanished. Its first Euro pean settlements antedated the Thirteen Colonies. Spanish padres and conquis tadores were writing of its wonders eighty years before the Pilgrims landed. Yet it has been less than fifty years since the Apache Indians were subdued.

LAND OF CONTRASTS

Arizona is a land of contrasts. Huge mines operate near cliff dwellings; sky scrapers stand a few miles from prehistoric pueblo villages, and old Spanish Missions. Modern boulevards follow Indian trails. Great irrigation projects are built on the traces of the canals which ir rigated the same lands 2,000 years ago. Airplanes soar over Hopi villages that have been unchanged for centuries. Roses bloom on Christmas day and 100 miles awa there are mountain snows on July Fourth.

The altitude is high in the north and east and moderately low in the south and west. Arizona is a mixture of deserts and mountains, of high plateaus and pine forests, of irrigated valleys and enormous vistas. In climate it ranges from semi-tropical to north-temperate; in altitude from 100 to 12,000 feet. Its south ern sections rival Algiers and the Riviera as winter resorts; in the north it vies with Colorado and the northwest as a summer playground. It comprises nearly every variety of scenery and every sort of climate that can be found in the United States.

During the past five years Arizona has been engaged in the greatest period of new development in its history. In that time it has expended or investors have expended-more than $75,000,000 in the construction of new railroad lines, new reclamation projects and new mine plants. Building construction by its citizens has amounted to virtually the same figure, including hotels, resorts, and guest ranches, nearly doubling its tourist capacity.

These figures give some indication of the way Arizona is growing. They are of special interest because the state's new irrigation projects will nearly double its remarkably rich agricultural area. At the present time Arizona's new lands. are sufficient to provide farms for 20,000 more families.

LEADS UNIT PRODUCTION

Arizona is one of the smallest states in farm area, but an acknowledged leader in unit production. Its area of irrigat ed land is 600,000 acres. But this year its farm production will be $50,000,000. In a few years the irrigated acreage will be above 1,000,000. In many cases the returns from Arizona crops are four times as great as in the east.

Farming in Arizona, except at high altitudes where dry farming is followed on a comparatively small scale, is note worthy for an all-year growing season. It is not uncommon to raise two entirely different crops a year on the same land, such as lettuce and cantaloupes, grain and grain sorghums. Crop yields are ashigh as can be found in this country, for crop failures are unknown under irri gation, and 365 days of sunshine every year assure bountiful results.

Arizona consistently ranks first among all states in the average yield per acre for such crops as hay, wheat and alfalfa, and second in cotton, grain, sorghums and cantaloupes. In average value per acre, it is usually first in all these crops. For instance, last year the production of wheat in the entire United States averaged 14.6 bushels per acre; alfalfa for the country as a whole aver aged 2.79 tons per acre; cotton through out the country averaged 152 pounds of lint per acre. But in Arizona, including both irrigated and dry farm land, wheat gave an average yield of 25 bush els per acre; alfalfa four tons per acre; cotton 325 pounds of lint per acre. Max imum yields commonly reported in the irrigated sections are eight tons of afal fa per acre, a bale of cotton to the acre, or 250 crates of lettuce or cantaloupes per acre.

PRODUCTION OF COTTON

"Cotton and alfalfa are the principal field crops grown in Arizona, with grain among others. Much of the cotton is of crops, beans, potatoes and sweet potatoes the Pima long staple variety which has taken the place of Sea Island cotton as the finest longstaple produced in this country. It is also called American Egyptian cotton, as it is similar to the Egyptian Sak variety. This year's cot ton crop will exceed 135,000 bales, from 198,000 acres. Alfalfa is of excellent quality and besides being shipped to out side markets, is the backbone of a very profitable dairy industry. Alfalfa is harvested throughout the year.

"The most rapid agricultural devel opment in Arizona, however, is taking place in special seasonal crops which cannot be grown in other parts of the country. These include oranges and grapefruit, winter lettuce and winter vegetables, cantaloupes, figs, dates, olives, etc. Arizona now ships more than 10,000 cars fo lettuce and 6,000 cars of cantaloupes to eastern markets each year, lettuce in winter and spring and cantaloupes in mid-summer, both at times when other states are not producing. Shipments fo citrus fruits exceed 500 cars a year are are increasing rapidly. Suchcrops as these naturally yield much